trailmarker - Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club
Transcription
trailmarker - Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club
TRAILMARKER The Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club Newsletter November December 2012 Since 1982 Volume 30 Number 6 PHOC in Rocky Mountain National Park Visit us on the Web http://www.piedmonthikingandoutingclub.org Page 4 of 12 About our Hike Rating System Our rating system provides a useful, general gauge of a hike’s difficulty. It factors in distance and elevation gain and is intended to help you choose hikes that you will find most enjoyable. R0-R10 These are more walks than hikes. They’re usually close to home, the trails are flat, and distances are generally short. An after-dinner walk around the block would be rated R1 or R2. Our Wednesday Night Walks are R5. R10-R20 Most of these hikes will be in the lower mountains and foothills. Distances will be about 5-8 miles, with vertical ranging from 500-1000 feet...not easy if you’re new to hiking! Trails will be dirt and rock. As long as you’re in moderately good shape, you should be able to enjoy the outing. R20-R30 Hikes in the low end of this range will be too hard and overly stressful for many new members. Plan on an all-day trip, with at least 4 hours of continuous hiking in rugged and steep terrain. At a minimum, be sure to pack two quarts of water, lunch, a snack, and rain gear. R30-R40 These are strenuous hikes. They will usually be 10+ miles, with climbs of 2000+ feet. They’re appropriate only for those who have done a number of lower rated hikes. R40+ These hikes are usually 12 or more miles with 3000 feet or more of elevation gain. They’re appropriate only for fit, experienced hikers. Check with hike leader about the trip if you are wanting to do this trip for the first time. Outings Every Wednesday Night Walk and Dinner at the Piedmont Environmental Center. The Wednesday night Walkers will meet every Wednesday evening at the Friendly Shopping Center at 6:30 pm for a brisk walk before dinner. The group will go to dinner after the walk unless the walk is cancelled due to bad weather, in which case the group will not go to dinner. Outings Page 5 of 12 The Wednesday Night Walkers will meet every Wednesday evening in the Friendly Shopping Center parking lot near Tex and Shirley’s at 6:30 PM for a brisk walk before dinner. If bad weather cancels the walk, we will not go to dinner. Note: We will not walk on November 28 or December 26. Fri, Nov 2 NC Dance Festival Aycock Auditorium, UNCG Join us for dinner and the 22nd year of the North Carolina Dance Festival featuring modern dance performances by professional North Carolina dance companies. As in the passed two years we’ll meet on the steps of Aycock Auditorium and choose one of the many eateries right there on Tate Street for dinner and then enjoy the performance. Check out www. ncdancefestival.org for information about the festival and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =bLIOL5XVLps&feature=youtu.be Let me know by October 24th if you’re coming so I can purchase the tickets in advance. There is a group rate for 10 or more. Meet for dinner at 6:15. Performance begins at 8:00. $18 adults $14 seniors and students $8 group Sat, Nov 3 Doughton Park-Primitive and Flat Rockk Let’s head for Doughton Park, exercise our lungs and legs up the Bluff Ridge trail (aka Primitive), meander along the Bluff Mountain trail, and leisurely wend our way back down to base along my favorite trail, Flat Rock. We can still enjoy the beautiful foliage of the abundant rhododendrons and mountain laurels while, at this time of year, some already barren trees will afford us the many great views offered along the three trails. In PHOC parlance this hike is considered a “sturdy” hike and thus for experienced hikers only. For those who want to eat a bite before heading back to Greensboro, Elkin offers several exciting opportunities. Please call Nicole for meeting place and time. [13 miles; +/-3300 feet; R-46] Sat, Nov 3 Heartbreak Ridge to Pinnacle Old Fort, NC This hike starts near Old Fort, parallels a creek