WNCOutdoors.info Blog

Fall is long gone, and winter is actually drawing to a close. Though the drought continues, it has lessened some, meaning that waterfalls are back up and the trails are somewhat muddy again. But the big story this winter: the lack of snow. What reminded me of this is that as of tonight, almost March 1st, the mountains received their first significant snowfall with totals over 6″ in many locations. Global warming? Who knows, but if you like winter, tomorrow might be your last day to enjoy it as warmer temperatures and rain are back in the forecast for the weekend.  Here’s to hoping for a blizzard before the end of March.

I’ve decided to release all photos in the HikeWNC.info and MTBikeWNC.com photo galleries under a Creative Commons license. This means you are specifically allowed to copy, reproduce, and redistribute the photos in the sizes available on this web site in any way you choose. Need a photo for a blog post about your recent hike? No problem, you don’t even have to ask. Writing a school paper that you’d like to accompany with some images? Download away.

Of course, there are a few restrictions. Copying, use and display of the photos are fine as long as it’s not done for money. Also, please do not modify the photos before reproducing them and as per the license, attribution is required.

If you find a way to use the photos, I’d appreciate a note (but it is not required). If you need higher resolutions than are available on this site, would like to purchase a print, or modify the photos for use in something else, contact me and we can discuss an alternate license. Thanks and enjoy!

You can now save most of our maps as a high-resolution PDF, making them easy to print. Customize a map, save it as a PDF, print it out, and bring it with you on your hike or ride! Just go to the Best Hikes or Best Rides, choose a hike or ride, and click the Maps tab at the top. Be sure to let me know if there are any errors or things you’d like to suggest. (more…)

Now, you can rate (from 1-5) and comment on your favorite hikes in the Best Hikes section of the site. Just choose a hike you’ve done and click the “Feedback” tab at the top. Ratings and comments for individual trails and for photos are coming soon, as well as for the Best Rides on MTBikeWNC.com. Have fun giving your feedback!

Trail Dynamics, a local company with local mountain bike advocate Woody Keen as founding member, is currently working on a makeover of the Burnt Mountain trail in Dupont State Forest. Help is needed in finish work between now and Thanksgiving - if you can lend a hand, come out and help shape this trail into one of the best in the Forest. (more…)

The fall color this season hasn’t been as bad as some predicted, but at the same time, hasn’t been that great either. Muted to bright yellows are quite common, as are leaves that are turning brown and falling directly off the trees this season. However, pockets of excellent color are out there too, and even “so-so” color is pretty to look at. If you haven’t gotten your foliage fix, now is the time - this week into this weekend should be “peak” at mid to lower elevations, although some color will linger into the following weekend, especially down the escarpment in the Piedmont region.

The fall color season has really cranked up in the last week or so. Some high elevation areas peaked last weekend, and mid elevation sites should be peaking this weekend into next at lower elevation sites. As usual, fall color will probably last into early November for areas at the bottom of the mountains.

Intensity wise, it’s been a strong moderate year. Maples and sourwood are reaching brilliant orange to red colors, while most other species have stuck to yellow. Quite a bit of the color is vivid and saturated while, unfortunately, a good portion of the trees are going straight to barren brown - probably due to the drought. Tuliptrees at lower elevations are changing sooner than the rest, so some of the valley color may be out-of-sync. It’s not been a disappointing season at all despite what the forecasters said in response to the drought, and the rain this week should make the overall scenery much more exciting. Clear, cool weather returns for the weekend. Get out the cameras and hit the trails!

Saturday, October 6 is “Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day” at Dupont State Forest. (more…)

Well, it’s definitely that time of year again. The summer heat held on into late September, and the blasted drought continues unabated, but this weekend finally offerred some truly fall-weather hiking. Lows in the 40’s and highs in the 70’s with crystal-clear high pressure overhead signify that the great change is coming. There are even a few leaves changing color above 4000′ in elevation, and above 5000′ there’s even been a first frost of the season.

Today I had the opportunity to re-hike the Walton trail (more…)

From Craig of Ski Country Sports: “The festival will be held this Saturday 9/29 2pm to 6pm & Sunday 9/30 10am to 2pm. There will be free riverside camping just down the road from the trailhead. The campground has several campsites, power, a port-a-potty, fire pit, and horseshoe pit. We will provide free pizza and cold beverages for all volunteers.

We will work Saturday 2pm to 6pm(meet at the main trailhead – off of 251 Riverside Dr.). Then we will cool off in the river and have some pizza and cold beverages, maybe a game of horseshoes. Sunday we will work 10am to 2pm. If you know of anybody that has some musical talent tell them join us Saturday night. Please contact other possible trail work volunteers.”