Great Outdoor Blog

Joe Miller describes how he packed a week’s worth of adventure — rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, greenway riding and very nearly skateboarding — into just one day!

» READ MORE on his News & Observer Blog

A few updates just in from Wilmington artist & customer James Davis. Follow his adventures at myxolydian.com

July 9, 2008

Left 501 Shelter early, it was another hard day of hiking in the rain. The rocks are so slippery, really have to take your time. My feet are paying the price for these slippery rocks. I made it to Eagle’s Nest Shelter just before 5 pm. I am really wiped out today; spiders and mosquitoes were bad today – there has been so much wet weather. Mileage today was only 15.5.

July 10, 2008

Slid down the mountain today – like snow skiing. It was so steep, a mile straight down. Got in Port Clinton Hotel about 1 p.m. Nero day. Today, I did 9 miles – broke 1,200 miles!!! Leaping Turtle called me today because he read about me in the newspaper; he is at Delaware Water Gap. My shins are still hurting.

The Port Clinton Hotel is much nicer than the Doyle. The Port Clinton Hotel, served as a stagecoach stop between Sunbury and Philadelphia in the early 1800’s. Stagecoaches stopped at the Port Clinton Hotel, which was a great social center where news from other states and even foreign countries was exchanged. In fact, it became customary when signing the hotel register to add any news that they thought might be of common interest. The hotelkeeper and his family cared for the driver and passengers stabled the horses and entertained with a fiddler and dances.
The hotel’s birth name was the “Gately Hotel” and is now named the “Port Clinton Hotel”. Situated in southern Schuylkill County, the unique little town clings on the hillside and embraces the peninsula between the Little Schuylkill and the main river. Port Clinton takes its name from De-Witt Clinton on the Erie Canal, and was laid out in 1829. A thriving community for many years for large shipments of coal which was brought to Port Clinton by the primitive railroads and was loaded on canal boats for shipment.

Below is a list of upcoming workdays on the MST. We have lots of opportunities for volunteers at multiple sites, so please join us for one or more workdays? Visit the MST website for more info
July 12, 2008 - Blue Ridge Parkway, NC-16 to US-421 - Meet at THE LUMP Overlook, MP 264.5. We will be doing general trail clearing and grading in some pretty easy terrain. Contact: Jim Hallsey (336) 877-8831

July 10-13, 2008 - Blue Ridge Parkway, US-421 to US-321 - Help the Chargers and Re-Chargers as they build the MST towards Blowing Rock. See the MST homepage for all of the details.

July 19, 2008 - Falls Lake Task Force, Durham County - Build trail with the Falls Lake Task Force as we continue west towards Durham.

July 19, 2008 - Central Blue Ridge Task Force, Morganton area - See the MST homepage for all of the details.

July 25-27, 2008 “MST BIG DIG” - Blue Ridge Parkway, near BRP overlook MP 264.5 - The goal is very simple — dig as much quality trail as we can for the MST along the BRP. Your help is needed and we always have a great time. We supply all of the tools and training for this event. Camp with us at Doughton Park campground (RSVP to get a campsite).

MST Thru-hiker News:

Scott “TABA” Ward is now past Stone Mt. State Park and I-77 heading east towards Pilot Mt. Check his journal out at www.trailjournals.com

Jordan King and Kyle Donaldson are now past the Falls Lake Trail heading west to the Greensboro section of the MST. Click on the following link for a news article about their trip:

http://www.fayobserver.com/article_archive?id=1211928

Five Fine Miles: Tanawha Trail presents challenging terrain, but the rewards on the way and at the end are great

Read the Winston-Salem Journal article HERE

Guided hikes, trail building and raffle tickets for outdoor equipment will launch the first Mountains to Sea Trails Month in October co-sponsored by Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail (FMST) and Great Outdoor Provision Co.

The Mountains to Sea Trail is a linear state park that will eventually stretch from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Approximately half of the 1,000 mile length has been completed, most on federal and state lands.

“October is one of the best months to experience the trail,” said Kate Dixon, FMST executive director. “The temperature is cool for hiking or trail building and the fall colors will be terrific.”

Throughout the month FMST will offer guided hikes at some of the most scenic spots along the trail. There will also be trail construction days. Some of the handful of people who have hiked the entire trail will be making presentations across the state. The trail is roughly the equivalent of the distance from Raleigh to Boston.

Great Outdoor Provision Co.. a local outdoor retailer based in North Carolina, will conduct a raffle during the month with all proceeds going to help pay for additional construction of the trail. Great Outdoor Provision Co. will raffle prizes with a total value of more than $5000.

“The Mountains to Sea Trail is everything that’s good about the outdoors,” said Tom Valone, president . “It provides opportunities for families for a great selection of day hikes and the challenges and multi-day wilderness experience that backpackers are seeking. Our company is pleased to be part of this effort.”

Starting in mid-August more detailed information about Mountains to Sea Trail Month will be available on the FMST website at www.ncmst.org and www.greatoutdoorprovision.com.

We had 70 volunteers out working at Falls Lake this past Saturday - what a HOT Day!  We put in over 550 hours of work in one day on the MST!

We built about 1 mile of trail, 3 boardwalks, and carried two dump truck loads of trash out of the woods. We had a cookout afterwards courtesy of the Corps of Engineers.  Bruce Wisely received a plaque from the Army Corps - Partnership Award for all of his hard work at Fall Lake - Congrats Bruce!

Thanks to Parks and Rec for allowing us to use the shelter for free at Rolling View.  FYI - if you would like to camp out the same weekends as we work at Falls Lake - Rolling View will allow you to camp for free since we are working on the Falls Lake Trail.  Prior arrangements will need to be made for this - so please plan ahead as needed.

