Monday Night Power Walks
Monday Evening Power Walks
will be held August 17, 24, and 31 only. No Monday night Power Walks during
July!
Our objective is a good cardiovascular workout. We will walk 7 miles on the city greenway maintaining at least a
4.5 mph pace. If you are working up to
this pace, we will catch you on the way back since it is an out and back. We meet in the parking lot behind Belk's at
Friendly (corner of Friendly and Green Valley) at 6:00 pm. Please call if you plan to attend as we
sometimes vary our route. Hope to see you there!
The
Wednesday walkers will meet every Wednesday evening in the parking lot of The
Piedmont Environmental Center at 6:30 pm for a brisk walk before
dinner. Rain or shine. The group will go to dinner after the walk.
Saturday Hanging Rock State Park
We will have a July 4th hike
and still get back home in time for baseball, hotdogs and fireworks. We will
start at the Dan River and hike beside Indian Creek up to the visitor center at
Hanging Rock State Park. This is a scenic trek with many easy stream crossings
and two lovely waterfalls. Once at the parking lot, those who still have
"gas in their tank" will continue on up to the Hanging Rock. We will
then retrace our steps downhill and reunite with any who chose to wait at the
visitor center. Estimated total time on trail including lunch is 5 1/2 hours.
Leave Shoney's by 8AM or Dan River Trailhead at 9AM. Estimated time back at
Shoney's is 4PM. Please call or email if planning to hike. (R26 10 miles, or R19 8 miles).
Friday 119 East Main Street, Jamestown
Join me at a new favorite
local restaurant in Jamestown, Southern
Roots at the old “Sadie Mae” location.
Lisa Hauley is a favorite local caterer recently turned restaurant
owner. There is a great outdoor
patio, a nice bar, and casual
dining. The meals have a “local
flair” with southern dishes,
continental cuisine, and good wines.
The restaurant is not able to confirm advance reservations at this point
so we will likely have to split into separate tables. Please let me know by e-mail or phone if you plan to join in.
Saturday Doughton Park
This long hike gets the hard
work (uphill) out of the way early in the morning when it's still cool out.
We'll hike up Cedar Ridge to Brinegar Cabin, then follow the Bluff Mountain
Trail along the Parkway with fantastic views (weather cooperating), and then
come down Flat Rock Trail. Bring lots
of water, lunch, and rain gear (just in
case). If hikers want to, we'll stop for a bite in Elkin afterwards. Please email or call for meeting place and
start time.[17 miles, +/- 3200 ft, R49]
Saturday Moses Cone Memorial Park
Join me on the carriage
trails at Moses Cone Memorial Park near Blowing Rock. The carriage trails are well-groomed and have a gentle
grade. I plan to walk approximately 11 miles
round trip; if participants don't want to walk this far, they can shorten their
hike. Our hike will take us past Bass Lake, the Moses Cone Manor House,
graveyard, and fire tower--for nice views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Call or email for meeting and
locations. (11 miles, +/-1000 feet, R21).
Sunday Umstead Stae Park
Now that David Memory has
whipped us into bicycling shape on the New River Trail, let’s try something a
little more challenging. William B.
Umstead State Park in Raleigh has approximately 13 miles of bike and bridle trails
with a surface much like that of the New River Trail. There are some rougher parts
with small ruts and loose gravel as well
as longer climbs and descents, and at least one creek crossing, but
nothing that a rider with some experience can’t handle. You should have tires appropriate for riding
trails. In addition, the trail intersects
with two (continued) greenways to add as much as 16 more miles. Meet at the Nascar Café at 8:30 AM on the north side of the Four Seasons Mall,
with a possible stop in Burlington to pick up additional riders. That should put us on our bikes between 10:00
and 10:30. The total ride distance will
be determined by the group, so plan to bring a lunch. There are several places to stop along the way.
Sunday Hanging Rock State Park
We will hike up to Moore's
Knob which should have a 360 degree view at the top on a clear day. Meet at Shoney's at 1:00 PM (I-40 &
NC-68) or at the Hanging Rock Lake bath house at 1:45 PM. Call if you have any questions. This is a 5.2 mile hike rated R12.
