Our upcoming adventures …
Hikes
GetHiking! Friday Night Hikes, on the MST
GetHiking! Triangle
When: Friday, Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m..
Can’t make are midweek night hikes because they’re on a school night? Welcome to Friday Night Hikes, in this case a 4.2-mile stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along Falls Lake between the Barton Creek Boat Ramp and NC 98 (then back). We like this stretch for night hikes for several reasons, including the fact it has good parking and it’s NC Wildlife Resources Commission Land, so it’s legal to hike here in the dark. Clear skies permitting, this should be an especially popular hike: it occurs under a full moon.
Hike leader: Anne Triebert
More info here.
GetHiking! Double Loop at Crowders Mountain
GetHiking! Charlotte
When: Saturday, Jan. 23, 8 a.m.
Hike leader David Brantley lives a stone’s throw from North Carolina’s Crowders Mountain State Park and he’s eager to share some of his favorite hikes at the park west of Charlotte. On Saturday, he’ll do a double loop from the Visitor Center, first to Crowders Mountain and back, then to Kings Pinnacle and back. The first loop is about 5.2 miles, the second around 3.
Hike leader: David Brantley
More info will be posted shortly on the GetHiking! Charlotte Meetup site.
GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes: Neusiok Trail
GetHiking! Charlotte, Triad, Triangle
When: Sunday, Jan. 24, 8:30 a.m.
Some trails are best hiked at specific times of the year. The Neusiok, for instance, which has a hiking window of roughly November through mid-March, when the flying and slithering critter populations are chilled and subdued. The cold becomes the Neusiok, which runs 21 miles
through the coastal Croatan National Forest, for other reasons, too. Namely, the denuded forest offers views deep into the woods, where you’ll have better odds of spying heartier woodland creatures.
This hike begins along the south bank of the mile-wide Neuse River, then heads inland through pine savannah and pocosin (upland swamp, which is navigated via boadwalk), past entertaining remnants of the region’s not-too-distant past (stills), and through a brief hilly area more typical of the Appalachians than the Atlantic coast.
This hike will have two components: the full enchilada and a shorter version that will cover about 7 miles. There is some rolliness to the first 5 miles or so of both hikes; after that it’s pretty flat. A good long hike to begin the year.
Hike leaders: Joe Miller, Anne Triebert
More info here. (Continue reading for more information on our Classic Hikes program.)
GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes 2016
GetHiking! Charlotte, Triad, Triangle
When: Throughout 2016
Our Classic Hikes program returns in 2016, on an expanded scale: next year’s lineup includes two hikes in Virginia, hence the name change to GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes.
You can learn more about the program, get detailed information on the hikes, and sign up, at GetGoingNC.com. Here’s a quick lineup of what’s scheduled for next year:
January: Neusiok Trail
Croatan National Forest, Havelock
Sunday, Jan. 24
February: Uwharrie Recreation Trail
Uwharrie National Forest, Asheboro
Saturday, Feb. 20
March: Doughton Park
Blue Ridge Parkway, Roaring Gap
Saturday, March 19
April: Appalachian Trail
James River Face, Lynchburg, Va.
Saturday, April 2
May: Mountains-to-Sea Trail
Craggy Mountains, Pisgah National Forest
Saturday/Sunday, May 7-8
June: Davidson River / North Mills River
Pisgah National Forest, Brevard
Saturday/Sunday, June 18-19
July: Standing Indian / Appalachian Trail
Nantahala National Forest, Franklin
Saturday/Sunday, July 16-17
August: Great Smoky Mountains National Park / Deep Creek
Bryson City
Saturday/Sunday, Aug. 13-14
September: Grayson Highlands / Mount Rogers
Saturday/Sunday, Sept. 23/24
October: Sam Knob (Shining Rock area) / Panthertown Valley
Cashiers
Saturday/Sunday, Oct. 22/23
November: Appalachian Trail
Hot Springs
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Nov. 11-13
December: Mount Mitchell
Pisgah National Forest / Mount Mitchell State Park
Saturday, Dec. 31
Tip of the week: Start small with winter hikes!
With temperatures finally dropping below freezing, snow becomes a possibility on our hikes. That can be good news or bad news, depending on your perspective. Either way, snow doesn’t need to put a halt to hiking. Here are a few ways to make sure your trip doesn’t snowball, but is a success!
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” is a common sentiment, and a good one by which to live when planning your first winter hike. While a 10-mile hike might be no problem in other seasons, you could run into ice or deep snow on the same trail 
in the winter.
Roads typically used to access
Photo courtesy NelsonCountyLife.com trails could be closed during winter months so it’s always best to call ahead to learn closures and alternate routes, or to have a back up trail planned.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the sun sets earlier in the winter. It is essential to start early and to know approximately what time the sun will set. Make sure your hike is over well before that time to avoid potential accidents or getting lost.
For more thoughts on safe winter hiking, go here.
Resource of the week: Suggested winter hikes
If a hike in the snow sounds like your cup of tea, check out these suggested winter hikes in Asheville! Since a few of these are accessed by the Blue Ridge Parkway, be sure to check ahead to see if the trailhead is accessible. You can access real time closures online here or by calling 828-298-0398 to reach the recorded Park Information Line.