No
Monday Power Walks! Power walks
will resume in May!
March - Friendly Shopping Center
April
- Piedmont Environmental Center
The Wednesday walkers will
meet every Wednesday evening through March in the parking lot near Tex &
Shirley’s at 6:30 pm for a brisk walk before dinner. Rain or shine, the
group will go to dinner after the walk. Starting in April we will start
meeting at the Piedmont Environmental Center.
March 3 Wednesday Night Walk &
Dinner - Friendly Center
March 6 Heartbreak
Ridge/Pinnacle Trails
Saturday Pisgah
National Forest near Old Fort
This hike will take us up Heartbreak Ridge, with
beautiful views of the valley beyond Montreat, and along a short portion of the
old Toll Road toward the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Just before reaching the parkway, we will cut off the Toll Road trail
and ascend Blue Ridge Pinnacle for 360-degree views including Mount Mitchell
and other peaks of the Black Mountains, the Craggy Gardens area, and even Table
Rock above Linville Gorge. Although the
climb to the base of Pinnacle is long, it is relatively gentle. The ascent of Pinnacle itself is steep but
short. Come prepared for the possibility
of chilly winds on Pinnacle. Yianni’s
in Morganton is usually the chosen supper stop. Call or email for meeting time and place. [14 miles, 4000 feet,
R54]
March 6 Stone
Mountain Hike
Saturday Stone
Mountain Park
Join Hubert on this Stone Mountain hike. We will hike a section that is not hiked
very often. We will have three stream crossings and hike by three
waterfalls. You may want to bring a
change of clothing. Please bring plenty
of water food and rain gear. Meet at
Shoney’s and be ready to leave at 7:30 am.
There is no need to call Hubert
to go on this hike. [10 miles, +-1440 feet,
R25]
March 7 Lake
Higgins Trail
Sunday Greensboro
Watershed Trails
Let’s go for a 7-mile hike with lots of views of
Lake Higgins today. Please bring water
and a snack. Meet in the Lake Higgins
trail parking Lot (approximately 150 feet from the marina entrance outside the
marina fence) at 1:30 pm. The marina
address is 4235 Hamburg Mill Road,
marina phone # is 336-643-4295.
No need to call to go on hike.
[7 miles, +-200 feet, R9]
March 8 March
Meeting
Monday Piedmont
Environmental Center
Alan Spiegel will do a slide and video
presentation of a whitewater trip club members took last October at Gauley
River.
Dropping more than 668 feet through 28 miles of
rugged terrain, the Gauley River's
complex stretch of whitewater features more than 100 rapids with a steep gradient, technical runs, an
incredible volume of water and huge waves. Its vigorous rapids, scenic quality
and inaccessibility combine to make
Gauley River one of the premier whitewater runs in the world. The upper Gauley
offers tremendous class III to V+ drops in steep, turbulent chutes such as Pillow Rock, Iron Ring and Sweet's Falls, and rocky routes that demand constant maneuvering such as
Lost Paddle and Shipwreck. The lower
Gauley is a 12-mile stretch, rated class III to V that feels like a watery
roller coaster. The weekend started on October 2nd and went through to the 4th.
There were sixteen PHOC members on this whitewater adventure. We did the lower Gauley on Saturday and the
upper Gauley on Sunday.
Meet for refreshments and fellowship at 7:00 pm
at Piedmont Environmental Center on Penny Road in Jamestown. The business and program will begin at 7:30.
March 10 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner - Friendly Center
March 12 Mexico
Restaurant Outing
Friday 3606
M North Elm
Mexican food has become
a staple of American diet, so let’s indulge in some of the best food this
culture offers. We’ll meet at 7:00 at
the 3606 M North Elm Street location of this popular restaurant chain in
Greensboro. Give me a call by March 11
to reserve your seat and get directions if needed.
