TRAILMARKER The Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club Newsletter Since 1982 July-August 2019 Volume 37 - Number 4

Photo courtesy of Jon Maxwell Cooling Off at Window Falls, Indian Creek Trail, Hanging Rock State Park • May 2019 Visit us on the Web – https://PiedmontHikingandOutingClub.org Trailmarker July-August Page 5

July 6 Five Peaks Outings Saturday Hanging Rock State Park

Wednesday Night Walkers will meet every Wednesday evening in the parking lot between Qdoba Mexican Grill and Chuck E From the Visitor Center we will hike up to Cheese at Friendly Shopping Center at 6:30 Hanging Rock, and then continue on to Wolf pm for a moderate walk before dinner. The Rock, House Rock, Cooks Wall and then to group will have rotating leaders. The leaders Moore's Knob. We will hike down the steps are Carol Parks, John Hanson, Barbara Hanson from Moore’s Knob and then around the and Joe Regan. The group will go to dinner lake. Expect good views and a good workout. after the walk. If bad weather cancels the Please contact me by noon on Friday for the walk, the group will still meet at 6:30 and go meeting details. 11 miles [R-33] to dinner. July 6 Moses Cone Manor Carriage Trails Saturday @ 9 am Blowing Rock, NC

Dates for Wednesday Night Many club members enjoy this hike with its Walks & Dinner wide, gently graded carriage trails. Half of the hike circles the Cone Manor and Bass Lake, July 3 August 7 and the other half is an up and back trail to the July 10 August 14 fire tower (panoramic views). Each section is July 17 August 21 approximately five miles. If you don’t want to do all ten miles, you can visit the Manor house July 24 August 28 and shop at the Craft Center. For those who July 31 want to do the entire hike, there will still be an opportunity for a brief tour of the Manor and visit to the Craft Center after the hike. New July 4-7 Backpacking Hikers are welcome to do part or all of this Thursday-Sunday Standing Indian to hike! There will also be an optional ice cream Unicoi Gap stop at Kilwin’s (in Blowing Rock) on the way home. Send me an email by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 5 if you plan to come. Specify distance. This is a car shuttle backpacking trip on the 5 miles, approx. 500 feet [R-10] or 10 miles, Appalachian Trail starting at Standing Indian 1,000 feet. [R-20]. Campground in Southwestern and finishing at Unicoi Gap in . I July 7 Osprey Trail have not hiked this section of the AT but Sunday @ 8:30 am Yanceyville Rd understand the views are scenic — especially in the Standing Indian Mountain area. 39 miles. Strenuous [R-55]. This lovely Mountains-to-the-Sea portion of Page 6 July-August Trailmarker the trail is short (5.2) miles with lots of views in Sparta. Bring water, lunch, and rain gear. of Lake Townsend. It meanders between Individuals interested in this outing should Yanceyville Rd and N. Church St. Meet at contact me, preferably by noon on Friday a good sized parking lot on the left side of before the hike. 13 miles, 1800 feet. [R-35] Yanceyville Rd just before crossing Lake Townsend. For those who want to add some July 13 Piedmont Trail more hiking miles, Osprey connects with Saturday @ 9 am Greensboro Watershed the Lake Townsend Trail for an additional 8.5 miles. Osprey Trail is easy, peaceful, and maybe we will even see some actual ospreys. Let’s do an out and back on the Piedmont Trail @ 9:00 AM. The Piedmont Trail parking July 13 Hanging Rock State Park lot will be on your left going north on Lake Saturday Cook’s Wall and Moore’s Wall Brandt Road approximately 0.3 of a mile from

the Lake Brandt Marina entrance. No need Less than 50 miles from Greensboro and to call but please do call or email if you have Winston Salem, this park offers wonderful questions. 5.3 miles. hiking. Let’s meet at the park visitor’s center at 9:30 am. We will go up to Cook’s Wall, July 14 New Member Orientation down to Magnolia Springs, up to Moore’s Sunday at 1:30 and Walk Wall fire tower, and back to the cars, for a Lake Higgins Marina loop hike of 9-10 miles. Please email if you Greensboro plan to participate or have questions. [R-30]

