May 3 Burkes Garden
Saturday Virginia AT
Let's go back to Burkes Garden for a hike starting on the Appalachian Trail at Walker's Gap and hike to the Chestnut Knob Shelter; hike down the mountain until we intersect with the Roaring Fork trail in the Beartown Wilderness area; we will follow this alpine stream and hike back up to the Chestnut Knob shelter. This will be a hardy hike with half the mileage not on the AT. Call for meeting time and location; need 4 wheel drive vehicles to get to the trail head. Bring extra layers just in case.
[12 miles, +/-2600 feet, R38]
May 4 Cook’s Wall & Moore’s Wall
Sunday Hanging Rock State Park
Join me for a 7.7 mile hike at Hanging Rock, a moderate to strenuous trip. We will start at the ranger station and walk to the upper parking lot to pick up the southern leg of the Chestnut Oak Trail. That will take us to Cook's Wall Trail and lunch at the Wall. We will back track to the crossover to the Moore's Wall Loop Trail and follow it to the old fire tower base at the top of the knob. Then it's back down to the camp grounds where we follow the camp ground roads back to the ranger station. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet at Shoney's (I-40/NC 68) at 9 a.m. or at the ranger station at 9:45 a.m. Call if you have questions.
[7.7 miles +/- 1500 feet R25]
May 5 Monday Power Walk
Monday Friendly Center
It is time to bring back the Monday night power walks! Our objective is a good cardiovascular workout. We will walk 7 miles on the city greenway maintaining at least a 4 MPH pace. We will meet in the parking lot behind Belk's at Friendly (corner of Friendly and Green Valley) at 6 p.m. Please call if you plan to attend as our route may change due to construction. Hope to see you there!
May 7 Wednesday Night Walk
Wednesday PEC High Point
For some mid-week exercise, meet at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot at the Piedmont Environmental Center. After a brisk walk, the group will go to dinner.
May 8 The Dixie Swim Club
Thursday Broach Theatre
I’ve yet to attend a play at this charming, award-winning theatre that wasn’t absolutely top-notch. The theater is at 520 S Elm St., Greensboro. I’m sure this production will be no exception. From the creators of DEARLY BELOVED, this is a new comedy about a championship girls’ swimming team and the life-long friendships they develop. Each year, the girls get together for a beach weekend to laugh, drink, and reminisce. This promises to be a play with wit and heart.
Tickets are $20 – call or email leader no later than May 1st to reserve your seat. If there’s interest, we’ll meet at 6 p.m. for dinner downtown before the play. Curtain time is at 8 p.m.
May 10 White Top Mountain
Saturday Virginia AT
This is a very beautiful but strenuous hike near Damascus Va. It is a shuttle hike starting out from popular Virginia Creeper bike trail. The beginning hike starts out from the woods gradually climbing up hill. It is a long way to the summit. If we catch the wild flowers blooming, the sight is spectacular. This mountain usually kicks up a strong wind, so you must be strong and stupid and well prepared with plenty of water and clothing to come on this hike. Bring a backpack and spare change of clothes and shoes. Please call or email for meeting details
[10.5 miles, +3200/-1400 feet, R37]
May 11 Gibson Park Hike
Sunday Greensboro
Let's meet at 2:00 p.m. at Gibson Park for a pleasant 5 mile walk through the woods and on the Greenway. Entrance to Gibson Park is a left turn 3.4 miles west of I-40 on West Wendover Avenue in Greensboro. After turning into Gibson Park off Wendover, go all the way to the end of the park road (about one mile) to the parking area/picnic shelters/bathrooms. Post-hike beverage/sandwich is optional. No need to call in advance unless you have questions.
May 12 May 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. Meeting info - https://piedmonthikingandoutingclub.org/PHOC_meetings.html
Mike Bianco, Jon Maxwell, and Dale Dagenbach will present charts and slides about their trek across the Grand Canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim and back again last May 2007.
May 14 Wednesday Night Walk
See May 7th for details.
