Our last conditioning hike of the pre-Tour Du Mont Blanc was completed Sunday. Seven miles out and back on the Falls Lake Trail with fully loaded packs…carrying exactly what we’d be carrying on a typical day of the TMB. The hiking days in the Alps will be longer with much more up and down, of course. The TMB is of […]
The Ramsey Cascades, an Epic Southern Waterfall Hike
Waterfalls Week: The Ramsey Cascades *We have added the Ramsey Cascades to the list of Best Hikes in the Southern Appalachians. All things considered, we think it may be the best hike to any waterfall in the Southern US, at least that we’ve done so far. It’s the only waterfall in the Eastern US that currently ranks on our list […]
Moore’s Not Less: Moore Cove Falls
Moore Cove Falls, Pisgah NF Waterfall Week, our exploration of those dramatic contests between gravity and water, continues with one of the highlights of the Pisgah National Forest’s Cradle of Forestry area — Moore Cove Falls. It is located just a short ways off US Route 276 not long after it clears the town of Brevard, but well before it […]
Waterfalls Week: Where the Hen Wallows(?)
Hen Wallow Falls, GSMNP, TN The First Waterfall on the list for Waterfalls week is a relatively good sized one named Hen Wallow Falls, located on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Hen Wallow Falls is 90 feet tall…but like most eastern waterfalls that drop is not accomplished a single straight plunge. It’s more of a series […]
Get Ready for Waterfall Week!!!
Waterfall Week! There is something undeniably pleasant and harmonious about the sight of moving water. Hence, the attraction to waterfalls, those fountains of nature. Everybody loves ‘em, right? Maybe not. If you’re a serious hiker, my bet is that you probably don’t dislike them, but you probably don’t love them either. Most serious hikers I know prefer a good, solid […]
The Back Forty: Umstead State Park
William B. Umstead State Park, NC **We have added William B. Umstead State Park to our list of local hikes. It is one of our favorite places to go for a conditioning day trip in the Triangle Area! If you live in the Raleigh/Durham area you almost can’t help but have heard of William B. Umstead State Park. It is […]
The Creep into Trail Town
The Virginia Creeper Trail If you are in the area of Damascus Virginia for hiking or for any reason, be sure to check out the Virginia Creeper Trail. And if you aren’t planning to be in the area, find a reason to be. This is a must-do for anyone living within a day’s drive…and it may just be the most […]
The Crossbow Islands: A Nautical Hijink
Islas Ballestas, Paracas, Peru *BecauseItzThere is primarily a hiking blog, but from time to time we do feature other types of outdoor adventures, including ‘nautical hijinx.’ The following nautical hijink occurred in 2015 as part of the same trip that included the Santa Cruz Trek. We hope you enjoy it! There is more to do in Peru besides hiking. After […]
Forest Ridge Park in Wake County Opens
Forest Ridge Park is Wake County’s newest! Located in the extreme Northern Corner of Raleigh, near the Wake County Line, is the new Forest Ridge Park. We think it may become on of the best places to hike in the Triangle area. Though it is a multi-use park, most of this new recreational area is preserved in its natural wooded […]