March 13 Table Rock
Saturday Linville Gorge
Today’s hike is to the
top of Table Rock, which is along the eastern side of Linville Gorge. After
hiking up Table Rock and enjoying lunch, we will descend and then hike along
the Shortoff mountain trail to the Chimneys area. The hike to the top of Table
Rock includes an alternative route up Devils Cellar which includes some
bushwhacking and scrambling. Scenery is
guaranteed to be fantastic. Dinner will be at the now famous Yianni’s Greek
restaurant in Morganton. Call for
meeting place and time or more info. [6 miles, +/-1500 ft, R20]
March 14 Haw River State Park
Sunday Greensboro Area
Let’s explore Haw River
State Park today, this is not a difficult hike and is only 5 miles. We will hike old trails, some of which are
not well marked plus we will walk a short distance in the woods where there are
no trails. We will have some hills to
hike up but none are tall, and we will also spend time hiking in the
wetlands. Since this is a new park, I hope to be able to have a ranger
give us information about the park development. Please meet me at the park’s visitor center at 2 pm.
The address is: 339 Conference Ctr. Dr. Brown Summit, N. C. 27214 phone # 336-342-6163 [R6]
March 14 Birkhead Wilderness
Sunday Uwharrie National Forest
Lets hike the Uwharries
before tick and snake season. Join me on this 12 mile lollipop loop hike in the
Birkhead Wilderness. We’ll be starting on the Birkhead Trail at the Tot Hill
Road trailhead. Utilizing that trail along with Hannahs Creek Trail, Robbins
Branch Trail and an un-named side trail, we’ll do a big loop of the Birkhead
Wilderness with a 2 mile approach from Tot Hill Road to form a “lollipop”
shaped route. Hikers will see several
old home sites, pit mines and a graveyard. We’ll start at 9:45 am. Please
contact me if you plan to come so we can arrange car-pooling spots and times.
We should be finished by 3:45 so bring lunch or snack. [12.2 miles, R24].
I have this hike
described on my blog
http://itsgreenmon.blogspot.com/2010/01/birkhead-wilderness-loop-hike.html
March 17 Wednesday
Night Walk & Dinner - Friendly Center
March 20 MST Hike
Saturday Mountains To Sea Trail
Today we will hike a
section of the Mountains To the Sea Trail.
We will began the hike at Brinegar Cabin and hike North going up to the
old tram site, from there we will hike back down to the Blue Ridge Parkway to
our cars. The pace on this hike will be
leisurely with many views form overlooks, a great hike for hikers with limited
hiking experience. Meet at Shoney’s and be ready to leave at 8:30 am. Please
bring lunch and water. [6 miles, +-850 feet, R15]
March 20 Grayson Highlands State Park
Saturday Mount Rogers Area, VA
Today we push the
Spring season and hike a different route through areas of Grayson Highlands. We
will start at the Visitors Center and hike down Stampers Branch Trail to Wilson
Creek and then up Seed Orchard Trail to the AT.
We will follow the AT for a possible scramble up
Wilburn Ridge and then start our return on Rhododendron Trial crossing through
Massie Gap. To finish up the day's excursion we have a nice ascent to the top
of Big Pinnacle and then complete the loop on Twin Pinnacles Trail. Meet at
Shoney's in Greensboro at 7:00 am then pick up the WS group on Jonestown Road
around 7:30. [12 miles, R30]
March 21 Hagan
Stone Park
Sunday Pleasant Garden
Let’s hike 5 miles at
Hagan Stone Park today. The trail has very little elevation, maybe 100 feet
during the hike. We will take our time and enjoy the beauty.
Hagan Stone Park is east of Greensboro.
You can travel 421 east of Greensboro from business 40/85 for 6.5 to 7
miles and turn right on Hagan Stone Park Road.
After traveling 2.3 miles you will turn right at the park entrance;
inside the park, please park in the first parking lot on the left. If you take the Greensboro 40/85 by pass to
421 you will need to go east on 421; just look for the Hagan Stone Park
sign. Meet me at 2:00. [5 miles, +/- 100 ft, R6]
March 21 Uwharrie Trail
Sunday Uwharrie National Forest
We will do the 9 mile
northern end of the Uwharrie Trail between Hwy 109 and SR 1306. The drive is approximately 90 minutes. While the difficulty numbers have not been
established for this section, it is a well marked trail with only moderate
elevation ups and downs that would probably be rated 28. We will meet at the NASCAR Restaurant
(closed) parking lot at Four Seasons Mall at 9:00 am. Folks coming straight back should get back before 6:00. Call for more details.