Monday Piedmont Environmental Center
Meet for refreshments and
fellowship at 7:00 PM at the Piedmont Environmental Center on Penny Road in
Jamestown. The business portion and
program will begin at 7:30. Our meeting
tonight is a slide show by Mickey Walker on a recent PHOC trip to Arches
National Park in Utah. See Delicate
Arch and many other red rock formations, Monument Valley, the Four Corners
Region, and 12,000 foot mountains of Colorado.
Saturday Rocky Mount, VA
Today we will drive to Rocky
Mount Va. and hike for 6.5 miles. This
is a trail that people with limited hiking experience will enjoy and it’s only
1 ½ hour drive from Shoney’s. Please
meet at Shoney’s and be ready to leave at 8 AM Call or e-mail if you have
questions. [R-13, +/- 625 ft, 6.5
miles]
Saturday Roanoke, VA
Today we will visit beautiful
Catawba and 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 and start another climb up to the top of McAfee
Knob...another gorgeous view. Then we will all end the day with our favorite
part...DINNER! Please bring PLENTY OF WATER!!!
Call for meeting time and place. (Long
hike, 12 miles, R 36).
Sunday Bur Mil-Park, Greensboro
Lets try a little different
take on some of our usual trails. We’ll
start from the end of the drive at Bur-Mil Park at 2:00 PM (below the Wildlife
Barn); head south down the Greenway to the Palmetto Trail; over to Old
Battleground Road and back to the Greenway on the Nat Greene Trail. Then up the Greenway to an out and back loop
on parts of Owl’s Roost Trail and Fire Lanes (we’ll avoid most of the bikes
while still taking in one of the prettiest sections of Owl’s Roost). Then back
to Bur-Mil on the Greenway (9.1 mi, R11).
Those wanting a somewhat shorter
hike can omit the Owls’s Roost Trail /
Fire Lane portion and continue back via the Greenway for 5.25 miles. Please call or email if you have
questions or want to join us.
Friday Bur-Mil Park
The Club’s annual Pig Pickin
will be held on Sunday, August 2nd at
Bur-Mil Park in Greensboro. This is a
catered event. The amount of food for us will depend on our timely RSVP’s. Current PHOC members are free, guests are
$10 each. Please act now and RSVP by Friday, July 24.
Saturday Doughton Park
Meet at Shoney’s at 7:00 AM
(I-40/Hwy68) or Jonestown McDonalds at 7:30 in Winston. There is a 2400 foot
gain in 2.8 miles. This hike is for experienced hikers only who know how to
bring enough water for a very tough hike on a hot summer day, at least 3
liters. We will stop at Foothills for a snack on the way and we are not
planning on stopping for dinner on the way home. Please call or email to let me
know you are coming. (12.5 miles, +/-
2400 feet, R39, plus heat factor).
Saturday Blue Ridge Parkway
This is a beautiful and
varied 10 mile walk near Blowing Rock with some great views. The first two
miles have some uphill and passes over some rocks. Meet at Greensboro Shoney's
(NC 68/I 40) at 7:30 AM orW-S McDonald's (Jonestown Road/421) at 8:00. Post hike dinner possibilities abound. Contact me if you have any questions. (R30, 10 miles, 2000 feet gross gain).
Sunday Lake Higgins Marina
New members – Come for an
informal and informational session to learn a little about the Piedmont Hiking
& Outing Club. We will meet at 1:30 PM at the Lake Higgins Marina on
Hamburg Mill Rd. in the small conference room to discuss anything you may want
to know to make your experience with the club more enjoyable. We will also talk
about what might be expected of you as a member. At about 2:15 we will take a short hike in the marina area and may
be joined by other club members. Bring water, comfortable shoes,
weather-appropriate apparel and good humor. Call or e-mail if you have
questions.
Saturday Julian Price Memorial Park
The first portion of this hike near Blowing Rock will be on the shady and
much-loved 5-mile Boone Fork Trail, a major section of which is next to the
beautiful and refreshing Boone Fork Creek.
