Every Wednesday Night Walk

Wednesday       Friendly Shopping Center

The Wednesday walkers will meet at Friendly Shopping Center in the parking lot near Tex & Shirley's at 6:30 p.m.  We'll be walking through the Bog Garden and Bicentennial Garden.  Rain or shine.  The group will go to dinner after the walk.

January 1 Hanging Rock Trail

Thursday at 11 AM Hanging Rock State Park

Join us for our annual PHOC New Year’s Day outing to Hanging Rock State Park. There’ll be plenty of time to sleep in before this hike, so no excuses! After hike dinner outing TBD. Meet at Shoney’s at NC-68 & I-40 at 11 a.m. or noon at the Visitor Center.

January 3 Stone Mountain Hike

Saturday at 8 AM Stone Mountain State Park

Today’s 10 mile hike will take us over Cedar Rock, Wolf Rock by three waterfalls and over Stone Mountain. Most of this hike will be on trails that show up on the map which will include the horse trail. Plan to leave Shoney’s (I40 & 68) at 8 A.M; will pick up at Jonestown exit at 8:30. Please e-mail Hubert if you plan to hike.

January 4           Lake Brandt hike

Sunday at 2 PM Greensboro Watershed Trails

Today we will hike 5 miles at Lake Brandt. This will not be a fast pace hike, so plan to spend around 3 hours on the hike and shuttle. Please meet at Lake Brandt Marina at 2 P.M. at the upper parking lot (this is at the entrance gate) on Lake Brandt Road. No need to call to go on this hike. {5 miles +-200 ft R-7}

January 7 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner

January 8 Scotch Tasting and Appetizers

Thursday at 7 PM Village Tavern

This outing will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Tavern in Greensboro to responsibly sample several high quality scotch selections and enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres. A representative will discuss the qualities and characteristics of the selections. Cost is $50 per person. There must be at least 20 participants. Please notify Jon no later than December 31.

January 10 Rock Castle Gorge

Saturday at 7:30 AM Stuart, Va

This is one of the club's favorite hikes, only about 1 1/2 hours from Greensboro. Meet at Shoney's (I-40 and 68) at 7:30 a.m., or at the Hardee's in Stuart Va. at 8:30 a.m. About 2 miles of this 11-mile walk is quite steep; it is all beautiful. 2100 feet elevation gain. Vistas, rock gardens, stream-side strolls. If it's cold, dress for it. Call or email Jon if questions. 11 miles R-35.

January 11 Lake Higgins

Sunday at 1 PM Greensboro Watershed Trails

I keep hoping for snow every time I lead this hike; although the gods have not obliged so far, the laws of statistics are with me, so perhaps this year. Let's meet at the Bald Eagle trailhead at 1:00 pm. Travel North on Battleground, past Bur Mil and Owl's Roost, turn left on Hamburg Mill road. Park in the gravel lot just after you pass the main gate of the Lake Higgins Marina. Please call if you are coming [7 miles +/-300 feet R10].

January 14, Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner

January 17 Scott Ridge/MTS Trail Loop

Saturday Stone Mountain State Park

This primarily ridge-based hike requires no rock hopping across creeks but does include some relatively steep climbs. The route is through the backpack campsites on the Widow’s Creek Trail, up Scott Ridge to the abandoned aerial tramway site, and back down the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Views of the ridges of Stone Mountain State Park, of Stone Mountain itself from above, and of the valley beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway are excellent. The route can be safely hiked even with snow on the ground. Hikers can be home for supper at a normal time. [11 miles 2800 feet R39]

January 18 Lake Townsend Trail

Sunday at 1 PM Greensboro Watershed Trails

Lets meet at 1 PM for an easy, scenic hike along the wooded southern edge of Lake Townsend, at times right up close to the water. From Battleground Ave, 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 of your left. No need to call. [8 mi, R-8]

Annual pot Luck Dinner Bur-Mil Clubhouse

January 18 at 6:30 PM Cedar Room

This year's annual pot luck will be at Bur-Mil. Our potluck format always assures good food. Come join us to elect and install our officers for 2009. Bring a dish to share, along with a serving utensil. Drinks and tableware will be provided. This meeting commemorates the start of 2009 with new officers and is always a good time. Hope to see you there. RSVP's not necessary.

We will be in the Cedar Room at the Bur-Mil clubhouse. There will be some seating, but if convenient, please bring a chair. From town, head north on Battleground, passing Wal-Mart. Turn right onto Owls Roost Rd, then left into Bur Mil. Clubhouse is straight ahead, with parking on the left.