May 16-18 Canoe Camping Weekend
Fri-Sun Merchants Millpond State Park
www.ncparks.gov
Join us for a canoe camping trip to Merchants Millpond, NC's most unique state park. The 760 acre lake has ancient moss draped cypress trees and areas covered in sunburst water lilies. Yes, we will see some water snakes and a few of the resident alligators in very comfortable non-intimidating encounters. Normally, the serious bugs have not yet emerged; however, to see a tick would not be unexpected. We will leave Friday morning for the 4½ hour drive to the NE corner of NC and then canoe a mile to a beautiful hardwood island campground. Saturday we will explore the lakes and creeks by canoe. Joel will provide canoes & kayaks for the first 16 who pay the $2 campsite fee. Any additional participants will need to provide their own or rent boats. Call for more details.
May 17 New River Bike Ride
Saturday Galax to Fries
We will complete a 36-mile round-trip ride from Galax to the small settlement of Fries, a former cotton-mill company town developed by Colonel F. H. Fries. Our journey will take us across 12 railroad trestles. We will pedal through the 193-foot Chestnut Creek Tunnel, the longest tunnel on the trail, and then across the river via the 1089-foot Fries Junction Trestle. One option for lunch will be the New River Trail Café, or you can picnic along the river. There is a nominal parking fee at Galax. The trail will require a mountain or hybrid bike. Please call or email for departure time and meeting place details.
May 18 Lake Brandt Hike
Sunday Greensboro Watershed Trails
Let’s meet at the Bur-Mill Park parking lot nearest Lake Brandt at 1 p.m. for a leisurely 8.5 miles hike. Please call or email if plan to go.
[8.5 miles, +/- 100 feet R10]
May 19 Monday Night Power Walk
See May 5th for detail.
May 21 Wednesday Night Walk
See May 7th for details.
May 24-25 Hiking and Car Camping
Sat-Sun Julian Price Memorial Park
We will start out hiking the Boone Fork Trail for a moderate 4.9 miles. Then we will do the Price Lake Loop Trail for an easy 2.4 miles and finish with the Green Knob Trail for a moderate 2.3 miles. You can do all or some of the trails depending on your mood. After we will have dinner in Blowing Rock and some of us will camp along the lake if we are lucky and get those sites. Sunday we can kayak, hike or just go home. We will meet at Shoney's but please email or call me for meeting time and if you are hiking and/or camping. We will have to make reservations online sometime after the first of May.
May 24 Linville Gorge
Saturday Pisgah NF
Today’s hike into the Gorge is a very difficult and somewhat dangerous hike. We will descend into the gorge by way of the Devils Hole Trail. We will then find a way to cross the river and hike up the Linville Gorge Trail until we reach the base of Babel Tower. We then cross the river again and rock hop along the river about a third of a mile until we reach Henson Creek. The climb out of the Gorge by way of Henson Creek is a very rugged scramble over many large boulders in the creek bed. After a climb of about 1000 feet in about ¾ of a mile, we will continue up on hiking trails until we reach Jonas Ridge. On the way back to the cars we cross Sitting Bear Mountain, which offers a stunning view of the north end of the Gorge and a terrific view looking eastward.
Dinner afterwards will be at the Greek Restaurant Yianni’s (formerly Mythos) in Morganton. This hike is for experienced hikers only. This hike is rated over a 50 because of the river crossings and the bouldering. In the event of bad weather or high-river this hike will be changed to another trail in the gorge. Please call or email for more details and meeting place and time.
[R50+]
May 25 Lake Higgins
Sunday Greensboro Watershed Trails
Let's go to Lake Higgins and the Bald Eagle trail for a 7 mile hike. Last time I did this hike in January, I was hoping for snow. We did not get it. I am now hoping for plenty of sunshine and the soft breezes of late spring; and I promise we'll get it. We'll meet at 1:00 p.m. at the trail head parking lot on Hamburg Mill road (off Battleground, past Owl's Roost). If you have any questions, call me; if not, see you at the trail head.
May 26 Monday Night Power Walk
See May 5th for detail.
May 28 Wednesday Night Walk
See May 7th for details.