for a warm up stretch, and then starts climbing up Heartbreak Ridge. The climb is not steep but it is unrelenting. To compensate, there are lots of good views to be had along the way. It then goes up steeply for a relatively short distance to the top of Blue Ridge Pinnacle, with 360 degree views of Mt. Mitchell, Graybeard, Table Rock, etc. After lunch on Pinnacle, we’ll head back down. Those interested will stop at Yianniís for dinner on the way back. Call or email for meeting times and places. [14 miles; +/- 4000; R54] Outings Page 6 of 12 Sun, Nov 4 Greenway Bike Ride Greensboro Meet at the Bur-Mil Wildlife Educ. Center at 1:00 p.m. This 18.5 or 21.5 mile out-and-back will be a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. When departing from the Wildlife center we will head north beyond Strawberry Rd , turn around, take the Greenway to Country/Battleground Park looping each once, after getting back on the Greenway we will head to Target Parking lot on Lawndale, this is our turnaround point. Bring plenty of water and snacks. Please call/email to let me know that you are coming. Wed, Nov 7 Dinner Sat, Nov 10 W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir Warrior Creek Trail, Wilkesboro, NC Let’s hike the Warrior Creek trail. This is a beautiful single track trail up and down ravines in a mixed mature hardwood forest that meanders around inlets next to the Kerr Scott Reservoir. This trail only an hour and a 1/2 from Greensboro probably has the best trail surface of any we hike, with no long continuous steep uphill grades since it was designed for Mountain bikers. Please call or email if you are planning to come. [13 miles +/- 1750 ft. R30] Wednesday Night Walk and See page 4 for details. Sat, Nov 10 Stone Mtn State Park Fri, Nov 9 Imperial Koi 7:00pm 1941 New Garden Road, Greensboro Lets rendezvous to the best Japanese restaurant in the Triad area. The outing will be limited to 30 people. Last time we had a full group and everyone truly enjoyed the quiet atmosphere, low density seating and excellent food. This is a busy place, and the management requests a two-week notice for large parties. Please RSVP by October 26th and I‘ll broadcast a reminder message just before that date. MST -- Stone Mtn State Park to Devils Garden Overlook and back. Scenic and brisk paced hike on the MST at Stone Mountain SP to Devils Garden Overlook where we will have lunch. We will return on the same route. Contact me for meeting details. [12 miles, R40] Outings Sun, Nov 11 Page 7 of 12 Lake Townsend Loop Greensboro Watershed Trails Join us for a hike around part of Lake Townsend, using three of Greensboroís watershed trails - Osprey, Blue Heron, and Peninsula. Let’s meet at 1:00 PM at the Osprey Trail parking area on Yanceyville Road. The parking area is on the left traveling North, just before 4910 Yanceyville Rd. (Note: the parking area is about 0.25 miles South of the Townsend Trail trailhead). Bring water and snack [7.5 miles, R 9]. Call or E-Mail us if you have questions. Sun, Nov 11 Trail Maintenance 1:00 & 5:00 pm Hanging Rock & Pilot Mountain State Parks questions. Please let them know your choice of parks so that they may coordinate with the Rangers for tools and materials. Mon, Nov 12 Monthly Meeting 7:30pm Piedmont Environmental Center Ben Harris will entertain us this month with photos and a discussion of a trip that several PHOC members made back in August to Rocky Mountain National Park. RMNP is located just north of Denver, Colorado and features a destination hike there: the ascent of Long’s Peak, a 14’er and highest point in the park. Meet for refreshments and fellowship at 7:00 with the business portion of the meeting beginning at 7:30 in the Piedmont Environmental Center on Penny Road in Jamestown. Wed, Nov 14 Dinner Late Fall and time for our semi-annual trail work in the parks. Join Matt at Pilot Mountain or Jay at Hanging Rock for work on the trails there we love to hike. We will be working on trail that is part of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail in each park. Specific trail work will be determined closer to the work date so email