That transition underscored how quickly fall color comes and goes. Meaning there’s no time to tarry: get out this weekend and enjoy the show. Incentive, too, is the fact that daytime temperatures throughout the Piedmont are forecast to offer something for everyone: Saturday, in the Triangle area, don your shorts and t-shirts and enjoy temperatures in the upper 70s under mostly sunny skies; Sunday, get out the fleece and hike in temperatures ranging from the 40s to upper 50s, also under mostly clear skies.

Where to hike? We offer 5 Piedmont favorites:

1. Triangle: Mountains-to-Sea Trail/Falls Lake Trail, 60 miles. Is there a better way to check out fall than on a 60-mile-long hiking trail that hugs a shoreline most of the way?  From the Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve in Durham County to the Falls Lake dam in Wake County it’s possible to hike non-stop on the Moutains-to-Sea Trail. If that’s more than you have time for this weekend, worry not: the trail is broken down into 24 day-hikeable sections ranging from less than a mile to nearly 7 miles in length. The Falls Lake MST ducks in and out of coves along the lake, briefly brushing backyards in spots, and escaping civilization entirely in others. Learn more about the trail here.

2. Charlotte/Triad: Sugarloaf and Morrow Mountain Trails, Morrow Mountain State Park, 5.4 miles. This 5.4-mile hike bags two peaks at Morrow Mountain State Park. And yes, I say “bags two peaks” without reservation. Both the climb up 843-foot Sugarloaf and 906-foot Morrow Mountain are legitimate climbs. The first climb gains more than 350 feet in a relatively short distance, the second even more. And while the views are minimal from Sugarloaf, you’ll have numerous Kodak moments from the top of Morrow Mountain. You’ll also have company: your summit celebration is tempered slightly by the fact the peak is covered by a very large parking lot. Details here.

3. Greensboro: watershed lakes, 42 miles (short hikes of as little as a mile). Triad residents have numerous good options around the three watershed lakes — Brandt, Townsend and Higgins — north of town. Forty-two miles of watershed hiking trails take you through a variety of environments. The 1.6-mile Palmetto Trail, for instance, features some interesting geology; the 3.6-mile Nat Greene Trail offers a smorgasbord of Piedmont ecology. Details here.

4. Roanoke Rapids/northeast: Medoc Mountain State Park, Discovery/Stream/Summit loops, 6 miles. You aren’t the only one in North Carolina with hiking on his/her mind come the cool, colorful days of October, which brings up the one downside to hitting the trail this month — with the exception of Medoc Mountain, which sits happily off the beaten track in Halifax County. Ten miles of trail meander through the park, which sits on the eastern fringe of the Piedmont; this recommended 6-mile trek takes you through a good portion of it, including a climb up Medoc’s 325-foot summit and a stroll through what was once the first wine operation in the country. More info here.

5. Triad: Sauratown Trail, linking Pilot Mountain with Hanging Rock north of the Triad, 35 miles. A total of 35 miles make up this trail network that was designed primarily with equestrians in mind, but the actual link between the Tories Den portion of Hanging Rock State Park and the Surry Line parking area of Pilot Mountain is 21.7 miles, making for a nice, long day hike, if you choose. The advantage to Sauratown is that it takes in some of the same scenery as Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain (though, granted, without the aerie vistas), but with a fraction of the people. Plan your trip through the helpful Sauratown Trails Association website.

Great color, great weather — the yard work can wait. Get out and enjoy!

The post Find peak color on these Piedmont trails appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Last weekend, the snow and ice hit on Sunday; this weekend it’s on Saturday (starting late Thursday, actually). And last weekend, the farther west you went — into the western Piedmont and mountains — the more winter-like it became. This weekend, it gets more wintery toward the coast. 

With the latest forecast in mind — as of Thursday morning — we offer these thoughts on weekend fun. (Keep in mind that the American and European models were still engaged in a tug of war, so this could change by the time it hits the press.) 

Saturday

A quick thought for Saturday’s planned N.C. State Parks programs: Iffy: the Bear Island Eco-Hike at Hammock’s Beach, the Biological Wonderland Hike at Carolina Beach, the Fort Tours at Fort Macon. Probably: Pining for the Pines at Lake James, What’s a Ranger at Stone Mountain.

