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| Badin Lake |
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| Quartz Rocks |
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| Quartz Rocks protruding from the ground |
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| A Cove at Arrowhead Campground |
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| Fishing on Badin Lake |
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| A Redheaded Woodpecker |
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Badin Lake Loop Trail in Uwharrie National Forest
Driving into Badin Lake Recreational Area, the trailhead is on the right side just pass the Host Campsite and before the second privy. Look for the post marker and the white blaze markers at the beginning of the parking lot. The loop is a 5.6 mile moderate hike. Loaded up my backpack with water and yogurt bars, I grab my hiking pole and follow Bailey into the hardwood forest. The trail is well worn and marked but the terrain is a little rocky at times. It contours around the shoreline through several nice open primitive campsites. At one point a number of quartz rocks protrudes out of the ground imitating patches of snow reluctant to melt. The trail continues along the shoreline to an embayment with about five houses on the other side before going into the deciduous forest. The forest, during January at least, has very little underbrush, a thick carpet of leaves, and devoid of wildlife. After a solitude stroll through the pines and hardwoods, the trail pops out at the Arrowhead Campground where it mimics' the shoreline back to Badin Lake Recreational Area. In the summertime, this hike would provide very little if no solitude from the civilized world but it does provide many picturesque opportunities. After the day hike, I took advantage of the facilities by snacking on my granola bars and feeding Bailey at a picnic area while tossing a line the water for about 2 hours. No luck at catching dinner. Uwharrie National Forest offers many recreational activities including fishing, hiking trails, camping ( primitive, campgrounds & group camping ), bicycle trails, picnic areas, horseback trails and camping, hunting, OHV trails, and water activities. And only a little over 1 hour away from Charlotte down NC 49 N to 109. This was my first hike in 2013.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
38 Highest Peaks Over 6000+ ft. in NC
Ranked Peaks have 160 feet of Clean Prominence
Prominence is the vertical distance a given summit rises above the lowest col connecting it to a higher summit. To calculate it, you must know the elevation of a summit and the elevation of its key col. A problem arises when one or both of these elevations are not known precisely. Most commonly, col elevations are not given on topographic maps, so all that is known is a range based on a contour interval. Many summits also are represented by just a closed contour and no exact elevation.
There are three ways to deal with this uncertainly when calculating prominence:- Optimistic or Dirty Prominence: Use the lowest contour line at a col, and the highest possible elevation for peaks, yielding the maximum possible prominence value.
- Interpolated Prominence: Use the middle elevation between contours for cols and peak closed contours.
- Clean (or Pessimistic) Prominence: Use the highest contour line at a col, and the lowest contour line for peak closed contours, yielding a minimum possible value.
Col Col is the standard term used on this site to refer to the lowest point on the ridge between two summits. There are many synonyms: Pass, Gap, Saddle, Notch, or Cut;
Saturday, January 5, 2013
1st DAY HIKE
State parks across the nation offers First Day Hikes as a way to promote healthy lifestyles and year round recreation at America's State Parks. Each year, over 720 million people visit America's State Parks and contribute $23 billion to the economy. State Parks are a "close to home" resource and an important part of our national fabric, enhancing our quality of life. Last year more than 1,000 people joined the new tradition in 28 NC state parks. This year 39 NC state parks have hikes planned. My First Day Hike was to begin in Crowders Mountain State Park in North Carolina and end in Kings Mountain State Park in South Carolina. The plan was to hike the Ridgeline Trail, approximately 5 miles one-way. Unfortunately, rain cancelled the event. Bummed Out!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK
Chimney Rock State Park is one of the newer state parks in the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation system. The private nature park surrounding the 315-foot chimney has been coupled along with Hickory Nut Gorge area in 2007 to make Chimney Rock State Park. Currently encompassing roughly 5,700 acres on both the north and south side of the gorge, expansion efforts continue to conserve more natural resources around the area. N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation plans to eventually develop other areas of the state park with more facilities including a camp ground. Currently Chimney Rock State Park offers many great facilities like a tunnel and an elevator straight up a 26-story shaft embedded within the rock itself along with the Cliff Dwellers Gift Shop, the Sky Lounge, a nature center, a 32-ft. climbing tower, a network of hiking trails and the Gneiss Cave. Let's not forget one of the tallest falls on the east coast, the 404 ft Hickory Nut Falls cascading off the rocks edge. To get to Chimney Rock State Park from Charlotte, just go I-85 South to exit 10B for US-74 West then at exit 181 take US-74-ATL to Chimney Rock Park Rd. Only 98 miles and about 2 hours but well worth the trip and the park fee.
