TRAILMARKER. The Piedmont Hiking & Outing Club Newsletter Since November-December 2011 Volume 29, Number 6

Transcription

1 TRAILMARKER The Piedmont Hiking & Outing Club Newsletter Since 1982 November-December 2011 Volume 29, Number 6 PHOC Member Ernest Mannella thru hikes Appalachian Trail Visit us on the web

2 Page 2 of 16 News. Sorry, No Power Walks for November or December!!! (dogs optional!!) Thursday night three-mile walks will continue during November and December. Travel east on Friendly Avenue from Westridge, turn right on Kemp Road East. Go 0.6 miles and turn right on Starmount Drive. The parking area is immediately on the left. Please feel free to come with or without your furry friends, and please bring only dogs who are well-socialized and friendly towards other animals. No need to call or . We ll leave the parking area at 6:30 p.m.

3 Page 4 of 16 About Our Hike Rating System Our rating system provides a useful, general gauge of a hike s difficulty. It factors in distance and elevation gain and is intended to help you choose hikes that you will find most enjoyable. A hike rated 20 isn t a whole lot harder or easier than hikes rated 18 or 22. But a 20 will definitely be about twice as hard as a 10. And a 30 will be about three times harder than a 10. In general, here s how the ratings work: R0-R10 These are more walks than hikes. They re usually close to home, the trails are flat, and distances are generally short. An after-dinner walk around the block would be rated R1 or R2. Our Wednesday Night Walks are R3. The 7 mile hike along the Nat Greene and Piedmont Trails at Lake Brandt in Greensboro is an R8, as is the loop trail around Salem Lake in Winston-Salem. R10-R20 Most of these hikes will be in the lower mountains and foothills. Distances will be about 5-8 miles, with climbs ranging from feet...not easy if you re new to hiking! Trails will be dirt and rock, and not well groomed. As long as you re in moderately good shape, you should be able to enjoy the outing. At a minimum, you should carry water, lunch, and rain gear. Our hikes are usually less strenuous than those offered on and frequently fall into this range. R20-R30 hikes often fall into this range. Hikes in the low end of this range will be too hard and overly stressful for many new members. Plan on an allday trip, with at least 4 hours of continuous hiking in rugged and steep terrain. At a minimum, be sure to pack two quarts of water, lunch, a snack, and rain gear. Outings Protocol Outings Let the outing leader know you are going to attend. Arrive at least 5-10 minutes early for the outing. If you carpool, reimburse your driver for driving costs. A suggested amount is $4.00 for each hour of driving. Always take snacks, lunch, and plenty of water. Always pack rain gear. Bring extra clothes to change into after the hike. To keep vehicles clean and the air fresh, always carry something to hold muddy boots and sweaty clothes for the ride back from a hike. Remember, your participation is at your own risk. New Location! Every Friendly Shopping Center The Wednesday Night Walkers will meet every Wednesday evening in the Friendly Shopping Center parking lot near Tex and Shirley s at 6:30 PM for a brisk walk before dinner. Rain or shine, the group will go to dinner after the walk. PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER 1220 Penny Rd, High Point R30-R40 These are strenuous hikes. They will usually be 10+ miles, with climbs of feet. They re appropriate only for those who have done a number of lower rated hikes. R40+ These hikes are usually 12 or more miles with 3000 feet or more of elevation gain. They re appropriate only for fit, experienced hikers. NC-68 I-40 Wendover Ave. Penny Road E. Fork Rd.