Matt or Jay for specifics. The club will reward our efforts again with some delicious food at Ben’s house afterward as Ben plans to cook an old fashioned Brunswick Stew outside over his new fire pit. Bring snacks, water, and heavy work gloves. Contact Matt or Jay with Wednesday Night Walk and See page 4 for details. Thu, Nov 15 PHOC Round table Discussion and Dinner Outing 6:30pm Shoneyís Restaurant NC Hwy 68 and I 40 Meet at Shoneys off NC Hwy 68 and I-40 for fun, food, and good times to give a little back to one of the clubís silent members. Meet in the parking lot at 6:30. For additional information please contact Ken Cook. Outings Page 8 of 12 Sat, Nov 17 Doughton Park Loop Please join Jean Hylton and David Lowe for this great hike just an hour and a half from Shoneys. We will go up Flat Rock, across the top along Bluff Mountain, and back down Cedar Ridge Ridge. Email Jean for meeting place and time. [17 mi/3200/R49] Sun, Nov 18 1:00pm Sat, Nov 24 Stone Mountain Trails Stone Mountain State Park Today we will hike the Stone Mountain, Wolf Rock and Cedar rock trails in Stone Mountain State Park. These trails offer spectacular views of the park and the surrounding mountains. The hike will begin at the upper parking lot and trail head. Meet at Shoney’s in Greensboro and be ready to leave at 8:00 a.m. or meet us at the Jonestown Road exit off US 421 in WinstonSalem behind McDonald’s at 8:30. [7 miles, +/-1600 feet, R23] Salem Lake Bike Ride Winston-Salem Sat, Nov 24 Appalachian Trail at Whitetop Mountain Mount Rogers Recreation Area, Virginia Join me for an afternoon of biking at Salem Lake. We will circle the lake, then cruise the Salem Creek Greenway to the town of Old Salem. Shops may be open to purchase a snack. Meet at Salem Lake parking lot at 1:00pm. [Approx. 18 miles] Wed, Nov 21 Dinner Wednesday Night Walk and See page 4 for details. This will be a shuttle hike over the shoulder of Whitetop Mountain from Creek Junction on the Appalachian Trail to Elk Garden. One interesting feature of this hiking route is the change in vegetation from trees typical of the southern Appalachians to ones common in the central Appalachians. Views from the side of Whitetop toward the mountains of northwestern North Carolina can be outstanding. The popular dinner stop in Sparta following hikes in the Mount Rogers area is Mis Arados. Bring water and lunch and wear layered clothing. If interested in this outing, contact David, preferably by noon on Friday before the hike. [10 miles, 2800 feet, R38] Outings Sun, Nov 25 Page 9 of 12 Watershed Walk Bur-Mil Park We’ll meet in front of the Wildlife Center in Bur-Mil at 9:30 am to walk down the greenway to the Palmetto Trail, connect to Nat Greene and return via the greenway. Please let me know if you’ll be joining me. [5 miles, R6] Saturday New Member Orientation Hike December 1 Pilot Mountain State Park Sat, Dec 1 Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Burmil Park Wildlife Center (5834 Burmil Club Road) for a scenic 11.5-mile walk around Lake Brandt, using the Piedmont, Nat Greene, and Owl’s Roost Trails. This is a club favorite. Bathroom/water/snack break at marina at about the 4.5 mile mark. Lakeside and through the woods. We will be finished about 12:45. [R-18] Sat, Dec 1 Prospective, recent or veteran members are invited to meet at 10:00 in the Parking lot high atop Pilot Mountain state Park. We will have a short presentation on hiking essentials and opportunity for questions to be answered about the club. Afterward, there will be a short hike on the Ledge Spring Trail, Jomeokee Trail, and the Sassafras Trail. The hike will be a moderate and leisurely pace and be approximately 3.5 miles long. Please where appropriate clothing and hiking shoes, bring rain gear, plenty of water and a snack. Please e-mail me if you plan to attend. Lake Brandt Loop Greensboro Hanging Rock State Park Please join us for a hike from the lowest point in Hanging Rock State Park to the highest and back down. We will hike from the Dan River to the Moore’s Knob Tower. This is an 11.5 mile round trip with an estimated 1859 foot elevation gain and loss. There