What’s up in the GetHiking! and GetExploring! worlds this week and beyond.
GetHiking! Beginner Hike at Haw River State Park’s Iron Ore Belt Access
GetHiking! Triad
When: Wednesday, August 3, 5:45 p.m.
Where: Haw River State Park, Iron Ore Belt Access, 6068 Church Street, Greensboro
This 3.2-mile trail circles a sizable wetland, passes through grassy meadows and spends much of its time in mature woods (including some surprisingly big red cedars). And while the area is somewhat hilly, the trail sticks to the same contour around the wetland, offering surprisingly little climbing. A good beginner option, a great after-work option.
Hike leader: Jean Hylton
More info here
GetHiking! After Work!
GetHiking! Triangle
When: Thursday, August 4, 5 p.m.
Where: Umstead State Park / Harrison Avenue entrance, Cary
We’re back with our Thursday after-work hike at Umstead. The first half of this 4.2-mile hike is on the single-track Loblolly Trail, the second half on doublewide bike & bridle trail. A good hike for destressing and socializing.
Hike leader: Lori C.
More info here
GetHiking! Summertime Fitness Hike
GetHiking! Charlotte
When: Saturday, August 6, 8 a.m..
Where: Crowders Mountain State Park, 522 Park Office Lane, Kings Mountain
Got a summer vacation hike you need to train for? Our summertime fitness hikes are designed for all fitness levels; hike at your own pace, cover as much distance as you like. “Whether your goal is to become stronger, fitter, faster, or simply to get in a mile or two before lunchtime, you will enjoy these hikes!” promises hike leader Lisa.
Hike leader: Lisa
More info here
GetExploring! At Pettigrew State Park Weekend
GetExploring! Greenville
When: Sunday, Aug. 14, 10 a.m.
Where: Pettigrew State Park, 2252 Lake Shore Road, Creswell
Some of the oldest trees in the state are along the shores of Pettigrew State Park’s Lake Phelps, and we’ll be passing through them on this 6-mile hike to the Moccasin Canal and back. Trail surface is a mixture of dirt, grass, and boardwalks.
Hike leaders: Andrew and Lindsey
More info here.
GetHiking! Southeast’s Classic Hikes: A Smokies Weekend
GetHiking!
When: Friday, Aug. 19 – Sunday, Aug. 21
Where: Smokemont area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Our August Classic Hike takes us to a nationally recognized Classic: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Saturday, we’ll have two hikes: a 15-mile lollipop loop probing deep into the Smokies, and a 10-mile out-and-back along much of the same trail. Sunday, we’ll hike 5.5 miles on the Smokemont Loop Trail.
This hike is part of our 2016 GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes series, sequel to 2015’s inaugural GetHiking! North Carolina’s Classic Hikes series
Hike leaders: Joe Miller, Anne Triebert
More info here
MR.Walking to Virginia Crest Trail
GetHiking! Southeast’s Classic Hikes: Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (Virginia) Weekend
GetHiking!
When: Friday, Sept. 23 – Sunday, Sept. 25
Where: Beartree Campground, Mount Rogers
Partial as we are to North Carolina’s mountains, you can’t have a Southeast Classic Hike Series without including the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area of southwest Virginia. Basecamp for the weekend is the Beartree Group Camp on the north flank of the Mount Rogers massif in the George Washington National Forest.
Saturday, we will hike on the Appalachian Trail from Elk Garden north (east) past Mount Rogers to Rhododendron Gap. From there, we head south and pick up equestrian/hiking trail to return to Elk Garden. This hike will be in the 15-mile range; a shorter option of around 10 miles will also be available. The terrain is some of the most exposed in the southeast, with open meadows and rock outcrops dominating. It’s a slice of the western U.S. in Appalachia.
Sunday, we will break camp and drive to Scales for about 5 miles of hiking in similar terrain.
This hike is part of our 2016 GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes series, sequel to 2015’s inaugural GetHiking! North Carolina’s Classic Hikes series
Hike leaders: Joe Miller, Anne Triebert
More info here
Max Patch on the AT
GetHiking! Southeast’s Classic Hikes: Appalachian Trail at Hot Springs Weekend
GetHiking!
When: Friday, Nov. 11 – Monday, Nov. 14
Where: Laughing Heart Lodge (basecamp), Hot Springs, NC
Love to hike, but not camp? You’ll be cheered to hear that our last weekend hike of the 2016 Southeast’s Classic Hikes series will be based out of the Laughing Heart Lodge in Hot Springs. We’ve blocked out the lodge for Veterans Day Weekend, for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. First, about Laughing Heart …
You will need to make your own reservations. The main lodge has 7 guest rooms, all with private baths. There’s a cabin with kitchen, and, for the budget minded, there is a hostel with rates starting at $20 per night. Learn more about Laughing Heart, which is on the Appalachian Trail, and make reservations starting here. Mention you are with GetHiking! when making your reservation. Laughing Heat can accommodate about 30 people.