Chimney Rock State Park was the last WNC Region State Park I needed to visit to complete my 2012 goal. I am so appreciative that my family gathered around me in this quest to visit Chimney Rock State Park and completing my goal. We load up in two cars. My Mom, David, and Bevin in one car and Wesley, Dad, Owen, Barrett, Bailey, Lilly, and me in the lead car. ( David is my brother, Bevin is his girlfriend, Wesley is my sister, and Owen and Barrett are my nieces). We drive up the 3 mile windy road to the upper parking lot. Everyone heads into the awesome tunnel to the elevator embedded deep within the rock face. My brother, Bevin, and I take the two dogs, Lilly and Bailey, up the Outcropping Trail to the top. The park welcomes dogs but not in the elevator. The Outcropping Trail consists of about 200+ step to the Sky Lounge Bridge. Bevin and David went up them with ease. Just makes me strive to get into shape this year. The day was sunny, cool, and very windy. In the distance you could see it snowing on top of a mountain peak. My nieces Owen (8) and Barrett (5) were very courageous climbing all over the top of Chimney Rock, scaring my sister a bit. We then ventured up to the Opera Box and Devil's Head before gathering at the Sky Lounge. David bought everyone hot chocolate and dad bought the girls souvenirs from the gift shop. I don't think my family realize that we were on the webcam the whole time we were at the Sky Lounge. Bailey got some loving from several strangers passing by. There were several trail closings including the Hickory Nut Falls Trail to the falls due to a rock slide, the SkyLine Trail due to ice, and the access to Grotto and the Subway is being upgraded. The views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure is breathtaking. This trip was the last one on my list but by far the best one for me simply because my family shared it with me. It would have been perfect if Cassie ( my daughter ) was able to go.
WNC Parks: 15
Chimney Rock State Park was the last WNC Region State Park I needed to visit to complete my 2012 goal. I am so appreciative that my family gathered around me in this quest to visit Chimney Rock State Park and completing my goal. We load up in two cars. My Mom, David, and Bevin in one car and Wesley, Dad, Owen, Barrett, Bailey, Lilly, and me in the lead car. ( David is my brother, Bevin is his girlfriend, Wesley is my sister, and Owen and Barrett are my nieces). We drive up the 3 mile windy road to the upper parking lot. Everyone heads into the awesome tunnel to the elevator embedded deep within the rock face. My brother, Bevin, and I take the two dogs, Lilly and Bailey, up the Outcropping Trail to the top. The park welcomes dogs but not in the elevator. The Outcropping Trail consists of about 200+ step to the Sky Lounge Bridge. Bevin and David went up them with ease. Just makes me strive to get into shape this year. The day was sunny, cool, and very windy. In the distance you could see it snowing on top of a mountain peak. My nieces Owen (8) and Barrett (5) were very courageous climbing all over the top of Chimney Rock, scaring my sister a bit. We then ventured up to the Opera Box and Devil's Head before gathering at the Sky Lounge. David bought everyone hot chocolate and dad bought the girls souvenirs from the gift shop. I don't think my family realize that we were on the webcam the whole time we were at the Sky Lounge. Bailey got some loving from several strangers passing by. There were several trail closings including the Hickory Nut Falls Trail to the falls due to a rock slide, the SkyLine Trail due to ice, and the access to Grotto and the Subway is being upgraded. The views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure is breathtaking. This trip was the last one on my list but by far the best one for me simply because my family shared it with me. It would have been perfect if Cassie ( my daughter ) was able to go.