The second part of the hike will be the 2.7-mile circuit around
picturesque Price Lake. Both trails are
reasonably level, but the first one
includes the climb of a
short ladder.Those interested in a longer distance can add the 2.5 mile Green
Knob Trail for a total of 10.2 miles. Bring plenty of water & lunch; a
change of socks may be helpful. An
early dinner in Blowing Rock will top the day. Greensboro hikers meet at Shoneys at 8 AM, Winston hikers meet at
Jonestown McDonalds at 8:30. Please call or email with any questions. (10 miles
max, +/- 900 feet, R20).
Sunday Bur-Mil Park,
Shelter #2
This year the club's annual
Pig Pickin’ will be held at Bur-Mil Park shelter #2. Shelter #2 is next to the
swimming pool on the left side of the road just past the park entrance.
Kernersville's famous Prissy Polly's BBQ will be catering. BBQ, sides, dessert and tea will be provided.
Adult and other beverages in cans are fine to bring. Bring your favorite folding chair with you. Come on out for the food and fun beginning
at 2:00 pm. Food will be served at 3:00
pm. Hiking, swimming, biking, golfing,
fishing, volleyball and other activities are available at the park.
Please RSVP by July 24th as
we need an accurate count for the caterers. Please email/call if your or your guest’s plans change. Club
members attend for free. Guests are $10
each payable at the event.
Saturday Blue Ridge Parkway in VA
The most visited site in the
US National Park System is the Blue Ridge Parkway (you can look it up). After the first couple of miles, which include
a rather steep uphill section, we’ll amble across open meadows along the Blue
Ridge Parkway before descending back into the gorge, lined with gigantic
boulders. We will stop at the Ranger Station that sells Good Humor Ice Cream
and is only open in the summer and fall on the Parkway. The loop hike ends with
several miles along a rushing stream. Please contact me if you are joining us. A caravan will depart from Shoney’s at 7:30
AM and meet any others at Hardees in Stuart, VA at 8:30. (11 miles, 2800 feet,
R39).
Saturday Blue Ridge Parkway
It’s hot weather and time to
do a Saturday hike without a lot of elevation change. Today we will hike along
the Blue Ridge Parkway approximately 4.5 miles to Brinegar Cabin. We will enjoy “Brinegar Cabin Day”, have
lunch and continue hiking north for 4.4 miles.
Please bring plenty of water, lunch and rain gear. No need to call to go on this hike. Meet at Shoney’s at I-40 & NC68. Please be ready to leave at 8:00 A.M. {R23, +1300 ft -800 ft, 9 miles}
Sunday Greensboro Water Shed Trails
Let’s hike the Nat Greene
Trail today. This will be a short hike
that will involve a car shuttle. This
is a pretty trail with views of Lake Brandt.
Please meet in the Lake Brandt Marina lower parking lot near the trail
head (on the left as you enter the marina parking lot) at 2:30 PM. There is no
need to call to go on this hike. (5 miles, R7, +/- 180 feet).
Monday Piedmont
Environmental Center
We do not have a monthly
meeting during the month of our Pig Pickin’. Since that event has been moved to
August this year, there will be no August meeting.
Saturday Wilson Creek Headwaters
Today we will do the third
annual hike that has been a big hit the
past two summers. It is a beautiful
summer hike with a lot of crossings of
Gragg Prong Creek. This area is in the
head waters of Wilson Creek, however we enter the area off the Blue Ridige
Parkway. After six or seven miles and a
couple of crossings along Gragg Prong Creek we will stop to enjoy one of the
best natural swimming holes in the mountains of North Carolina. We will enjoy at least one and a half hours at this wonderful summer spot. After another mile we will stop to enjoy yet
another wonderful swimming hole. Please bring clothes for swimming! We will depart Shoneys at 7:00 AM and pick up
the Winston Group at 7:30 AM at El Jinnete/Eastern Pearl. There will
be dinner afterwards in Morganton at Yianni’s. Please call or e-mail if you are going on this hike. (8 miles, +/- 1800 feet, R26).