Sunday

For Sunday in the Probably category: Hiking Essentials, Unpacking the Daypack at Pilot Mountain; New Year of Prescribed Burning at Stone Mountain. Iffy: Fort Tours at Fort Macon, Looking for Longleaf at Hammocks Beach. Hard-to-Say: Rockefeller House Tour at Carvers Creek, Winter Bird Walk at Weymouth Woods.

Learn more about these state park programs here.

DIY hike

A possible scenario for the weekend: You get 1 to 3 inches of snow Friday, Saturday dawns mostly sunny but cold. The roads will likely be icy, likely for much of the day. You’re itchin’ to take a hike, but should you? Some quick thoughts:

• Hike the ‘hood. Even just getting out for a neighborhood walk is delightful after a snowstorm. 
• Dress accordingly. A good layer of clothing, gloves and a hat, your grippiest shoes.
• Open or closed? If the roads aren’t too bad, you might consider a hike nearby. Before heading out, check to make sure your venue of choice is open. For N.C. State Parks, for instance, your best bet is to check their Facebook page.
• Check the roads. Even if your hiking destination is a mile away, check first to make sure the roads are passable. 
• Use trekking poles! They’re especially good for staying upright on snowy, icy trail.Your best spot for one-stop road conditions in North Carolina is drivenc.com
• Go short. Enjoy your snow hike, savor your snow hike by going short. Hiking in snow is more taxing, you’ll tire more quickly, so go short. There are lots of good short hike options around.
• Take water. Always.
• Take snacks. You burn more calories in the cold; be prepared.
• Check the weather. Before heading out, check the weather — again. This storm has been all over the place and conditions are always subject to change. Check the radar in particular to make sure no pink or purple masses are headed your way.

There’s more, but those are the basics. Here’s hoping for a safe, wintry weekend we can GetOut! and enjoy. 

* * *

Short hikes 

There are 5 in the Triangle we especially like: Seven Mile Creek Nature Preserve, Orange County; Jordan Lake State Educational Forest, Chapel Hill; Bobbit Hole and Cole Mill Trail loop, Eno River State Park, Durham; Duke Forest, Korstian Division, Gate 25, Durham; Mountains-to-Sea Trail: James M. Johnston Preserve, Hillsborough. Find out why and how you can hike them in our GetHiking! 5 Great Short Hikes in the Triangle guide, here.

The post GetOut! This weekend: Like last weekend, but different appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

In 2020, we make an exception to our wait-until-Standard-Time rule. Two reasons.

1. Crowded trails are returning. Remember how jammed the trails were when that perfect storm of pandemic and gorgeous spring weather combined in March, and April, and May? Expect more of the same, with color thrown into the mix. That first 70-degree weekend of fall? Look for the gates to some of our favorite state parks to start closing by 10 a.m.
2. Glory in the gloaming. Late afternoon into evening into dark is simply a gorgeous time to be out. Consider: today, the sun sets at 7:39 p.m., with twilight extending until 8:05 p.m. Plenty of light for a 3-mile hike if you start by 6:30 p.m. At the end of September,  the sun sets at 6:58 p.m., meaning you can still start in daylight, but you’ll be hiking into twilight, into the bewitching time when day gives way to night. By the end of October, that 6:30 hike will be starting shortly after sunset. With evening hikes, you’ll enjoy the trail in a whole different light (yes, literally), minus the masses. You’ll also get to experience that fall chill you’ve been waiting for.

A little leery of hiking in the dark?  Here are some tips for making your night hike safe and enjoyable.