July 13 Grayson Highlands State Park Thinking about joining but wondering what it Saturday AT North, Scales, Pine Mt Trail, is all about, new member and not sure how & Wilburn Ridge/AT loop to get started or recent member needing a

refresher course? Meet with us at 1:30 p.m. Join me on a favorite hike at higher in the small education room at Lake Higgins elevations, hopefully cooler, at Grayson Marina on Hamburg Mill Road in Greensboro. Highlands in Virginia. The hike will begin Participants will hear about the PHOC , its at Massie Gap, follow the northbound opportunities, appropriate gear for PHOC Appalachian Trail beyond Scales to the hikes, what to expect and how to stay safe Pine Mountain trail, and pass through on the trail. The orientation will take about Rhododendron Gap before again intersecting 45 minutes. Afterward we hope you will join with the Appalachian Trail. Near that point, us for a short walk in the woods – of course hikers will be able to choose between all members are welcome! Those interested scrambling on the rocky Wilburn Ridge trail in the walk should bring plenty of water, a or skirting the ridge via the Appalachian Trail snack, and wear appropriate clothing to be on the way back to Massie Gap. There is an outside. The orientation and walk should optional stop for supper following this hike wrap up no later than 5:00 p.m. If you need Trailmarker July-August Page 7 additional information please contact Butch northwest of Asheville but Hot Springs was or Terri. We look forward to seeing you in voted #1 best small mountain town and it has the conference room and/or on the trail! been “discovered”! This is a 14 mile paddle, on the French Broad River, Saturday, July July 15 PHOC Monthly Meeting 20th, with class I and II+ rapids. This paddle Monday @ 7 pm Power Point Presentation is NOT for beginners. Some experience is necessary. You will be responsible for your “El Camino de Santiago” own lodging accommodations. There are a Presentation by variety of cabins, B&B’s, Tent/RV camping, Lynne Mitchell and Nichole Taylor houses, etc. New Garden Friends Meeting 801 New Garden Rd., Greensboro Lodging information can be found at the following websites www.hotspringsnc.org Active travel is important to many club and www.nchotsprings.com. Please let us members. Lynne and Nichole each walked the know if you are interested or if you have any “Camino Frances” route in Spring 2019. In this questions. photo-filled presentation they will describe the Camino routes and share their preparations, July 20 Mountain-To-Sea Trail challenges, experiences and lessons learned. Saturday, Jumping Off Rock Meeting will commence at 7 pm. Slide Show to Jeffress Park and Program will follow at 7:30 pm.

July 18 Tre Nonne Italian Restaurant This longish hike, over 13 miles of gently Thursday @ 6:15 pm 177 Jonestown Road, rolling terrain along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Winston-Salem provides long stretches of wood walking, ideal on a hot July day. The trailhead is less than two hours from the Triad and easily Join me for delicious Italian food and accessed from both NC 16 and 421, and the conversation at Tre Nonne. This restaurant terrain is user friendly. This hike will suit was recommended as an outing location by those who like a good workout based on PHOC members so let’s give it a try! Please endurance without prolonged steep climbing RSVP no later than Tuesday, July 16 if you but some longish up and down bumps. The plan to attend. terrain alternates between open meadows, sheltered rhododendron groves, and soft-to- July 19-21 Hot Springs River Run the-feet stretches of evergreen copses.

We will start the hike at Jumping Off Rock and

walk south toward Jeffress Park, cumulatively gaining 2,700 feet of elevation. I find the last Hot Springs River Run! Get away from stretch along a lovely stream, as we approach “it” all! Plan to spend the weekend in Hot Jeffress Park, particularly appealing. Contact Springs, NC. It used to be the best kept secret me for meeting times and places. [R-40] Page 8 July-August Trailmarker