Now, the hiking:
Saturday, we will have two hikes. The longer hike, 14 miles, will begin at Max Patch and head north on the AT to Garenflo Gap. The shorter hike will begin at Lemon Gap and head north on the AT to Garenflo Gap. The Max Patch hike starts atop an impressive bald, meanders downhill and along creeks for 5 miles before a climb up Walter Mountain and a longer climb up Bluff Mountain, from there it’s a 4-mile descent to Garenflo Gap. The shorter hike follows the same path from Lemon Gap to Garenflo Gap.
Sunday, we also have two hikes. The longer, 13 miles, heads north on the AT from Hot Springs up Lovers Leap Ridge (great views of the French Broad River and Hot Springs below), to Rich Mountain, then returns on the Roundtop Ridge Trail. The shorter hike, 6 miles, follows the same AT route up Lovers Leap Ridge and ends at Tanyard Gap, on US 25.
Monday, we will catch a shuttle up to Garenflo Gap on the AT and continue heading north for 7 miles back to the Laughing Heart Lodge.
This hike is part of our 2016 GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes series, sequel to 2015’s inaugural GetHiking! North Carolina’s Classic Hikes series.
Hike leaders: Joe Miller, Anne Triebert
More info here
Backpacking
Shortoff Mountain, looking toward Lake James
GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking (Triangle)
GetHiking! Triangle
When: Four-week session starts Wednesday, Aug. 3, 6 p.m..
Where: Training is at Umstead and Eno River state parks, and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Falls Lake
Our Intro to Backpacking course consists of three training sessions focusing on a key skill each week. Week 1: Gear and packing; Week 2: Setting up (and breaking down) camp; Week 3: Rustlin’ up a meal. Each session includes a training hike of increasing length: 2, 4.5 and 6 miles. Then, in Week Four, we take a two-night graduation trip to South Mountains State Park.
Learn more about this fee program here.
GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking (Triad)
GetHiking! Triad
When: Four-week session starts Wednesday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m..
Where: Training is at three locations, tbd, in the Triad
Our Intro to Backpacking course consists of three training sessions focusing on a key skill each week. Week 1: Gear and packing; Week 2: Setting up (and breaking down) camp; Week 3: Rustlin’ up a meal. Each session includes a training hike of increasing length: 2, 4.5 and 6 miles. Then, in Week Four, we take a two-night graduation trip to South Mountains State Park.
Learn more about this fee program here.
Gear, Tips, Resources
Tip: Train now for fall hiking
That first cool day hits in late September and the thought occurs: I’m going to hike some epic mountain trails this fall.
Not if you don’t start training, you won’t.
Now’s the time to start getting in some after-work training hikes, building up your stamina so that when that great fall hiking weather rolls around, you’re ready for some serious mountain hiking. Although the days are getting shorter — incrementally at first, but noticeably in the near future — you can still get some miles in after work (see the mid-week hikes above in the Triad and Triangle). And while August weekends can be busy, there’s usually time — early Saturday morning, late Sunday afternoon — to squeeze in a hike.
Go short now, so you can go long in the fall.
Resource: American Hiking Society’s Families on Foot
Like the idea of taking the kids on a hike but nervous about making that happen? Consult the American Hiking Society’s Families on Foot program, which offers tips on hiking with kids, hiking etiquette, how to plan a hike, what to take on your hike and where to take the family on a hike. (Be cautious of that last one. The site has 346 trails for North Carolina; the first one that popped up was the Mount Mitchell / Black Mountain Crest Trail, one of the hardest trails in the state.)
Start your family hike process here.
Gear: Mountain Hardwear Bozeman Flame sleeping bag
When it comes to sleeping bags, you can spend an arm and a leg to keep your arms and legs dry, especially when it comes to late fall and mild winter camping. You can spend the bucks, but you don’t have to, as Mountain Hardwear’s Bozeman Flame testifies. You can easily pay $300 or more for a bag rated down to 20 degrees. The BF, however, will set you back a third of that, retailing for just $109. Said OutdoorGearLab.com in a 2015 review: “Designed with generous dimensions for the shape (many backpacking bags are 6 inches narrower), this bag does a good job balancing the thermally efficient mummy shape with extra room for comfort.” Especially good news for you claustrophobic campers.
Learn more here.