will be restroom and water bottle breaks going up and down at the visitor center. Bring a lunch to enjoy on the mountain top. Be prepared for multiple stream crossings on the Indian Creek Trail. Between rest stops, lunch, sightseeing, and photograph breaks, expect to hike at least 6 hours. Beside the Indian Creek Trail, weíll also hike the Moore’s Wall Loop Trail, which is considered strenuous. The Indian Creek Trail is considered moderate. We will have the option of tacking on an additional 2.6 miles by hiking Hanging Rock Trail on the way back down. We’ll decide based on how we feel after the initial hike to the highest point in the park. Please call or email for meeting location and times. [11.5 miles: +/- 1859: R30] Outings Page 10 of 16 Sun, Dec 2 Bur Mil Park Owls Roost Let’s meet at 1:30 PM at the Wildlife Center in Bur Mil Park and hike the Owls Roost watershed trail to the Greenway, and then back again, using the Fire Lane trail for part of the return trip. Proceed North on 220, part Horse Pen Creek Rd on the let, then right at the traffic light at Owls Roost, and then left into Bur Mil park. Bear right at the club house, park in the circular driveway at the bottom of the hill. no need to call, but please do if you have questions [7 mi, R-9]. Wed, Dec 5 Dinner Wednesday Night Walk and See page 4 for details. Sat, Dec 8 Doughton Park Flat Rock and Grassy Gap call Nicole for meeting time and place. [13 miles. +/-2300 feet. R-36] December 8-9, 2012 Saturday & Sunday Nothing beats the twinkle of a gazillion stars on a crisp winter night. Let’s kick-off the winter backpacking season (or end the fall season, depending on your perspective) with a romp around the 400+ miles of trails in the Mount Rogers High Country. We’ll likely hike directly to the shelter/camp site, drop packs, and then explore our surroundings. Route dependant on conditions, but probably around 11 miles per day. Expect cold and hope for snow: robust winter backpacking skills and gear will be needed! Email for further details if you’d like to come along. [18-22 miles, +/- 2000í, R-Cold] Sun, Dec 9 Doughton Park is one of those places that can be savored in all seasons of the year. So with winter upon us, let us once again explore this little gem of a park and tackle a few of those streams before they start icing up on us. And, who knows, with some luck we may be following the tracks of one of those famous Doughton Park bears heading out for winter quarters (just kidding). We will hike up the Flat Rock Trail and down Grassy Gap (otherwise known as the Horse Trail). This hike is a loop of 13 miles with approximately 2300+ feet of cumulative elevation gain. On the way back, we will have a choice of several eateries in Elkin. Please Backpacking Trip Mt. Rogers Birkhead Loop Uwharrie National Forest Join me for an easy 9 mile loop hike in the Birkhead Wilderness southwest of Asheboro. We’ll see old home sites, Bingham Graveyard, old pit mines, several creeks but creek crossings should not be an issue. We’ll start at the Robin’s Branch Trailhead about 10am. Bring lunch and the essentials. Carpool at the old Nascar CafÈ building at Four Seasons Town Center 8:45am. Please contact Jim if you are participating for any last minute changes. [9 miles R-20.] Outings Wed, Dec 12 Dinner Page 11 of 16 Wednesday Night Walk and See page 4 for details. Sat, Dec 15 Annual Holiday Party 6:00pm RH Barringer Distributing Co. Entertainment & Social Committee 1620 Fairfax Road, Greensboro NC 27407 RSVP & Music Selections via Email: [email protected] Thu, Dec 13 PHOC Round table Discussion and Dinner Outing 6:30pm Shoney’s Restaurant NC Hwy 68 and I 40 Meet at Shoney’s off NC Hwy 68 and I-40 for fun, food, and good times to give a little back to one of the club’s silent members. Meet in the parking lot at 6:30. For additional information please contact Ken Cook. Come on out and join the fun at RH Barringer Distributing Company at 1620 Fairfax Road in Greensboro. Thank you to Fred Craig for access to this location. The party starts at 6:00pm. The catered dinner will be at 6:30pm. A complete dinner, soft drinks and hot coffee/tea