Our slate of officers for 2009 is: Ken Yates, President; Jim Pritchett, Vice-President; Lyn Irving, Treasurer; and Jean Freeman, Secretary. At the meeting, a motion may be made to amend Article 3 of the bylaws to provide in substance that the Executive Board may amend the amount of annual dues. Approval of such a motion would require the vote of 2/3 of the members present. (The bylaws currently provide that changing the dues requires the vote of club members, not the executive board.) Current bylaws can be viewed on our website, shown on the front of this Trailmarker.

January 21 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner

January 24 Sugarloaf & Morrow Mt Trails

Saturday Morrow Mt State Park

Let’s head south to Morrow Mountain State Park; an under-represented park on our club hikes. We’ll start from the horse parking lot, but will avoid the muddy horse trails common to the park. We’ll head out the Sugarloaf Trail; meet with Morrow Mt Trail to the summit; around the Mountain Loop Trail; and return. Sugarloaf Trail is a loop and Morrow Mt is an out-and-back. Please call or email for meeting time and place. [8.8 miles +/- 800 miles R-20]

January 24 Breakfast Kayaking Event

Saturday at 7:30 AM Belews Lake

PEC director Dick Thomas and PHOC members meet on Belews Lake , public access off Hwy 65. Limit of 12-14 people , minimum 9. $40.00 for PHOC members. Hot Breakfast served after kayaking to designated island. Price includes breakfast, kayaks, pfds etc. and personal guide. If you wish to join us please contact and I will be glad to answer all further questions.

January 25 Bicentennial Greenway

Sunday PEC

We will start at the PEC on Penny Road. We will take the Lakeshore trail, the Greenway, and the Deep River Trail. Due to the length of this hike, we will meet at the PEC @ 11AM. Bring water, snack and dress appropriately. [9 Miles R11]

January 28 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner

January 31 Mt. Mitchell Trail

Saturday Mt. Mitchell State Park

Join me and other intrepid club members for the 3rd annual Mt. Mitchell winter hike. This is a difficult hike and dangerous for the unprepared; metal-tipped hiking poles and slip-on foot traction (crampons or YakTrax) are required. There will be ice. We will start at Black Mt Campground, head up the MST/Mt Mitchell trail to the summit, down Camp Alice Trail to the Commissary Ridge Trail, back to the MST and finally back to the campground. Please call or email for meeting time and place; we will get an early start to get off the mountain in the light. This hike is weather dependent and an alternate hike will be done if necessary. [12.5 miles +/- 3680 feet R-50+]

January 31 Stone Mountain Hike

Saturday at 8 AM Stone Mountain State Park

This hike will be 7.5 miles in length passing over Wolf Rock and Stone Mountain and by three waterfalls. We will take our time during the hike so plan on being on the trail between 5 and 5 1/2 hours. Please e-mail me if you plan to hike. Meet at Shoney’s at hwy 68 and be ready to leave at 8 A.M. Anyone that wants to meet on the west side of Winston, I will meet you at the Jonestown exit in the parking lot behind McDonalds at 8:30. If it is raining, the hike will be cancelled.  Feel free to phone or e-mail me if you have questions.

February 1 Greensboro Watershed Trails

Sunday at 2 PM Bur-Mil Park

This hike is a loop of approximately 8 miles. We will start out in the lower parking lot at BurMil Park. We will hike south on the Greenway until it intersects with the Nat Greene trail; we will take the Nat Green Trail to the Lake Brandt Marina for a restroom/snack break; we will carefully cross the bridge on Lake Brandt road and take the Piedmont Trail to its terminus on the Greenway; we well then take the Greenway south to our cars at BurMil. This hike will start at 2 p.m. No need to call or email but please do if you have questions. [ 8 miles R10 ]

February 4 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner

February 7 Caudill Cabin

Saturday Doughton Park

This hike goes along side of and back and forth across Basin Creek for a little under 5 miles to a one room cabin in a valley at the end. There is a waterfall and lots of other nice scenery on this very moderate hike. Please call for meeting time and place, and remember to bring raingear, water, and lunch. A walking stick or pole may help with the stream crossings. If hikers are interested, we may stop for a snack or early dinner on the way back. [10 miles +/- 1425 ft R24]

February 8 Lake Brandt

Sunday Nat Greene Trail

Let's take a leisurely hike along Lake Brandt on the Nat Greene Trail, a PHOC sponsored trail. Parks & Rec. says this trail is 3.6 miles so out & back makes it 7.2 miles. Meet at the trail head in the lower lot at the marina off Lake Brandt Road at 1 p.m. There is no need to call in advance. [7.2 miles R8]

February 9 February Meeting
Monday  Piedmont Environmental Center

Meet for refreshments and fellowship at 7 p.m. at the Piedmont Environmental Center.  The business portion and program will start at 7:30 p.m.  A map to the PEC is shown on page 8.