Thanks to Wildlife for the truck to remove trash - we have about 2 more loads to go.

Next workday is July 19, 2008 - Let’s hope its cooler than 102.

Thanks to everyone that worked on the MST at Falls Lake - what a great National Trails Day!

Jeff Brewer
FMST
www.ncmst.org

The Tar Heel state is a treasure trove of superlatives: she is home to the highest peak east of the Rocky Mountains (Mt. Mitchell, elevation: approx. 6,684 ft.), and sports the highest sand dune on the Atlantic coast (Jockey’s Ridge). As luck would have it (or perhaps, fate?), we have also been blessed with a trail that not only provides an opportunity to experience the highlights of North Carolina’s “great outdoors,” but also serves as an enjoyable tour for the points in-between.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail, established in 1973 with the approval of the North Carolina Trails System Act, has sought to connect the western and easternmost reaches of the state. According to Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the nonprofit organization charged with maintaining the trail’s integrity and original vision, the trail runs over 1000 miles, “consisting of footpaths, roads, and state bike routes.” And fortunately, most of the trail is easily accessible – perfect for the outdoor enthusiast with a busy schedule.

Over the next several months, Great Outdoor Provision Co. will reveal some of the best “weekend getaway” trips along the MST. Additionally, experts who have experienced the trail firsthand will discuss helpful hiking tips to make your backwoods experience in North Carolina, be it a simple scramble to the summit of Dare County’s looming sand dunes, a “dart” to the top of one of North Carolina’s many rhododendron-covered peaks, or something in-between. Guided hikes, trail workdays, and information sessions will also be held by Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail organization on a regular basis, with updates posted on our website at frequent intervals. Ultimately, it’s all about getting you “there and back with gas left in your tank.”

-TFV

» Next Workday is July 19 INFO

Celebrate National Trails Day by helping to build the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

May 24-25, 2008 - Blue Ridge Parkway - US-421 south towards US-321 - Come help the Chargers and Rechargers Task Force build the MST.

Boone/Blowing Rock – Blue Ridge Parkway : Saturday, June 7
8:30 a.m.
Meet on Blue Ridge Parkway, just south of US 421 entrance
RSVP to Allen de Hart — (919) 496-4771 or adh4771@aol.com

Wilkesboro – Blue Ridge Parkway : Saturday, June 14
8:30 a.m.
Meet at the Lump Overlook (MP 264.5) just south of NC 16 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
RSVP to Jim Hallsey – (336) 877-8831or jhallsey2@cs.com

Morganton – near Grandfather Mountain : Monday, June 2
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Meet at K-Mart parking lot in Morganton
RSVP to Bob Benner — (828) 437-6635

Triangle – Falls Lake : Saturday, June 7
Workday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cookout for all volunteers: 4:00 p.m. after the workday!
Meet at Rolling View State Recreation Area off Highway 98 in eastern Durham County
RSVP to Jeff Brewer – (919) 868-6274 or jdbrewer@bellsouth.net

Tools are provided for all workdays, but extra loppers, bowsaws and mattocks are always welcome. Please wear work clothes and bring a bag lunch, plenty of water, work gloves, hiking boots and sunscreen. Sorry no dogs allowed at workdays for safety reasons. Please consult us before bringing any children under the age of 12.

Flower Hill Rhodo Ramble Open House
May 3, 2008, 9 a.m. - noon
Join us for our traditional early May visit to this Johnston County jewel for the magnificent blooms of Catawba rhododendron and other wildflowers. In the mid-1930s, thousands of visitors flocked each year to behold the bountiful blooms. B.W. Wells, the prominent early 20th century naturalist, called Flower Hill a “freak of nature” for its natural stands of Catawba rhododendron, a mountain species out of its element amid the flat farmland of the Coastal Plain.

The Flower Hill Rhodo Ramble this year is one of our 25th Anniversary Outings. To make this year’s outing special we’re trying something new. In addition to the traditional interpretive walk led by local naturalists, we’re holding the event as an Open House. Volunteers will be on-site from 9 a.m. to noon to talk about the history of Flower Hill and its unique ecosystem.

Visitors can explore the preserve on their own or sign-up for the guided walk (begins at 10 a.m.; limit 30).

Registration is required for the guided walk due to the limited number of spaces available. Click here to register.

Registration is not required for other visitors to the Open House.

For Flower Hill directions and a locator map, click here.

They ask that you please leave your pet(s) at home for TLC outings.

Come help FMST extend the Falls Lake Trail to Durham!

Wake and Durham Counties - All land agencies have approved the MST routing from Old Boyce Mill Road to Rolling View (Phase II - 6 miles). The Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail (FMST) will host a work day at Falls Lake, a segment of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, on Saturday - see above dates from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The day will also consist of new trail construction (natural surface - hiking only) such as clearing brush, moving logs, and picking up debris. Additional volunteers and volunteer groups are welcomed. Volunteers must RSVP to 919-868-6274 or jdbrewer@bellsouth.net so we can plan work projects and have enough tools. Tools needed for the day include loppers, bowsaws, and mattocks. The FMST will supply most of the tools for this event. Please wear work clothes and bring a bag lunch, plenty of water, work gloves, hiking boots, and sunscreen. Sorry no dogs allowed at our workdays for safety reasons. If you are under the age of 12, please consult us before attending workdays.

All interested should meet at the Rolling View State Recreation Area at 9:00 AM shart. To get to Rolling View take Highway 98 to Baptist Road (at Neal Middle School) and follow it to Rolling View. Look for signs on the road that say “MST Work”.

Great Outdoor Provision Co. will be providing Chick-fil-a breakfast for the workers!

Next workday - June 7, 2008 - National Trails Day