4 Outings Page 5 of 16 November 2 Nine Miles at Pilot Mountain.. We will start at the Ranger Station at the entrance and follow the Grassy Ridge Trail to Pinnacle Hotel Road. Here we pick up Mountain Trail, which leads us to the base of the Mountain to Ledge Spring Trail. This hike is not for beginners. From Ledge Springs we will continue on to the Jomeokee Trail around the knob. We finish the hike, after a brief stop at the top of the mountain, down the Grindstone Trail, back to the Ranger Station where we started. I will have a cook out as a late lunch at my house for participants who would like to stop by. Please call Ben for meeting place and time. (Approx 9 miles, R-25) November 3 November 5 Virginia Creeper Trail Taylors Valley November 4 Friday North Carolina Dance Festival Aycock Auditorium, UNCG Campus Back by popular demand (our third year) is a fun AND cultural evening out with friends. The NC Dance Festival is in its 21st year of showcasing the best of professional North Carolina modern dancers and choreographers. If you haven t experienced modern dance or don t know anything about it this is a great, inexpensive and fun introduction. We ll meet on the steps of Aycock between 5:45 and 6 and proceed as a group, or break up into smaller groups, to one of the many affordable restaurants right there on Tate Street. At 7:50 we ll gather in the lobby of Aycock for the 8 o clock performance. Please call or me by October 26th to make reservations and I can get a group discount. Regular admission $16, Seniors $14, Group $8. We need ten or more, which has happened the last two years. Check out the video on their website: November 5 Pilot Mountain Loop Pilot Mountain State Park If you re in the mood for taking it easy, yet enjoying the beauty of the deep woods, join Nicole on the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail to complete a 10 mile loop. This is a very moderate hike and suitable for anybody with some experience walking in the mountains. It has not been done as an official club hike in a number of years, but a group of us recently scouted it again and it was deemed worthy of being revived. We will start on the Creeper walking for about 4 miles, and will continue and complete the loop on the AT (a walk of about 6 miles). We will start from the small community of Taylors Valley (a few miles up route 58 from the entrance to Grayson Highlands Park) and end there, with a stop at the Creeper Trail Café that caters to AT through hikers. At that point, hikers will have the choice of dining at the café (right on the spot), which includes hamburgers, pinto beans, ice cream, and other delicious items on its menu, or getting in the car for a stop at an eatery on the way. (Sparta is a good spot.) If you contemplate driving straight home, please be aware that the drive to and from the trailhead is close to 3 hours, so be sure to bring plenty of food on the hike or for munching in the car afterward. If interested, please call or Nicole for meeting time and place. (10.5 miles, 1500 ft., R-26) November 5 Primitive and Cedar Ridge Trails Doughton Park

5 Page 6 of 16 Outings This will be scenic hike with a very stiff climb to the ridge on the Primitive trail. Hopefully, we will still see some fall colors. There will be one interesting stream crossing at the beginning of the hike. Please contact me if you are interested. Bring plenty of water, food and rain gear. Dinner will follow the hike for those that are interested. (12 miles, 3000 feet, R42) November 6 Nat Greene/Palmetto Trails Greensboro Watershed Trails Join us for an 8 mile hike on the Nat Greene Trail and Palmetto Trails. These are pretty trails with views of Lake Brandt. We will meet at the Lake Brant Marina - Nat Greene watershed trailhead (on the left as you enter the marina parking lot) at 1:00 pm. Bring water and snack. Call or if you have questions. (R12) November Trail Maintenance Hanging Rock & Pilot Mountain State Parks It's trail maintenance time again!, 1-5 PM. Join Matt at Pilot Mountain or Jay at Hanging Rock for work by PHOC on the trails we love to hike there. Rangers at each park will decide on the work needed closer to the work date. Updates will go to all who sign up to work as the time approaches. Bring snacks, water, and heavy work gloves. Contact Matt or Jay with questions. Please let them know your choice of parks so that they may coordinate with the Rangers for tools and materials. November 9 November 10 November 12 Maxing Out Stone Mountain Stone Mountain State Park Let s hope we catch the end of fall s beauty by enjoying a moderate hike on the outer loop trail of Stone Mountain. We ll start from the upper parking lot, then go to the top of Stone Mountain for our first vista and break. We ll go down the back of the mountain to Wolf Rock Trail, taking us up to Wolf and Cedar Rocks, where we can enjoy lunch. We ll descend to the loop trail; perhaps visit the middle and lower falls; then admire Stone Mountain Falls from the bottom before ascending the stairs along the side of the falls. (8-9 miles, 1,600 ft, R- 24) November 12 Comers Creek Loop Jefferson National Forest This is a new loop hike led by an old and slow leader. This nine-plus miles moderate loop trail is located to the northeast of Mt. Rogers, combining parts of the Iron Mountain Trail and the AT, and has something for everyone: waterfalls, creeks, occasional views toward Mt. Rogers, and a variety of foliage to be enjoyed; most of all, good footing and few rocks. We will not be in open country, but please wear layered clothing and bring rain gear along with plenty of water, lunch, and snacks. To ensure we re off the trail before sunset, we ll be getting an early start, so please call or me for details. We can stop in Sparta for supper afterwards, and the leader has a house there where a sleep-over night would be possible with prior arrangement. (9.2 miles, 1,955 feet, R-29) Please update your address!!