March 24 Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner - Friendly
Center
March 27 Doughton
Park loop
Saturday Blue
Ridge Parkway
Join Hubert on this 17 mile loop hike in Doughton
Park. Please bring plenty of water with
you on this hike and of course lunch and a snack. We will depart Shoney’s at 7:30 am, stop at Jonestown Road at
8. [17 mi, 2850 ft, R47]
March 27 Sugarloaf
& Morrow Mt and Hattaway Trails
Saturday Morrow
Mt State Park
We'll start from the horse parking lot, but avoid
the muddy horse trails common to the park.
We'll head out the Sugarloaf Mtn Trail; meet with Hattaway Mtn Trail,
then retrace some of Sugarloaf Mtn trail to meet up with Morrow Mtn Trail,
around the Mountain Loop Trail; and return. Please bring plenty of water. Greensboro
folks meet at Four Seasons Mall parking lot beside the Old NASCAR Cafe, next to
Outback Steak House; Winston meet location to be determined based on attendees.
Both groups depart at 8 am and meet up at the trail head. Please call or e-mail
Shari with questions and to let me know you are joining. [Approximately 10
miles +/- 1700 feet, R27]
March 28 New
Member Orientation/Hike
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 at the Lake
Higgins Marina on Hamburg Mill Rd in Greensboro, in the small conference room. We will 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 new member. At
about 2:15, we will take a 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 email for questions.
March 28 Lake
Townsend Trail
Sunday Bryan
Park Area
Meet at 1:30 pm at the trailhead located on South
Shore Road. From Battleground Ave or
Lawndale Dr. go east on Pisgah Church Rd. and continue on Lees Chapel Rd then
bear left at Brightwood School, then turn left at the T at Rudd Station Rd,
cross over the railroad tracks and keep straight on South Shore Rd for about
1/3 mile. Park in the gravel parking lot
on the left at the trailhead. (7.5 miles, R8).
March 28 Greensboro
Bike Ride
Sunday at 2 pm Guilford
Battleground Park
Time to get the bikes out of storage before the
New River Trail rides! The ride will be
almost entirely on paved greenway, with a short dirt/gravel connector though
Guilford Battleground Park and a short stretch of road through an apartment
complex. Any type of bike will be
suitable for this ride. We’ll meet in
the parking lot on Old Battleground Road and ride the greenway to Country Park,
where we’ll ride one lap around, and return to Guilford Battleground Park. We’ll then ride through Bur-Mil Park, past
Strawberry Road to the end of the greenway, and back to the parking lot at
Guilford Battleground Park. The route
is about 15 miles with moderate hills and some blind curves. You can expect a pace of 10 – 12
miles/hour. Please wear a helmet.
March 31
Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner - Friendly Shopping Center
April 3 Caudill
Cabin
Saturday Doughton
Park
While some hike up to the ridge line, I'll get my
feet wet and hike up to Caudill Cabin.
Should be a great spring-time hike with lots of wildflowers in
bloom. Free dinner to anyone that can
stump me on the name of a wildflower we see in bloom! Call or email for more
information. [10.5 miles, 1500 ft, R21]
April 3 Primitive/Brinegar
Hike
Saturday Doughton
Park
This popular hike has it all...not too far a
drive, an easy opening stretch, a TOUGH 2.8-mile uphill, a pleasant lunch spot,
a 4-mile bluff walk with scenic vistas, and an easy final 4.3-mile
downhill. Meet at Shoney's (N.C.
68/I-40) at 7:30, or Jonestown Road McDonald's at 8:00. Hope to see you. Contact Jon with any
questions. [12.5 miles, R42]
April 4 Lake
Higgins
Sunday Watershed
Trails
We will take the Bald Eagle outer loop, and come
back on the Beech Bluff trail for an approximately 9-mile hike. Let's meet at the Bald Eagle trailhead at
1:30 pm. Travel North on Battleground,
past Bur-Mil and Owl's Roost; turn left on Hamburg Mill road. Parking for the trailhead is on the gravel
lot just after you pass the main Lake Higgins Marina parking lot. Please call to let me know you're coming [7
miles, +/-300 feet, R10].