Tips for hiking at night

While we’d love for you to join us on our Tuesday Night Hikes, we know some of you would prefer to give it a go on your own. A few things to keep in mind:

• Get a headlamp. This is a must. Flashlights, work, sure, but you really want to keep your hands free. You can get a decent torch for as little as $20; note that LEDs cast a more hike-friendly light. Be sure to pack both extra batteries and a spare light (a little pen light will do) so you can see to change out your batteries.
• Pick short hikes to start. Night hiking takes some getting used to. Your world is confined to the glow of your headlamp, and it takes some concentration to focus on such a limited portion of the trail. Surprisingly, it can be a sensory overload, as your other senses tune in to the world beyond the scope of your light. Don’t overstay your first outing.
• Hike trails you’ve hiked in daylight. Even though it’s dark, familiarity is a big plus. You’ll be amazed at how things you didn’t think you noticed during the day will pop out as key markers of where you are on the trail.
• Hike by your feet. It takes a bit more effort to scout out the blazes at night rather than in the day. The best way to tell whether you’ve wandered off the beaten path is if your boots are suddenly sinking into soft, untrodden leaf litter. Backtrack and seek out firm footing.
• Bundle up. Nights are cooler than days; counter the chill with one more layer than you think you’ll need. You can always shed a layer down the trail.
• Don’t hike alone. I do a lot of soloing, but not at night.
• Again, take extra batteries. If your light goes out, you’re really in the dark.
• Again, take a backup light. Even a $5 keychain light can be a lifesaver if your main goes out. (Ever try to change batteries in the dark?)
• Take a map and compass. You should already have these in your daypack, but make extra sure you have them at night.
• Take water and snacks. Just because it’s dark doesn’t mean you can’t get dehydrated. And  hiking in the cool air while concentrating on the trail will burn some calories; you’ll be glad to have the extra fuel.
• Appreciate the night sky. Because that’s one reason you’re hiking at night!
• Take a cell phone, just in case. Besides, most phones have a flashlight function that could save you in a pinch.

Note that most trails on public lands are closed from dusk until dawn. That includes state parks and nearly all municipal and county trails. National forests typically don’t have hours, nor do lands managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Enjoy!

* * *

Night hike with us

You can hike on your own at night, or you can night hike with us! This year, we’re starting our Tuesday Night Hikes series in the fall, with nine hikes at nine locations in the Triangle. We start at 6:30 p.m., hike until about 8. Each hike is around 3 miles. Our night hikes are limited to 10 people, we provide a guide as well as an eguide for every hike (including route map, trail description and more), and a loaner headlamp, if you need one. Learn more and sign up here for singles, here for couples/families.

GetHiking! Sunday Afternoon Hike Series

We’re not averse to hiking during the daylight, we simply do what we can to avoid the crowds. That’s part of the goal of our GetHiking! Fall 2020 Sunday Afternoon Hike Series, which hikes a different trail in the region every Sunday afternoon, from now through Nov. 15. Eleven hikes in all, with distances ranging from 5 to 7 miles. Learn more and sign up here for singles, here for couples/families.

The post Avoid the coming fall crowds with a night hike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Last week, we offered advice on eating better over the holidays from Shelly Wegman, a registered dietician with Rex Nutrition Center in Raleigh. Today, we offer the best way we know to combat stress — moving. Specifically, moving down the trail.

This Friday, as we all awake from a Thanksgiving tryptophan torpor, we’ll be launching our Holiday Hiker series. We’ll gather at 11 a,m. on the Loblolly Trail at Umstead State Park for a 4.2-mile hike. Then, for most Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons through Dec. 24, we’ll hike a similar distance on trails throughout the Triangle. The hikes are just far enough to stretch your legs, elevate your heart rate and clear your head, but short enough to fit into the busy business of the holiday season. (The last thing we want to do is stress you by getting you behind schedule.)

If you’ve already done some hiking, you know the value of an hour or two on the trail. Some of you enjoy hiking at a hearty clip, focusing on getting the heart rate up. Others are out there to slow things down, to swap the madness of the mall and the demands of year-end deadlines with the quiet of a forest that’s settling in for the winter. (It’s remarkable the calming effect a forest stripped of foliage can have.) The eight hikes we’ve selected for this series meet the needs of both hikers.

On Friday, if the weather’s nice — and it’s supposed to be, with a temperature around 60 under clear skies — the parking lot at Umstead might be a little crazy. But you’ll leave that behind  not far down the Loblolly Trail, as we slip into a forest that descends for about a mile to feisty Reedy Creek, then crosses mild ridgelines for another mile. Much of this trail is new within the past few years, and it’s a pleasure for both speed hiker and the slower-moving naturalist. We lead from the back, so nobody will be left behind, whatever pace you choose.