July 20 Bald Eagle Trail Brinegar's Cabin and hike to the old AT Saturday @ 9 am Lake Higgins shelter on Bluff Mountain for lunch. After Watershed Trail lunch, we'll head back to Brinegar's Cabin all the while getting to enjoy the views a second Let’s meet at 9:00 am at the Lake Higgins time around. Please email me by Friday noon watershed trailhead for an out and back for further information and meeting details. total of 8 easy miles. Proceed North on 220 Approximately 8 miles and 1,800 feet. (Battleground Ave), past the turnoff at Owls [R-26] Roost Road to Bur-Mil Park, past the spillway July 27 Mt Mitchell State Park at the bottom of the hill, and then left onto Saturday Mt. Mitchell Lite Hamburg Mill Road. Proceed past the Marina entrance gate at the top of the hill, and park in the gravel parking lot on the left just past the fence [R7]. This hike starts at the ranger station at Commissary Ridge and goes out the July 21 Osprey Townsend Trails Buncombe Horse Trail to Maple Camp Bald. Sunday @ 8:00 am (Watershed hike) This is one of the truly magical places in the Black Mountains. From there, it’s back to the Big Tom Gap Trail for a steep climb up Join me for an early morning hike along the to the Black Mountain Crest Trail and over Greensboro Watershed. Let’s meet a little to Mt. Mitchell. We’ll come back down the before 8:00 a.m. at the Osprey Parking lot on Old Mitchell Trail to the cars. This is not as Yanceyville Street. Coming from downtown hard as most of the other Black Mountain Greensboro (going north) the parking lot is Crest hikes but it still has some scrambling around ¼ mile on the left past Reedy Fork and steep ascents and descents. It’s a good Baptist Church. We will hike a short distance introduction to that area. Email or call for on Osprey, then pick up Townsend trail, hike meeting time. 10 miles, 1900 ft elevation, to the end of Townsend, and back to the cars. [R-33 — extra points for terrain]. This walk is around 7.5 miles out and back. Please let me know if you plan to join me. July 27-28 Backpacking on the Saturday/Sunday Appalachian Trail July 27 Alleghany MST Mt. Rogers Visitor Center Saturday Brinegar Cabin Out & Back to VA 42

Two day one night car shuttle backpacking Join me for a moderate out-and-back hike on trip on the AT starting at the Mt. Rogers the Alleghany MST. This hike includes some Visitor Center at VA 16. Day 1, hike 13.3 mi spectacular views and, with a little luck, we'll with 2400 ft elevation gain and spend the also encounter some cooler summertime night at a tent site (with water nearby) at temperatures. We will begin our hike at Davis Hollow. Day 2, Hike 10.9 mi with 2600 Trailmarker July-August Page 9 ft. elevation gain to VA 42 to parking area, August 3 Roanoke VA back to pick up the other car(s) and then Saturday Daleville to Andy Lane Trailhead drive back. This should be an interesting hike mostly on AT with an opportunity to check out the Settlers Museum right along the trail and several This is an interesting section of the scenic overlooks. Strenuous. [R-40+] Appalachian Trail with good views. Led at a August 2-5 Camping/Kayaking/ moderate pace we will have plenty of time Friday-Monday Western NC to enjoy the day, elevation gain is similar in both directions. Carpooling will be arranged ahead of time so one group starts from the Park and Ride in Daleville, the other from the Kayak the Tuckasegee on Saturday Andy Lane trailhead on Catawba Rd, we will and Nantahala on Sunday meet halfway for lunch and to exchange car Camping at Moonshine Creek, Sylva, NC keys. If interested please email me prior to During the first weekend in August, we noon Friday before the hike. 13 miles, 2,500 will travel to western NC to paddle the feet [R-40]. Tuckasegee and Nantahala Rivers. We are August 3 Lost Cove Creek Hike and Swim staying at Moonshine Creek Campground in Saturday, Pisgah National Forest southeast Balsam, NC near Sylva. They have multiple of types of accommodations but you will need to make your own reservations before they are gone. The phone number is 828-586- We’ll travel to a remote section of Pisgah 6666. I did reserve an extra site #63 so if you National Forest (near Roseborough, want that tent with shelter site, contact me NC) noted for its many creeks, splendid direct. On Saturday 3rd, we are paddling the waterfalls, and enticing swimming holes. Tuckasegee River; not a paddle for beginners We’ll hike an 8-mile loop with a steep climb and appropriate boats are required. Saturday up and over Bee Mountain, followed by evening, we have a group potluck. On many creek crossings (some knee-deep). Sunday 4th, we will run the Nantahala where Poles and footwear suitable for creek some will use their whitewater kayaks, rent crossings are strongly recommended. There rubber duckies or raft the river with a guide. will be at least one dip in a refreshing plunge All will have a grand time. pool. Those who’ll want to swim (and why wouldn’t you?) should bring a bathing On Monday 5th, Lynette Tullos will lead a suit and towel. Departure will be from hike in Wilderness as we head the parking lot behind the Jonestown Rd. home. Join us in any activity or just come McDonalds, with carpooling from Carolina’s to camp. The number of paddlers on the Diner likely. This is an all-day excursion Tuckasegee however will be limited to 25. possibly followed by dinner in Blowing Rock. Let me know if you plan to join us and if you Email for departure time and other needed have any questions. information. [R-30] Page 10 July-August Trailmarker