April 7
Wednesday Night Walk & Dinner - Piedmont Environmental Center
April 10 Stone
Mountain
Saturday Doughton
Park
Today we will hike 14.3 miles with an elevation
gain and loss of 3400 feet. This is a
good trail to hike. Please bring extra water and food. There is no need to call Hubert if you plan
to go on this hike. Meet at Shoney’s (I-40 & NC 68) at 7:30 A.M. [14. 3
miles, +-3400 feet, R45]
April 10 Piedmont
Trail / Big Loop Trail
Saturday Watershed
Trails
This hike will be at a moderate pace with little
elevation gain and nice views of the lake.
We will go out Piedmont Trail, down the Greenway, complete the Big Loop
in Bur-Mil Park, and then retrace our route back. Go out Lake Brandt Road, past the marina, across the bridge at
dam, and park in gravel lot on left.
Those wanting a somewhat shorter hike can backtrack once we reach the
Greenway for a total of 5.5 miles.
Meett at 9 am. Lunch afterward at New York Deli, a club favorite, is an
option for those interested. Please
call or email if you have questions.
[8.4 miles, R9]
April 10-11 24-hour
Fishing Trip
Saturday and Sunday Atlantic
Beach
This will be a 24-hour fishing trip aboard the
Capt. Stacy, out of Atlantic Beach.
Leave the dock 7 pm on Saturday, return 7 pm Sunday evening. Everything you need to fish with will be
provided (rod, bait, cooler to keep fish, etc.). Fish cleaning and filet for a small additional fee. We will leave
Greensboro area about 10 am Saturday to relax at the beach for a few hours and
have dinner before getting on the boat. I have done this trip a few times and
April is one of the best months to catch large fish far offshore. Cost is
$160/pp and we may get a group discount if there is enough interest. Contact
Michael Metzbower to sign up.
April 11 pre Spring
Fling hike
Sunday Bur-Mil
Park
Let’s meet at the Wildlife Center at 12:00
pm. We’ll walk about 5 miles heading
down the Greenway to the Palmetto Trail, across on Palmetto to Old
Battleground, and return to the Greenway via the Nat Green trail. Call or email
if you have questions.
Note: The Spring Fling will serve in lieu of the Monthly Meeting that
would normally be held on Monday, April
12.
April 11 Spring
Fling
Sunday Bur-Mil
Park Shelter #2
Join us at 2 pm for our annual celebration of
spring! Bring your favorite dish,
appetizer or dessert to share. Bring a serving utensil for your dish. The club
will provide pizza, plates, cups, silverware, tea and soda. Feel free to bring
your camp chair and adult beverage.
Enjoy fishing, hiking, biking, volleyball or visiting with friends.
Festivities and meal begin at 2:00 pm at Bur-Mil Park off of Owl's Roost Road
in Greensboro. Meet at shelter #2 on the left just past the swimming pool. No
need to RSVP for this event.
April 14 Wednesday
Night Walk & Dinner - Piedmont Environmental Center
April 16 Mi
Pueblo Mexican Restaurant
Friday, 7 pm 111
Northpoint Ave, High Point
Let's meet for a good Mexican dinner, shared with
our PHOC members on Friday night at 7 in the evening. This restaurant can be seen on the corner of Wendover and
Eastchester. If you can join us, please
call me at the number above so I can make reservations. Looking forward to
seeing you there!
April 17 Roan
Mountain
Saturday Roan
Mountain State Park
Today's adventure offers a choice of routes for
all levels of hikers...for the strong and adventurous we will drop you off at
Hwy 19E to begin your Southbound trek to Carvers Gap totaling 14.2 miles with a
staggering total climb of 5000'! For the strong and not so adventurous we will
drive up to Carver's Gap to begin the 6.6 mile Northbound trek to meet up with
our weary partners at the flat grassy summit of Little Hump Mountain for a bite
of lunch. After a quick about face, we all head back to the creature comforts
of/in our vehicles! The Southbound hike is 14.2 miles with a total climb of
5000' and the Northbound hike is 13.2 miles with a total climb of about
2500'. Meet at Shoney's at 7 am and
pick up the WS group at Jonestown Road around 7:30. Southbound Rating: R50,
Northbound Rating R32.
April 17 Umstead
State Park Trails
Saturday Raleigh
Area, NC
This loop hike takes us from the US Highway 70
side of this 5,500 acre park to the I-40 side and back. The route offers creeks, wooded hillsides,
an old mill site, and stone walls and foundations from earlier times. This is an urban park with bridges over all
stream crossings and moderate elevations.