after dinner will be provided. Bring your own adult beverage and a dessert to share if you like. This year we are stepping up the fun with a DJ! Yes PHOC members, a DJ will be spinning tunes for our listening pleasure before and during dinner and for our dancing pleasure after dinner. Our goal is music that everyone feels compelled to get up and shake a leg. To that end we ask members to suggest their favorite tunes from any era or music genre to guide our DJ’s selections. We can’t promise to get to everyone’s request, but our DJ will do his best to accommodate as many people as possible. Non-refundable cost of $5 per PHOC member and $15 per non PHOC member. Guests and PHOC members both pay the holiday party fee. This event will be limited to the first 125 members and guests who submit their payment. After we reach 125 people there will be a waiting list and any cancellations will go to the wait list people, in date order. Send your payment (check or money order) of $5 per member and $15 non member to: Piedmont Hiking & Outing Club P.O. Box 10613 Greensboro, NC 27404-0613 Outings Page 12 of 16 Sun, Dec 16 Lake Townsend Trail Greensboro Watershed Trails Lets meet at 1:30 PM for an easy, scenic hike along the wooded southern edge of Lake Townsend. From Battleground Ave or Lawndale, proceed east on Pisgah Church, continue east on Lees Chapel, bear left at Brightwood School, turn left at the T at Rudd Station Road, cross over the RR tracks and keep straight on South Shore Road for about 1/3 of a mile. Park in the gravel parking lot on your left. Allow about twenty minutes drive time from Battleground. No need to call. [8 mi, R-8] Wed, Dec 19 Dinner Wednesday Night Walk and See page 4 for details. Sat, Dec 22 W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir Over Mountain Victory Trail, Wilkesboro, NC Need to get away from the Christmas madness and stretch your legs in the crisp mountain air then join me in hiking the Overmountain Victory Trail at Kerr Scott Dam. This hike is similar to the Warrior Creek hike (see Nov. 10th hike) shorter but just as enjoyable. Great hike for moderate hikers as an additional 2.5 mile loop can be added. We will need at least two vehicles as this is a one way shuttle hike to the visitors center. Please call or email me if you are planning to come. [6 or 8.5 mile (when Shiners loop is added) +/- 1000 ft R16 to 20] Sat, Dec 22 Bluff Ridge Flat Rock Ridge Trails Doughton Park This hike includes the demands of the steep Bluff Ridge primitive trail but also the viewing rewards of the southern section of the Bluff Mountain trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway and of the Flat Rock Ridge trail. Participants in this outing will enjoy recent improvements in the southern portion of the Bluff Mountain trail. A dinner stop at Mis Arados or Amalfiís in Elkin can be a reward for the day’s physical exertion. Bring water and lunch and wear layered clothing. If interested in this outing, please contact David, preferably by noon on Friday before the hike. [13 miles, 3300 feet, R46] Outings Sun, Dec 23 1:00pm Page 13 of 16 Laurel Bluff/Reedy Fork Greensboro Watershed Let’s meet at 1:00pm and hike the Laurel Bluff and Reedy Fork watershed trails. Proceed north on Lake Brandt Road, past the Marina on the left, cross over the bridge at the dam, and park in the gravel parking lot on the right. [7 miles, R-8] Sat, Dec 29 McAfee Knob & Tinkers Cliff Today we will visit the beautiful Catawba/Roanoke Valleys. We will climb up the steep and strenuous trail to the top of Tinker Mountain. The views are not to be missed. We will proceed along the ridge line to start another climb up to the top of McAfee KnobÖ. another gorgeous view. Then we will all end the day with our favorite partÖÖ..DINNER! Please bring PLENTY OF WATER!!! Call/Email Jill for meeting time and place. [13 miles, 3600 ft, R-49] Sun, Dec 30 1:00pm Lake Shore Trails PEC Join me at 1:00pm in the PEC parking lot for a Sunday afternoon along the lake shore trails at the Piedmont Environmental Center on Penny Road. [Apprx. 7.5 miles] Tue, Jan 1, 2013 To be determined. New Year’s Day Hike