WNC Parks: 15
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| Chimney Rock State Park |
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| Chimney Rock |
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| Hickory Nut Falls |
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| photo by Wesley Satterwhite |
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| photo by Wesley Satterwhite |
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Linville Gorge / Grandfather Mountain State Park
Being an outdoor enthusiast, I checked the weather channel for my traditional Thanksgiving weekend camping trip. Only hearing sunny skies and ignoring the warning for a cold front with 20 mph winds coming thru, I head out to Linville Gorge. Two hours later I pass the Linville Falls parking lot, following the dirt road along the ridge searching for a camping spot. The dust was kicking up and coating all the shrubbery that embraces the Service Road 1238 like glaze on a donut. Most of the closer campsites has been abandoned and is fading back into the forest. I did pass a favorite spot for our family that is still active and chose a nice open campsite with a fire still smoldering. With a naked forest, lacking the coverage of leaves, I can see spectacular views on both sides of the ridge line. There's only two other campsites occupied and three or four cars covered in dust at the trailhead of the Linville Gorge Trail. It seems to be getting colder and windy by the minute. Eating roasted hotdogs by the fire while watching the sunset. Bailey and I were wrapped up like a burrito within two sleeping bags and an old comforter listening to what I can only describe as the sounds of waves crashing on a nearby beach. The 20 mph wind was pounding the ridge in waves over and over all night. Bailey was like a 40 lb hand warmer generating a lot of heat but not quite enough to compensate the 18' mountain air. Why is it that the stars and moon is so much brighter and defined high up in the mountains? It was like nature in HD. Woke up pretty early then quickly drove down to Wiseman's View to get a better look at the sunrise rising over the ridge line on the opposite side of the gorge. On the way back I noticed that the two other campsites were now empty. I guess the cold had gotten to them and they left in the middle of the night. Back at camp, I made toast with honey and scramble eggs with ham, onion, cheese, and parsley. I noticed the cooler, gallon of tea, and water container were all frozen. Now, off to explore. I hiked the Bynum Bluff Trail, part of the Cabin Trail, the Hawksbill Trail and the Linville Falls Trail, all before noon. The Bynum Bluff Trail goes along the ridge about a mile to a pinnacle and ends abruptly at a drop off with trees obstructing what I imagine has to be a panoramic view of the gorge. The Cabin Trail ventures down into the gorge. The Hawksbill Trail connects to the Linville Falls Trail. The Linville Falls Trail heads down to the Upper and Lower Linville Falls as well as Erwin's Viewpoint and Chimney Viewpoint. Back at the truck, I headed out of Linville Gorge to nearby Grandfather Mountain. Driving up 221 to GMSP everyone and I mean everyone had a Christmas tree strapped to their car. Some had two or three. Grandfather Mountian State Park is $18 to enter but you will receive a CD offering a audio tour of the mountain, a flyer with a map, and a dog biscuit for Bailey. Half way up the 5946 ft mountain, I stopped at a picnic area to eat a ham sandwich left over from thanksgiving while observing a spectacular view and a wild fire off in the distance. The wind was so ferocious that it slammed my truck door open bending the hinges. I then walked up the Black Rock Trail to the top leading to the base of the swinging bridge. The wind was howling so much that the bridge was singing. Bailey crawled on his belly about 5 ft onto the swinging bridge before I had to retreat back to the truck and cross the bridge on my own. The wind was so cold that it would burn any exposed skin. I couldn't take many pictures due to shaking so much. The nearly 360' view of layers upon layers of various shades of blue mountain ranges was quite majestic and very much worth enduring the frigid wind. Once I returned to camp I made the decision to pack up, loaded up the truck, made adjustments with to my backpack, and headed down into the gorge. Hoping this will block the wind and maybe be a little warmer I hiked down the Linville Gorge Trail to the river. Nope, it's just as cold if not colder. I set up camp at a pre-existing campsite. Started a fire and made some soup for supper. Instead of the sounds of rolling wind, the river took over as it gushed along splitting the gorge in half. As tired as I was the morning came quick. After exploring the river for about an hour I packed up and hiked out. Back at the truck, I opened the tailgate and made breakfast; toast, eggs over easy, liver mush, and hot apple cider. I then travelled into Pisgah National Forest off NC181 where there's a turnout for the Upper Creek Falls trail head. This 1.8 mile loop trail descends to Upper Creek where the 100 ft Upper Creek Falls and the 15 ft Lower Creek Falls cascades down the mountain. The hike back up from the Lower Creek Falls was pretty strenuous with many switchbacks. Two miles pass the turnout is the Brown Mountain Overlook with panoramic views of Big Cedar Mountain, Little Cedar Mountain and Brown Mountain on one side of the road with Table Rock Mountain, Hawksbill Mountain, and Chimney Mountain on the other side. After a picnic lunch on the picnic tables at the overlook it's time to head home and warm up.