May 31 Daniel Boone/GF Trails
Saturday Grandfather Mountain
This is a very strenuous hike from the Daniel Boone Scout trail to the swinging bridge and back. We’ll cross Calloway & McRae Peak - twice. There is one chute, many ladders, and some of the roughest terrain in the east. Bring plenty of water and plan on a long day. Call or email for meeting time and place. PHOC will pay for the Grandfather Mountain hiking pass, so there is a $5 fee for non-members.
[12 miles, +/- 3750 feet R50]
May 31 Wood Run
Saturday Uwharrie NF
The hike is in the Wood Run area of the Uwharrie National Forest, 9.17 miles with 3 elevation changes to around 900'. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. For more information call or email. We’ll meet at Shoney’s (NC-68 & I-40).
[9.17 miles, +/-900 feet, R22]
June 1 Canoe/Kayak Trip
Sunday Haw River
Join us in a canoe/kayak trip down the popular Haw River near Pittsboro. The river trip is 6.5 miles and generally takes 3 hours. It is a novice and above trip with a few interesting but not dangerous rapids. You will need to provide your own, borrowed or rented boat. Joel can help with transporting the boats. We will leave Shoney’s at 10 a.m. and may be back by 5 p.m. Bring a picnic lunch. If you plan on joining or have questions, give Joel a call.
June 1 Lake Brandt Hike
Sunday Greensboro Watershed Trails
Let’s meet at the Bur-Mill Park parking lot nearest Lake Brandt at 1 p.m. for an easy 5 miles hike around the headwaters of Lake Brandt. Please call or email if plan to go.
[8.5 miles, +/- 100 feet R10]
June 2 Monday Night Power Walk
See May 5th for detail.
June 4 Wednesday Night Walk
See May 7th for details.
June 5 Beach Music in the Park
Thursday Greensboro
Let’s meet downtown for an evening of great beach music at Festival Park on Davie Street (behind YWCA). Shag if you like; enjoy beverages and food from local vendors; but most of all enjoy the camaraderie of fellow club members in a fun social setting. The Coastline Band plays from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Call by June 4th for meeting place. Tickets (nominal cost) can be purchased at the gate.
JUNE 7th NATIONAL TRAIL DAY
As in past years, PHOC will lead a hike at Bur-Mill Park/Lake Brandt in Greensboro in conjunction with Greensboro Parks & Recreation that will be open to the public. We will probably have a table set up to hand out club information.
June 7 Rock Castle Traverse
Saturday BRP Virginia
Rather than the usual loop, we’ll walk the length of the gorge which takes us along a rushing stream and past lush vegetation and out to the Rocky Knob cabins built by the CCC in the 1930s. On our way back to the parking area, we take a spur trail up to the 'rocks' .making our total mileage 10-11 miles. The elevation gain is subtle, but sustained and there are one or two stream crossings, depending on recent rainfall.
[10-11 miles, +/- 1100 feet R26-28]
June 7 New River Bike Ride
Saturday Foster Falls to Pulaski
This 46-mile round-trip ride from the historical village of Foster Falls to the late nineteenth century boomtown of Pulaski is a good test of our saddle fitness. On this trip we will cross the 951-foot Hiwassee Trestle and then a bit farther traverse the highest wooden trestle on the trail—two of the highlights of this segment of the New River Trail State Park. Our outbound ride ends at Pulaski, where we can decide to proceed into town and eat at one of the local restaurants or begin our return trip and picnic at the lunch shelter at Draper. There is a nominal parking fee at Foster Falls. The trail will require a mountain or hybrid bike. Bikes can be rented at Foster Falls. Please call or email for departure time and meeting place details.
June 8 Owls Roost
Sunday Greensboro Watershed Trails
Let’s meet at 1 p.m. at the Wildlife Center in Bur Mil and hike the Owls Roost watershed trail to the Greenway, and then back to the Wildlife Center on the Greenway for a total of 6 miles. 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 driveway at the bottom of the hill. No need to call, but please do if you have questions.