It makes an easy, but long hike.
The primarily rolling terrain will be decorated with the blooms of
dogwoods. We will depart at 8:00 am
from the parking lot at the former NASCAR restaurant on the north side of Four
Seasons Mall. [11 miles, R20]
April 18 Owls
Roost Loop
Sunday Bur-Mil
Park
Lets 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, past Horse Pen Creek on the left, 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 drive way at the bottom of the hill. No need to call. [7 mi, R9].
April 18 Salem
Lake bike ride
Sunday Salem
Lake Park, Winston-Salem
Second chance to get the bikes out of storage
before the New River Trail rides! The
road around the lake is dirt/gravel, and the Salem Creek greenway is
paved. You should have a mountain or
hybrid bike for this ride. We’ll meet
at the fishing hut inside the fence at Salem Lake and ride counterclockwise
around the lake. We’ll then ride the
Salem Creek greenway to the end and back, cross the creek below the dam and
return to the fishing hut. We will have
an optional second clockwise lap around the lake for those who want extra
miles. The route is about 16 miles with
moderate hills, plus 6 miles for the extra lap. You can expect a pace of 10 –
12 miles/hour. Meet at 2 pm, please
wear a helmet.
April 21 Wednesday
Night Walk & Dinner - Piedmont Environmental Center
April 24 Profile
Trail to Swinging Bridge
Saturday Grandfather
Mountain
Up the Profile Trail to the top of Grandfather
Mountain. Then the fun begins!!! Across the Grandfather Trail up and down
chutes, ladders and cables to the Swinging Bridge enjoying the best 360 degree
view of the mountains available in North Carolina. Experienced hikers only.
Call for meeting place and time. [9 miles,+/-3500 feet, R46].
Apr 24-25 Backpacking
Trip
Saturday and Sunday Exploration
of Gorges St Park near Brevard, NC
Saturday we'll drive to the the trailhead and
hike about 6.5 miles to campsites along the lake. Plenty of time to explore around the lake before dinner. After an early breakfast Sunday, we'll hike
back to the cars and drive to the rest of the park. Many waterfalls and overlooks in this section and depending on
timing and weather, we could hike a couple of short trails. Call or email for
more information. [R-FUN]
April 25 Nat
Greene Watershed Trail
Sunday at 1:30 pm Lake
Brandt
Lets meet at the Nat Greene watershed trailhead
for an out and back total of 6 easy miles. Proceed north on Lake Brandt Road,
turn into the Lake Brandt Marina entrance on the left, and then left again at
the bottom of the driveway. [R7].
April 25 Dan River Canoe/Kayak
Sunday Danbury, NC
This trip is good for beginners and above. We will leave Shoney’s on Hwy 68 at 10:00 Sunday morning. The drive is 45 minutes to Danbury and we
will leave some cars there at the take-out and proceed to put–in at Moore’s
Spring Campground. We will stop for
lunch snack on the river. We should be
out of the river by 4:00 and those that wish may stop with me at Hillbilly
Hideaway Restaurant in Walnut Cove for dinner.
The all-you-can-eat family style meal runs about $15. Everyone is
responsible for providing his or her own boat.
We can help with transporting from Shoney’s. If you need to rent, Dan River is available locally. Call me to
discuss rentals and also to advise if you plan to participate.
April 25 Foster Falls to Fries
Junction Bike Ride
Sunday New River Trail State Park
This will be a 32-mile, out-and-back ride at Virginia’s New River Trail
State Park, one of the southeast’s best rails-to-trails conversions. The relatively flat and car-traffic-free
ride begins at Foster Falls, a village that dates from the mid-1800s. Our trip will take us through the 135-foot New
River train tunnel and over the 670-foot Ivanhoe Trestle, which is a great place
to stop for water and enjoy the panorama of the river valley. Shortly after passing two dams built in 1913
for the Appalachian Power Company, we will arrive at our turnaround point and
shady lunch spot where the Chestnut Creek spur of the trail from Galax meets
the main trail from Fries. There is a
nominal parking fee at Foster Falls.
The trail requires durable tires.
While on our bicycles, riders will maintain approximately a
10-mile-per-hour pace. Call or email
for meeting time and place.
April 28 Wednesday Night Walk &
Dinner - Piedmont Environmental Center