August 3 Piedmont Trail August 10 Doughton Park Saturday @ 9 am Greensboro Watershed Saturday Doughton Park Loop

Let’s do an out and back on the Piedmont This will be a long, strenuous hike covering Trail @ 9:00 AM. The Piedmont Trail parking trails on Bluff Mountain. Excellent views from lot will be on your left going north on Lake the top of the ridge. Expect a good workout Brandt Road approximately 0.3 of a mile from from this hike. Please contact me for meeting the Lake Brandt Marina entrance. No need details by Friday noon. 17 miles, 3500. [R-52] to call but please do call or email if you have questions. 5.3 miles. August 11 Annual PHOC Pig Pickin’ Sunday, 2-4 pm Bur-Mil Park Shelter #2 August 4 Country Park Figure 8 with Location: Sunday @ 2 PM Battleground Park Bur-Mil Park, 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road, Greensboro Greensboro, 27410

Please join Club members and guests for our Join me, starting at Country Park, off Pisgah Annual Summer Pig Pickin’, our only (almost) Church Rd. Meet me at the end of the fully-catered event of the year! Provided by parking lot, close to the entrance of Country Prissy Polly’s, the menu will feature both Park. We can do a figure 8 loop through eastern and western-style BBQ, corn on Country and Battleground Park. A good the cob, hushpuppies, coleslaw and iced portion of that is shady. tea. What to bring: If you’re a dessert lover, please bring your favorite one to share – or a August 8 Embur Fire Fusion Restaurant side dish if that’s your preference, along with Thursday @ 6:30 pm 107 Smyres Place a serving utensil. Cost: There is no charge Greensboro, NC 27403 for members or guests. Directions: Traveling North on 220, turn right at Owls Roost, then Join me at 6:30 at Embur Fire Fusion, a left into Bur-Mil Park. Turn left again into relatively new restaurant in Greensboro. I’ve the parking lot by the swimming pool. Walk been twice and really loved the Arroz de past the restrooms, turn left to Shelter #2. chafe, a Peruvian fried rice dish (mix of fried rice with chicken and vegetables). Per the website: “Embur Fire Fusion offers authentic Peruvian cuisine in the heart of Greensboro. Our Italian-style pizza selection features August 15 Mooney’s Mediterranean Café seven traditional recipes, all fired in our Thursday @ 6:15pm 101 West 4th Street wood-burning brick oven.” Please email me Winston-Salem by 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 7th, if you plan to come. Group size is limited to 14. Located in downtown Winston-Salem, Trailmarker July-August Page 11

Mooney’s offers a variety of choices for those August 17 Rocky Knob following vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, Saturday Blue Ridge Parkway dairy-free and traditional diets. There should be ample on-street parking in downtown Winston-Salem for this dinner outing. This loop trail begins from the Rocky Knob Please RSVP no later than Wednesday, Campground along the Blue Ridge Parkway August 14 if you plan to attend. in VA. This is a moderate 7.5-8 mile hike with 950 feet of elevation gain and loss. August 16 Jerusalem Market The trail parallels the Parkway with views of Friday @ 6:30 pm 310 S Elm St Rock Castle Gorge, the Piedmont, and the Greensboro, NC 27401 countryside north of Floyd, VA and is narrow and steep in places. The trail eventually crosses the Parkway to access the Black Ridge Come join me for an evening dinner at the Trail which has good views to the north from authentic Middle Eastern restaurant in atop Black Ridge. Driving time from Oak Greensboro. They make delicious homemade Ridge and Winston is about 1 hour and 45 healthy food for you to enjoy. heir food minutes. Let me know by 5 on Aug. 16th if is outstanding because they use the best you are coming and where you plan to meet ingredients. Rated at 4.8 on Google! This us. 7.5 miles. [R-26] atmosphere is casual with friendly staff at this family owned restaurant. August 18 Piedmont Watershed Trail Sunday @ 1:30 pm Lake Brandt Greensboro