Later in the series, we’ll hike along the rocky Eno River, sample the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and explore a nature preserve and a research forest, too. And, in the spirit of the season, we’ll have treats at all the hikes. All of these hikes are family-friendly, with shorter options for shorter legs.

Too often, we throw in the towel on healthy living when the holidays roll around. I’ll make it up with my New Year’s resolution, we tell ourselves. We couldn’t have gotten this more backward. Now is the time to start paying attention. Be cognizant of what you eat, get in some hikes, and you’ll already have healthy ways established by the time January 1st rolls around.

Join us on the trail this holiday season. To learn more and sign up, tap here.

Happy Trails!

Joe

The post Ho-ho-holiday hiker series launches on Friday! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

What to do?

Night hike!

Hiking at night offers some special rewards not found during the day. This type of hiking calls for different levels of concentration, as you focus on a close world circumscribed by an orb of light as you scan for footing; this problem-solving aspect of hiking is one of the things that improves not only body but also mind. You can tune in to the sounds of night life, which is not the same as the sounds of daytime critters (more owls than warblers, more raccoons than squirrels). And if you pause and look up, you can see the glories of the night sky (pausing is key; we have tried to hike while looking up at the stars and it ended badly). It’s a special place, the night world, and it is one well worth exploring.

We get that night hiking isn’t for everyone. If you’re hopelessly scared of the dark or have very poor night vision, for instance, you might want to pass. But for the rest of you open to the concept, we have some tips for you.

• A headlamp. This is a must. Flashlights, work, sure, but you really want to keep your hands free. You can get a decent one for as little as $15; note that LEDs cast a more hike-friendly light. Be sure to pack both extra batteries and a spare light (a little pen light will do, so you can see to change out your batteries).
• Pick short hikes to start. Night hiking takes some getting used to. Your world is confined to the glow of your headlamp, and it takes some concentration to focus on such a limited portion of the trail. Surprisingly, it can be a sensory overload, as your other senses tune in to the world beyond the scope of your light. So don’t overstay on your first outing.
• Hike trails you’ve hiked in daylight. Even though it’s dark, familiarity is a huge plus. You’ll be amazed at how things you didn’t think you noticed during the day will pop out as key markers of where you are on the trail.
• Hike by your feet. It takes a bit more effort to scout out the blazes at night rather than in the day. The best way to tell whether you’ve wandered off the beaten path is if your boots are suddenly sinking into soft, untrodden leaf litter. Backtrack and seek out firm footing.
• Bundle up. Nighttime is cooler than day, of course. Counter the chill with one more layer than you think you’ll need; you can always shed a layer later.
• Don’t hike alone. I do a lot of soloing, but not at night.
• Again, take extra batteries. If your light goes out, you’re really in the dark.
• Again, take a backup light. Even a $5 keychain light can be a lifesaver if your main torch goes out. (Ever try to change batteries in the dark?)
• Take a map and compass.* You should already have these in your daypack, but make extra sure you have them at night.
• Take water and snacks. Just because it’s dark doesn’t mean you can’t get dehydrated. And  hiking in the cool air while concentrating on the trail will burn some calories; you’ll be glad to have the extra fuel.
• Appreciate the night sky. Because that’s one reason you’re hiking at night!
• Take a cell phone, just in case. Besides, most phones have a flashlight function that could save you in a pinch.

Note that most trails on public lands are closed from dusk until dawn. That includes state parks and nearly all municipal and county trails. National forests typically don’t have hours, nor do lands managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Take action!

• Intrigued, but maybe a bit uncertain about trying on your own night hike for the first time? In the Triangle area, our GetHiking! chapter holds night hikes, in conjunction with Hike NC, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina-sponsored hiking program, every Wednesday at 6 p.m.. You can learn more here.
• Of course, a map and compass will get you only so far if you don’t know how to use them. If you need some direction, check out our GetOriented! classes. The next one is Sunday, Nov. 12. Go here for details and to sign up.

Happy night trails!

Joe

The post Goodbye Daylight Saving Time, Hello Night Hike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.