Sunday Greensboro Watershed Trails
Join Terry for a moderate
hike and introductory YOGA for Hiking at
the Laurel Bluff Trailhead. We will get
together at 1:00 PM at the Laurel Bluff Trailhead on Lake Brandt Road on the
right-hand side of Lake Brandt Road just before the dam. We should be off the
trail by 3:00 PM. The hike will be
followed by 30 minutes of yoga targeting those areas of most importance to
hikers. Bring a BEACH TOWEL or a MAT
since we will be on the ground for part of the session. Any questions may be addressed by phone or
email. (R8, 7 miles).
Monday Friendly Shopping Center
Join us for a fast paced power walk on Monday
night! Our objective is a good
cardiovascular workout. We will walk 7 miles on the city greenway maintaining
at least a 4.5 mph pace. If you are working up to this pace, we will catch you
on the way back since it is an out and back. We meet in the parking lot behind
Belk's at Friendly (corner of Friendly and Green Valley) at 6:00. Please call if you plan to attend as we
sometimes vary our route. Hope to see you there!
Saturday
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
We’ll explore some of the lesser used trails in the
Mount Rogers area. After starting from
a campground we’ll hike down to Wilson Creek, then up and over the evocatively
named ‘First Peak’, ‘Second Peak’, and finally, ‘Third Peak’. Then its down to
Scales and the Wilson Creek Trail. We’ll end up going along an upper section of
Wilson Creek that may be the prettiest trail in all of Mount Rogers - and that’s saying something. Blueberries should be at their peak, so bring
containers to fill. (11 miles, +/- 2000 feet, R31).
Saturday
Grandfather Mountain State Park
The first half of this hike will be a 3.5 mile,
2000 foot ascent of the northeastern end of the Grandfather Mountain ridge from
the Blue Ridge Parkway to Calloway Peak by way of the Daniel Boone Scout Trail,
which has two magnificent overlooks -
one to the north and one to the south. Lunch will be eaten on 5964 foot Calloway Peak, with superb views
in many directions. The return route will be partly the same but will also
include overlooks along the Cragway Trail and the Nuwati Trail. Several ladders on the route must be
negotiated, but they are not in locations which create a vertigo problem. Shade and the high altitude will reduce the impact of the August heat. The difficulty
of the trail surface in sections makes comfortable hiking boots advisable. Bring water, lunch, and rain gear. Call or
email for details. (7.5 miles, 2200 feet, R32).
Sunday
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost
171.5
I have made reservations for the PHOC to attend
“Music on the Winery” at Chateau Morissette Winery (540-593-2865). We will meet at Shoney’s (Hwy 68 & I-40)
at noon on Sunday for a trip to Floyd,
VA. We will have lunch and then tour
the winery. It is exactly one hour
drive on HWY 52 N to Hwy 221 N. The
address is Chateau Morrisette, 287 Winery Road, SW & Black Ridge Road in
Floyd, Virginia, 24091. Average price
for meals is $20 to $30. Please call for
further details and to let me know if you are coming. Come and join the fun on
a Sunday afternoon, and listen to some great music!
Sunday Lake Norman State Park
Today we will travel south to Lake Norman State
Park for a very leisurely hike of about 6 miles around the shoreline of the
lake. This is a hike which new members might especially enjoy as we will be
doing a little hiking and a lot of socializing and getting to know each other.
We will hike a short way, stop for lunch, hike another short way and stop for a
swim (shallow water), hike another short leg and finish the hike, hopefully
where we started. You might also like to know that my chocolate lab, Woody,
will be co-hosting so anyone who would like to bring a dog is welcome as long
as the person accompanying the dog is good natured, not aggressive and gets
along with others. Since this is a state park, the dog will have to be on a
leash except when in the water. We will
meet to carpool at 10:00 in the parking lot of Four Seasons Mall directly
across from Bonefish Grill. If you
would like to meet the group somewhere along the route, let me know and we’ll
arrange a meeting place.