Don Ip will entertain us with his narrative and photo presentation of the club October 2008 trip to Utah.  Part of the trip was exploring Lake Powell onboard a houseboat and part was hiking in the Escalante Staircase Slot Canyon.  The photos are awesome.

February 11 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner

February 14 Brinegar Cabin

Saturday at 8:00 AM Doughton Park

Let's go to Doughton Park on what I promise will be a beautiful pre-spring day, and hike up from Long Bottom Road to the Brinegar Cabin on the Cedar Ridge Trail. This hike is a tad under 9 miles with approximately 2200 feet elevation gain. The Greensboro folks will meet at Shoney's at 8:00 am and the Winston crowd at the Jonestown exit McDonald's at 8:30 am. We will stop in Elkin for a snack or a bit of early supper on the way back. This hike is for experienced hikers only. Please call to let me know you're coming. Rating: R31.

February 15 Owls Roost Loop

Sunday at 1 PM Bur-Mil Park

Lets meet at 1 PM at the Wildlife Center in Bur Mil Park and hike the Owls Roost watershed trail to the Greenway, and then back again, taking the Fire-Lane shortcut, for a total of 7 miles. Proceed North on 220, turn right at the traffic light at Owls Roost, and then left into Bur Mil Park. Bear right at the club house and park in the circular drive way at the bottom of the hill. No need to call, but please do if you have questions. [R-9].

February 18 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner

February 21 Rock Castle Gorge

Saturday at 7:30 AM Stuart, Va

The 11-mile spring and fall Rock Castle hikes are favorites of the club. This is a wonderful hike anytime of the year and is especially beautiful to hike in the snow. Six years ago we began to hike Rock Castle Gorge in the middle of the winter, so this will be our seventh annual winter hike. Lets hope for snow. Please e-mail Hubert if you plan to do this hike. Meet at Shoney’s (I-40 and NC-68) at 7:30 A.M. {11 miles +/- 2600 feet R-37}

February 22 Gibson Park Hike

Sunday at 1 PM Wendover Ave, Greensboro

Join me for a relatively flat 5 mile walk in the woods and on the Greenway. Meet at 1 pm at the picnic shelters/bathrooms at the end of the park road. Please email or call if you plan to attend or have questions.

February 22nd & 23rd Ski Trip

Sunday and Monday Snowshoe WVA

Join us for another great priced deal at Snowshoe whether you are a beginner or expert. We will drive up 4 1/2 hours Sunday morning 2/22 and spend Sunday and Monday nights at the Inn at Snowshoe. Great price - $109 plus tax per person, double occupancy for 2 nights and 2 days lift tickets. This schedule also misses the weekend crowds. You can ski Sun/Mon or Mon/Tues. This is our 3rd year and the snow has been good and no crowds. You need to call Snowshoe 877-441-4386 and make your own reservations. There is no group reservation. The $109 package is limited and the price escalates as the Inn fills. Call or email me for details and to let me know that you are coming.

February 25 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner

February 28 Boone Fork Trail

Saturday at 8 AM Blue Ridge Parkway

This is one of my favorite hikes - it's great for beginners and one to do in winter. We follow along an ice encrusted stream, through the woods, a rhododendron grove and then break out into wonderful views. We can extend the hike and go around the lake and there is a third possibility too. An early dinner in Blowing Rock with a great view will top the day. Meet at Shoney's at 8 am. Bring water, lunch and warm gear.

February 28 Doughton Park Loop

Saturday Doughton Park

This hike is a loop of approximately 17 miles. We will start from Long Bottom Road, hike 4.2 miles up the Cedar Ridge Trail to the Parkway; hike 7.5 miles on the Bluff Mountain Trail (this trail parallels the Parkway and has many scenic balds and views); hike 5 miles down the Flat Rock Ridge Trail back to our cars. Due to the length of the hike, this outing is for experienced hikers only. Please bring plenty of water, lunch/snacks and appropriate clothing layers. We will stop in Elkin for dinner. Let's leave Shoney's at 7:30 a.m., leave McDonalds on Jonestown Road at 8 a.m., brief stop at Foothills on the way up. Please email or call Ken and let him know you're coming. [ 17 miles +/- 3200 feet R49]