WNC State Parks: 14 Miles: 16
Grandfather Mountain State Park
From Charlotte take N-16 N to I-40 W to US 321 N to US 221 S to Grandfather Mountain entrance. Grandfather Mountain State Park is one of the newest state park with over 4000 acres was established in 2008. Calloway Peak is the highest point along the Blue Ridge Escarpment reaching an elevation of 5946 feet. At the entrance of the park is MacRae Meadows, the site for the annual Highland Games & Singing on the Mountain. Park fees are $18 and goes to the Stewardship Foundation to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park in the public interest, and participate in educational and research activities. There are plenty of picnic areas thru-out the park. One picnic area has walking trails with informational kiosks for animals and nature. Sphinx and Split Rock is on the right. Half way up the mountain is the Fudge Shop, Animal Habitats, Nature Museum and Restaurant. The Animal Habitat houses black bears, river otters, cougars, Eagles, and white-tail deer. The mountain is also habitat for as many as 200 different bird species. Just pass that is the Cliffside picnic area with spectacular views. Black Rock parking area is the starting point for over 12 miles of alpine trails through Grandfather Mountain backcountry, including a trail up to the swinging bridge. Once you pass Black Rock parking area the road has several switchbacks with some hairpin curves to the top. The building at the mountain top parking lot house a gift shop, restrooms, and an elevator to the swinging bridge. The swinging bridge was put in place in 1952. It is America's highest suspension footbridge at 228 ft and spans 80 ft chasm at more than 1 mile in elevation. The galvanized steel connects to Calloway Peak at 5946 ft with breathtaking views. During high winds the swinging bridge will sing.
Linville Gorge
From Charlotte take N-16 N to I-40 W to US-64 N to NC-181 N to NC-183. Service Road 1238 will be on the left with a well marked sign pointing the way. As soon as you turn in onto this dirt road Linville Falls parking lot and trail head will be on the left. Stopping here and walking to the falls is a must. Further down the service road an informational cabin with a kiosk and restroom privies is on the right. All along this dirt road is pull-offs for car camping, parking for several trail heads, and a Wiseman's View. The Wiseman's View is a quick walk from the parking lot to a breathtaking birds eye view into Linville Gorge. Fishing Linville river is Hatchery Supported / Wild Trout and provides great fishing with some nice pools for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Camping is free. The Service Road 1238 will continue a few miles down the mountain to Lake James.
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| Informational Cabin at Linville Gorge |
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| Wiseman's View into Linville Gorge |
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| Linville Gorge |
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| Linville Gorge |
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| Linville Gorge |
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| Linville Gorge |
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| Linville Gorge |
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| Linville Gorge |
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| Linville Gorge |
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| View from Service Road 1238 |
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| View from Bynum Bluff Trail |
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| View from Bynum Bluff Trail |
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| Upper Linville Falls |
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| Linville Falls |
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| Linville Falls |
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| Linville Falls |
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| Linville River |
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| Linville River |
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| Linville Gorge |
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| Black Rock parking lot at Grandfather Mountain State Park |
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| Swinging Bridge at GMSP |
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| Building on top of GMSP |
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| Calloway Peak at 5946 ft |
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| View from GMSP |
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| View from GMSP |
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| Switchbacks and hairpin curves up to GMSP |
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| Grandfather Mountain |
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| View from Grandfather Mountain |
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| Grandfather Mountain |
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| View from Overlook heading up to GM |
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| Water Cascading at Upper Creek |
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| Top of Upper Creek Falls |
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| Upper Creek Falls |
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| Lower Creek Falls |
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| Brown Mountain |
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| Table rock on the left and Hawksbill at center |
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Around my neighborhood!
Walking Bailey around my neighborhood gives me the opportunity to observe some of the local wildlife. Within the last month or so I have seen a deer, geese, mallards, three hawks, a huge owl, rabbits, a box turtle, and a possum. Next time I go walking Bailey I will take my phone to take pictures.
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