[R9]
June 9 June 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. Meeting info - https://piedmonthikingandoutingclub.org/PHOC_meetings.html
Sue McBean, Superintendent of Haw River State Park, will provide a video presentation of North Carolina's newest park and bring us up-to-date on current status and future plans. She will provide information on their Summit Environmental Activities Center already in operation. It is also expected that she will help us understand the volunteer opportunities with our local state park.
June 11 Wednesday Night Walk
See May 7th for details.
June 14 Grayson Highlands/Wilson Creek
Saturday Mt. Rogers NRA
This strenuous 10.4 mile loop hike includes four different wilderness environments; meadows, rocky peaks, wooded mountain sides and the Wilson Creek area that’s full of rhododendrons plus we will hike through Rhododendron Gap. The rhododendrons should be in full bloom if the season is normal. Eight miles of this hike will be on the AT. Meet at Shoney’s I-40 & NC-68 and be ready to leave at 7 a.m.
[10.4 miles +- 1700 feet R28]
June 15 Brunch & Hike
Sunday Village Tavern & Battleground Park
Let’s meet for Sunday Brunch at Village Tavern Greensboro 1903 Westridge Rd at 11:00 a.m.
After Brunch we will head over to Battleground Park for a leisurely 1 hour hike. After Brunch we’ll meet at 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot on Old Battleground Rd for those of you who just want to hike. Please RSVP for brunch if possible so I have an idea of how many want to go for reservations.
June 15 Curtis Creek
Sunday Pisgah National Forest
If you’re a regular Sunday hiker and want to try something a little (just a little) more challenging come on this hike to the Curtis Creek area. Just a few minutes from downtown Old Fort, NC is the Curtis Creek Campground with some wonderful trails and streams. We’ll start from the picnic area and hike up a forest service road for about 3 miles. As roads go, it’s a nice hike. The next 4.5 miles more than make up for the road with beautiful views in all directions while we hike along a ridge line. There are a few up & downs along the way before finally descending along a stream back to the picnic area. Call or email for more details. This was scouted with a GPS, so a map and elevation profile are available if interested.
[7.5 miles, +/-1600 feet, R24]
June 15 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 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 2:30 we will take a short hike in the marina area and
may be joined by other club members. Bring water, snacks, comfortable shoes, weather appropriate apparel and good humor. Call or email if you have questions.
June 16 Monday Night Power Walk
See May 5th for detail.
June 18 Wednesday Night Walk
See May 7th for details.
June 21 Roan Mountain
Saturday Tennessee AT
Enjoy the rhododendrons and flame azaleas in their full glory on this strenuous hike on renowned Roan Mountain. Starting at Carver Gap, we will follow the AT, trekking through high meadows with incredible views. After passing over three balds, we will descend through a beautiful mountain valley to the trailhead at Rt. 19E. There is lots of exposure and the weather can be unpredictable, so bring warm clothes and rain gear even if you think you won’t need it! Call for details and meeting time. Group size will be limited to 20.
[13.5 miles, +2150 ft, -4650 ft, R40]
June 22 Piedmont Trail
Sunday Greensboro Watershed Trails
Lets meet at 1 p.m. and hike the Piedmont watershed trail out and back for a total of 6 easy miles. Proceed north on Lake Brandt Road past the Marina on the left, cross over the dam, and park in the gravel parking lot on the left.
[R7]
June 23 Monday Night Power Walk
See May 5th for detail.
June 25 Wednesday Night Walk
See May 7th for details.
June 28 Daniel Boone Trail
Saturday Grandfather Mountain
This moderately demanding, seven-mile hike with a 2000-foot elevation gain will ascend 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. Non-members will need a $5 hiking permit that will have to be purchased at a country store near the trailhead. Wear hiking boots and bring water, lunch, and rain gear. Call or email for details on the meeting place and departure time.
[7 miles, +/- 2000 feet R30]
June 29 Urban Meander
Sunday Greensboro
Let's meet at 2:00 p.m. in front of Harper's Restaurant in Friendly Shopping Center in Greensboro for a pleasant 5-6 mile stroll down Friendly Avenue, through UNC-G campus, to and through downtown (including Elm Street), and back to Harper's. We may get a beverage/sandwich during or after the walk. No need to call in advance unless questions.