I had to run a few errands this weekend so there was no time for a long drive to the mountains. Had to make do with a few hours in Tanglewood Park, a mostly flat and only mildly interesting hiking…
Grandfather Mountain
Summit bagged: Calloway Peak at Grandfather Mountain
by tom • May 2, 2010 • 10 Comments
I knew this climb would not be a picnic — three miles of trail and 2,000 feet of ascent separate Calloway Peak from the Boone Fork trailhead at mile 299.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Don’t let the short distance…
Hiking
Share some link love, OK?
by tom • April 25, 2010 • 7 Comments
Here’s the thing: Saturday was stormy, Sunday seemed like more of the same, but turned into a beautiful day only after it was too late to do anything about it. So I have no hike hike to report this week.…
Grayson Highlands State Park
First look: Grayson Highlands
by tom • April 18, 2010 • 6 Comments
I passed this park on my way home from Damascus, Va., a couple weeks back and immediately added it to the Must-Hike List. The Appalachian Trail passes through the upper reaches of Grayson Highlands and exerts a magnetic pull on…
Julian Price Memorial Park
Two-in-one trek at Julian Price Memorial Park
by tom • April 10, 2010 • 4 Comments
Got back to the mountains this weekend to check out a couple trails near a tourist-heavy stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Where I ended up: Julian Price Memorial Park, just up the road from Grandfather Mountain. The Parkway splits…
Tom's travels
First look: Damascus, Virginia
by tom • April 4, 2010 • 2 Comments
In lieu of hiking, I did a whirlwind tour of Hiker Town USA, which some may recognize as the hamlet of Damascus, Va., which becomes Thu-Hiker Central every spring during Trail Days (2010 version is May 14-16). Two national scenic…
Pilot Mountain State Park
River Sections, Pilot Mountain State Park
by tom • March 28, 2010 • 2 Comments
I hiked to this section of Pilot Mountain State Park a few weeks back, but the 13 miles of getting there and returning didn’t leave much energy for exploration. This time I just drove up to the River Sections and…
Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain 2, Me 0
by tom • March 21, 2010 • 6 Comments
I want you to know, all 14 of my devoted readers, that at the first sign of spring I darted west to the Real Mountains to do some Real Hiking — no more of this flat-land fakery for me, by…
Pilot Mountain State Park
Corridor Trail at Pilot Mountain State Park
by tom • March 15, 2010 • 1 Comment
The whole point of this hike was to stroll down the 6-mile Corridor Trail connecting the upper and lower sections of Pilot Mountain State Park and check out the Yadkin River at the far southern end. I knew I was…