Trips Explore

South Mountains State Park, 9-mile strenuous hike 2010-05-15 15.1 km9.4 mi 5h:32m 10 photos

Hint of things to come Vibrant green Morning sun Trailhead Map

My first hike at South Montains State Park, southwest of Hickory, NC. This is a big, remote park with all mountainous terrain. The hills are not terrible high (none over 3000 feet, as far as I could tell) but the trails have two orientations: up and down. Camping opportunities are abundant -- and 40 miles of trails deep into the backcountry of the park offer many backpacking options.

Grandfather Mountain hike - Blue Ridge Parkway to Calloway Peak 2010-05-01 11.6 km7.2 mi 6h:12m 17 photos

Arrow on the rock Forest green Cragway Trail Morning sky Map

Rugged hike to Calloway Peak, high point of Grandfather Mountain State Park.I went up the Nuwati Trail to the Cragway Trail and got on the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Trail at the Flat Rock Trail junction. Trip write-up at Two Heel Drive.

Weather is the main concern on Grandfather Mountain: Thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons, and the peak is fogged in many days of the year.

Top trails at Virginia's Grayson Highlands State Park 2010-04-17 11.3 km7 mi 5h:01m 17 photos

Backpackers head up the AT Appalachain Trail Appalachian Trail sign Massie Gap Map

I hiked the Cabin Creek Trail, Twin Pinnacles Loop and a little bit of the Appalachian Trail at Grayson Highlands State Park in southwest Virginia. All told, it was 7.1 miles with well over 1,000 feet of elevation gain (my GPS unit says 1900 but it always vastly inflates elevation gain estimates). A great park to hike in the off-season. Trip write-up to at Two-Heel Drive.

Two hikes at Julian Price Memorial Park 2010-04-10 12.7 km7.9 mi 4h:02m 13 photos

Beaver activity nearby Buds of spring Trail System map Price Lake Map

This park along the Blue Ridge Parkway has a pair of nice trails -- a flat, easy 2.5-mile hike around Price Lake and a moderate 5-mile hike along the Boone Fork Trail on the north side of the Parkway. The parks are very popular with families but once you get beyond the popular gathering places, the hiking is very nice. Trip write-up at Two-Heel Drive.

Grandfather Mountain, 4.6-mile moderate hike 2010-03-20 7.7 km4.8 mi 4h:46m 7 photos

Snow everywhere Cragway Trail Junction Daniel Boone  Scout Trail Register here Map

Attempted to hike from Boone Fork Trailhead (mile 299.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) to Callaway Peak at Grandfather Mountain in western North Carolina. Had to turn back about about 2 miles in because foot-deep snow was obscuring the trails.  Went up Daniel Boone Boy Scout Trail, which becomes snow-covered past the Flat Rock trail junction.

River Section, Pilot Mountain State Park 2010-03-14 12.6 km7.8 mi 4h:08m 13 photos

My kinda sign! Island in the Yadkin Above the Yadkin River Horne Creek Trail Map

The River Section of Pilot Mountain State Park is in a very remote section of countryside northwest of Winston-Salem (in contrast to Pilot Mountain's main section, which is right next door to U.S. Route 52).Trails are not super plentiful, but if you like taking walks along a lazy river, it's worth checking out.

Corridor Trail, Pilot Mountain State Park, 15-mile strenuous hike 2010-03-14 25.3 km15.7 mi 7h:06m 8 photos

If you see a fork in the tree IMG_1005.JPG Somebody's tree house Buds against blue sky Map

15-mile out-and-back hike along the Corridor Trial, which connects the main section of Pilot Mountain State Park and the lower section along the Yadkin River. Trip write-up at Two-Heel Drive.

Multiple stream crossings mean it's likely you'll get your feet wet. Good hike for exercise -- lots of up and down, hills are relatively short -- but not much in the way of scenery. Mostly tree tunnel.

Sauratown Trail Sections 1-3, 9-mile strenuous hike 2010-02-27 15 km9.3 mi 5h:46m 10 photos

Clear water on Section 3 Rustic looking trail sign Blazes include section numbers Tiny waterfall in Section 2 Map

Nicest sections of the Sauratown Trail I've seen so far (seven down, nine to go). These sections head west out of Hanging Rock State Park -- the terrain is far more rugged on this end compared to the western end at Pilot Mountain State Park.

Statistics Charts

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Trips 28
Photos 372
Total distance 636 km395 mi
Max distance 334 km208 mi
Avg distance 23 km14 mi
Total duration 5 days 4h:24m
Max duration 7h:34m
Avg duration 4h:26m

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