6 Outings Page 7 of 16 Please update your address!! November 12 Heartbreak Ridge Pisgah National Forest This hike starts near Old Fort, parallels a creek for a warm up stretch, and then starts climbing up Heartbreak Ridge. The climb is not steep but it is unrelenting. To compensate, there are lots of good views to be had along the way. It then goes up steeply for a relatively short distance to the top of Blue Ridge Pinnacle, with 360 degree views of Mt. Mitchell, Graybeard, Table Rock, etc After lunch on Pinnacle, we ll head back down. Those interested will stop at Yianni s for dinner on the way back. Call or for meeting times and places. (14 miles; /- ; R54) go two miles to the gravel drive on the left, shortly after the Beaver Creek Bridge. See the blue Wake County Parks sign. November 13 Owls Roost Trail Greensboro Watershed Trails Lets meet at 1:30 PM at the Wildlife Center in Bur Mil Park and hike the Owls Roost watershed trail to the Greenway, and then back again, using the Fire Lane trail for part of the return trip. Proceed North on 220, past Horse Pen Creek Rd on the left, then right at the traffic light at Owls Roost, and then left into Bur Mil Park. Bear right at the club house, park in the circular drive way at the bottom of the hill. [6 mi]. Nov 13 American Tobacco Trail Bike Ride New Hill, NC November 13 Indian Creek Trail Hanging Rock State Park The missing link of this trail was completed during the summer of 2010 and the trail is now open for 13.5 miles from our starting point. Riders can ride this entire section, out and back (27 miles), in about 3 hours. Slower riders can ride a portion and turn around wherever you would prefer. There are nice restrooms at the start point (milepost 0) and at another access point at milepost 5. No water is available though. The surface is partially paved, but mostly packed cinder. However, there is a section of packed gravel about milepost 11, which road bikes will find really annoying and may have to turn back at that point. Comfort, hybrid, and mountain bikes will do fine. We ll meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. and have a late lunch afterward at Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro if you d like. Contact Jim if you are coming and interested in a possible carpool or caravan. Directions to the trailhead: From Pittsboro, Jordan Lake, and points west, go east on U.S. 64 to the N.C. 751 light. Turn right, or south, Let's hike the lovely Indian Creek Trail that winds along the creek from the Dan River to Window Falls and Hidden Falls. We will proceed to the Visitor Center for a break, then head back down the trail. We will hike at a leisurely to moderate pace. Bring water, snacks, rain gear, and hiking poles if you use them. There are a few easy stream crossings. Afterwards, those who wish may join us for a downhome, family style dinner at Hillbilly Hideaway, which is on the way back. We will meet at Shoney's at 12:00, or you can join us at the trailhead, located at the end of Flincham Rd. on the Dan River at 1:00. Please call to let me know you are joining us or if you have any questions. (Approximately 7.5 miles, +/-900 feet, R18) November 14 Monday November Meeting Piedmont Environmental Center

7 Page 8 of 16 Meet for refreshments and fellowship at 7 p.m. The evening presentation will begin at 7:30. This evening s program will feature the ever popular and entertaining Dick Thomas, director of Piedmont Environmental Center. All members are welcome and there is no need to RSVP. A map to the PEC is on page 4. November 17 Thursday Outings Mi Pueblo Restaurant 3911 Tinsley Dr, High Point Let's meet for dinner at Mi Pueblo's off of 68, near Wendover at 6:15. Please call or me by Tuesday so I can give them an accurate count. November 16 November 18 Friday OPA restaurant 200 S Elm St., Greensboro November 17 November 17 Thursday Scotch Tasting Finnegan s Wake Irish Pub 620 N Trade St, Winston-Salem 6865 Join me for an evening of fun at OPA, and get your fill of Greek food. This is a little gem of a restaurant in downtown Greensboro that serves authentic Greek specialties at reasonable prices. You can view the menu at Please RSVP by Tuesday, Nov 15th to hold your seat. Scotch class is in session! Join us for an evening of Scotch education and tasting. We meet at 6:30 p.m. at Finnegan s Wake where we will be informed and educated on the unique characteristics and varieties of Scotch. Each person or pair (ok for two to share their tasting) will select and try four Scotches, one from each region of Scotland for $20 (or more $$$ if you choose higher priced options). Dinner available for those who like; Finnegan s dinner menu can be viewed here: uploads/2010/01/dinner_menu_june2011.pdf This should be grand fun, but please do have a plan and identify a designated driver who will get you home safely. Please confirm your interest by end of day Tuesday, November 15, so we can get an accurate count to Finnegan s to prepare for us. Bet you never had so much fun getting an education. Nov 19 AT / Wilson Creek / Twin Pinnacles Grayson Highlands State Park, VA This hike has something for everyone: waterfalls, big views, wild ponies, and stream crossings. We park at the overnight backpackers lot and take the blue blaze feeder trail to the AT, follow the AT until it intersects with the Wilson Creek trail, have lunch beside one of two waterfalls on Wilson Creek, stay on Wilson Creek trail to the campground, follow Stamper's Branch Trail to the Visitor's Center, follow Twin Pinnacles trail for two large views, then cross over to Massie Gap to see the wild ponies and hook back up with the AT to the feeder trail and back to the cars. Bring hiking poles and traction devices; it can get bitterly cold and windy up there, so also bring extra clothes. Leave them in the car if you don't need them. Call or for meeting time and place. (11+/- miles feet, R-32, unless there is snow and ice).