August 17 Roan Mountain Saturday AT between Carvers Gap Let’s hike the Piedmont Watershed Trail out and Highway 19E and back for a total of 6 easy miles. Proceed North on Lake Brandt Road past the marina on the left, cross over the bridge at the dam, This is a beautiful high elevation two version and park in the gravel parking lot on the left. hike on the Appalachian Trail along the 6 miles. [R-9] border of NC and TN. One group will start from Hwy 19E and hike 15 miles south to August 22 Tazaa Bistro Indian Carvers Gap climbing 5,300 feet, the other Thursday 1219 Bridford Parkway, group hikes north from Carvers Gap covering the same 15 miles and climbing 2,600 feet. The groups meet for lunch and exchange This restaurant is located in the strip of car keys. This hike is for fit and experienced shops perpendicular to Target and directly hikers only, email me for details prior to noon across from Michael’s (in the Target shopping Friday before the hike. Uphill/South [R-68] center). This is a small place so the group Downhill/North [R-41] will be limited to 10. The menu has both Page 12 July-August Trailmarker northern and southern Indian cuisine and Rd, turn right onto Plainfield Rd. Trailhead the amount of spice can be adjusted to your will be on your left after a few miles. palate. Please let me know by Wed, August 21st at noon if you are coming so I can give August 25 Nat Greene Trail an accurate count. Sunday, Greensboro Watershed

August 24 Rock Castle Gorge Saturday Virginia Let's meet at the Lake Brandt Marina at 10:00

AM to hike the Nat Greene Trail. We will This challenging hike, a club favorite, is only depart from the Lake Brandt Marina; hike about 75 miles from us. It has a tough uphill Nat Greene Trail, crossing Greenway, to Old early on, and then great views along the ridge Battleground Rd. Call or email if there are and down through boulders and creekside. questions. 6.5 miles [R-10] We will meet at Hardee's in Stuart, Va. for a bite and from there drive the last 17 miles to August 31 Hanging Rock Hike & Swim the trailhead. Email if interested. 10.8 miles Saturday Tory’s Den Cave & Trail [R-42]

August 24 Stone Mountain State Park This hike is ideal for those wanting a decent Saturday Loop Trail, Wolf & Cedar Rock workout with the option of cooling off

midway with a swim at Hanging Rock Lake! We will meet for carpooling at the Oak Ridge Scenic hike in this state park. We will hike the Shopping Center at 8:15 am and head to the Stone Mountain Loop Trail, and hike to Cedar Tory’s Den Trailhead located at the Charlie and Wolf Rock. This will be an 8-mile hike Young Rd parking lot (off Mickey Rd, west of with 1,600 feet elevation gain. Please contact the main park entrance) at approximately me for further information and meeting 9:00-9:15 am. Hiking details include an details by Friday noon. [R-25] optional viewing of the cave and waterfall, followed by a 4+ mile trek to the lake, August 24 Bill Craft Trail bathhouse and picnic area. After lunch and a Saturday @ 9 am Taylor Preserve swim (optional) in the lake we will return to Plainfield Rd the trailhead on the same trail. Please note that there is a swimming fee of $6. Please Please join me for this out and back hike of contact me via email or text if you’d like to approximately 7 miles of quiet, scenic trail join the hike or have any questions. Approx. off Plainfield Rd. Directions: Head north on 9 miles (roundtrip). [R-18] Church St, crossing over Pisgah Church Rd. Cross Lake Townsend twice, turn left onto Plainfield Rd. Trailhead is on the right after about a mile. Or head north on Lake Brandt Trailmarker July-August Page 13

Kayaking Balcony Falls, James River, Virginia – June 2, 2019 Photo courtesy of Joel Deaton

R20-R30 Hikes in the low end of this range will be About our Hike Rating System too hard and overly stressful for many new mem- Our rating system provides a useful, general gauge bers. Plan on an all-day trip, with at least 4 hours of of a hike’s difficulty. It factors in distance and eleva- continuous hiking in rugged and steep terrain. At tion gain and is intended to help you choose hikes a minimum, be sure to pack two quarts of water, that you will find most enjoyable. lunch, a snack, and rain gear. R0-R10 These are more walks than hikes. They’re R30-R40 These are strenuous hikes. They will usually close to home, the trails are flat, and usually be 10+ miles, with climbs of 2000+ feet. distances are generally short. An after-dinner walk They’re appropriate only for those who have done around the block would be rated R1 or R2. Our a number of lower rated hikes. Wednesday Night Walks are R5. R40+ These hikes are usually 12 or more miles R10-R20 Most of these hikes will be in the lower with 3000 feet or more of elevation gain. They’re mountains and foothills. Distances will be about 5-8 appropriate only for fit, experienced hikers. Check miles, with vertical ranging from 500-1000 feet... with hike leader about the trip if you are wanting to not easy if you’re new to hiking! Trails will be dirt do this trip for the first time. and rock. As long as you’re in moderately good shape, you should be able to enjoy the outing. See “Outings Protocol” on page 14.