Monday
Friendly Shopping Center
Join us for a fast paced power walk on Monday
night! Our objective is a good
cardiovascular workout. We will walk 7 miles on the city greenway maintaining
at least a 4.5 mph pace. If you are working up to this pace, we will catch you
on the way back since it is an out and back. Wein the parking lot behind Belk's
at Friendly (corner of Friendly and Green Valley) at 6:00. Please call if you
plan to attend as we sometimes vary our route. Hope to see you there!
Saturday Bahnson
Field, Farmington, Davie Co
The Piedmont Soaring Society, Inc. will host an
open house at 12:00 noon. Introductory
Sailplane flights will be offered to participants on a first-come, first-served
basis. Participants are encouraged to notify us by noon, Thursday, August 27 to
reserve a spot. PSS exists to foster
the sport of soaring, or, motorless flight. Our pilots have flown from Bahnson Field, in the Farmington
community of Davie County, for hundreds of miles before returning. Participants will need to spend at least an
hour at the field in preparation for their flight, and we will attempt to limit
each flight to about 30 minutes, depending upon the weather conditions and
number of participants. Cost will be $100 give or take, depending upon the
particular aircraft used. Cameras are
welcome, but their use will be at the sole discretion of the Pilot in Command. Safety First. Those on the ground will be
limited to non-flight operating areas (no one wandering around the landing or
take-off zones). All of the aircraft
(tow-planes and sailplanes) and pilots are fully certified by the FAA. We have a good time, but take our flying very
seriously. Here are some sailplane websites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlXDTFhCG9w&feature=related
and www.piedmontsoaring.org
Directions:
From W-S, take I-40 West. After
crossing the Yadkin River, take Hwy 801 exit (Exit 180). Turn right onto Hwy 801. PSS is six miles on the right. Look for the white gates and signs. If you get to the blinking light at the
intersection of Farmington Road and 801, you have gone too far. Turn around and
the airport is one mile back on the left. If you need help, call the number
provided in the PHOC newsletter.
PHOC
advises: “Outing leader reiterates that people participate at their own risk.”
Saturday Pisgah National Forest
Today
we’ll drive a long way and hike 17.5 miles. Starting from the Daniel Boone Scout Camp we’ll hike 5 miles, all
uphill, to Cold Mountain, then across the Narrows over to the Shining Rock
summit. From there, its all downhill
back to the Scout Camp. Plan on an
early start, 9 hours on the trail, and a late return. Call or email for
details. (16.5 miles, +/- 4000 feet, R50).
Sunday Hanging Rock State Park
Let’s head to nearby Hanging Rock for a moderate
hike (7.2 miles) for a refreshingly cool summer afternoon outing. We will start from the canoe launch area
near the Dan River, hike up the lovely and shaded Indian Creek Trail, past
Window Falls, and on to the Visitors Center.
We will retrace our steps back to the car on the same trail. This hike involves a few easy stream
crossings, but is very doable for
anyone who walks or does aerobics exercise regularly a few times a week, or
who has done even a moderate amount of
trail hiking before. We will be back in Greensboro before 5:00 pm.
We will meet at 11:00 AM at Shoney’s
(Hwy 68 and I-40). Winston Salem
folks: meet us at the trailhead at noon. For those meeting us at the trailhead parking lot,
drive past the road that leads to the park entrance for about one half of a
mile, turn left onto Flinchum Road (gravel/dirt road) and go all the way to the
end (it curves right toward the end). Please call to let me
know you're coming.
Sunday
Greensboro Watershed Trails
Meet at Bur-Mil Park at 1:00 PM. Go North on Hwy 220 past Horse Pen Creek
Road on the left, then turn right at the traffic light at Owls Roost Road, and
left into Bur-Mil Park. Bear right at
the club house, park in the circular
driveway at the bottom of the hill. Call if you have any questions. (5 miles, R6).
Monday
Friendly Shopping Center
Join us for a fast paced power walk on Monday
night! Our objective is a good
cardiovascular workout. We will walk 7
miles on the city greenway maintaining at least a 4.5 mph pace. If you are working up to this pace, we will
catch you on the way back since it is an out and back. We meet in the parking lot behind Belk's at
Friendly (corner of Friendly and Green Valley) at 6:00. Please call if you plan
to attend as we sometimes vary our route. Hope to see you there!