8 Outings Page 9 of 16 November 20 Gibson Park Greensboro/Jamestown be a reward for the day s physical exertion. Bring water and lunch and wear layered clothing. Contact David if interested in this outing. (9 or 12 miles, 1400 or 2600 feet, R23 or R38) Meet at 1:30 p.m. at Gibson Park for a scenic fivemile walk at Gibson Park, along the Greenway and lakeside through the woods. This is a pleasant and invigorating stroll. Directions: Go out Wendover Avenue from Greensboro; after crossing over I-40, go 3.4 miles and turn left at the sign for Gibson Park; follow the road about.5 mile to the end, to the picnic tables, restrooms and water fountain. Hope to see you. (5 mi, R6) November 23 November 24 November 27 Lake Townsend Greensboro Watershed Trails Lets meet at 1:30 PM for an easy, scenic hike along the wooded southern edge of Lake Townsend. From Battleground Ave or Lawndale, proceed east on Pisgah Church, continue east on Lees Chapel, bear left at Brightwood School, turn left at the T at Rudd Station Road, cross over the RR tracks and keep straight on South Shore Road for about 1/3 of a mile. Park in the gravel parking lot of your left. Allow about twenty minutes drive time from Battleground. No need to call. [8 mi, R-8] November 26 Trails to High Shoals Falls South Mountains State Park Nov 30 This state park boasts one of North Carolina s most beautiful easily-accessed waterfalls. In PHOC fashion, however, participants in this outing will enjoy either a moderate or strenuous hike prior to reaching the rustic viewing platform at High Shoals waterfall. The entire group will first climb to Chestnut Knob overlook for views that might include the skyline of Charlotte, depending on the clarity of the atmosphere that day. At the bottom of Possum trail, the entire group will have lunch beside beautiful Shinny Creek. From there, participants in the moderate hike will take the direct route to the waterfall. Hikers choosing the strenuous option will ascend the steep Shinny trail and reach the waterfall via the Upper Falls trail. A dinner stop at Yianni s in Morganton can December 1 December 3 Table Rock Linville Gorge Today s hike is to the top of Table Rock, which is along the eastern side of Linville Gorge. After hiking up Table Rock and enjoying lunch, we will descend and then hike along the Shortoff mountain trail to the Chimneys area. The hike to the top of Table Rock includes an alternative route up Devils Cellar which includes some bushwhacking and scrambling. Scenery is guaranteed to be fantastic. Dinner will be at the now famous Yannies Greek

9 Page 10 of 16 Outings restaurant in Morganton. Call Ben Harris for meeting place and time or more info. (+/- 6 miles, 1500 ft, R-20 or higher for Devils cellar participants) December 3 Rock Castle Gorge Stuart, Va If you have done this loop hike before, it is probably one of your favorite hikes. First timers will find out why I say this. We start low at the CCC Camp Road, hike steeply up to the Parkway, then across open meadows along the Blue Ridge Parkway and have lunch at an old AT Shelter. The views are fantastic! We descend back into the gorge lined with boulders and finish next to a rushing stream for a few miles on the way back to the cars. Please contact me for meeting time and place. (11 mi R-39) December 4 Fairy Stone Trails Fairy Stone State Park, Va This is a pretty hike, perfect for those who are ready for something slightly more difficult than most of the Watershed hikes. Fairy Stone State Park is the oldest state park in Virginia, and has several attractive features. We will start along Fairy Stone Lake, then turn into the woods and climb a gentle to moderate slope along the Little Mountain Falls Trail. The falls themselves may be very little depending on the recent rainfall, but the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the high point in the park is an especially attractive one. We will return to and along the lake shore. (8 mile loop, 700 ft., R-15) December 4 Owls Roost/Nat Greene Trails Lake Brandt, Greensboro This is a 9-mile hike on part of the Mountains-to-Sea trail in Greensboro s watershed lakes area, using 1.8 miles of the greenway, the Owls Roost trail, and the Nat Greene trail. We will meet at the Lake Brandt marina Nat Greene trailhead (on the left as you enter the marina parking lot) at 12:30 pm. We will need to shuttle to the Wayside parking area just north of Strawberry Rd. Just a word of caution, the Owls Roost trail is also a bike trail. Bring water and snack. Contact me if you have questions. (9 miles, R12) Dec 4 New Member Orientation and Walk Lake Higgins Marina, Greensboro Thinking about joining but wondering what it is all about, new member and not sure how to get started, or a recent member needing a refresher course? Meet with us at 1:30 p.m. in the small conference room at Lake Higgins Marina on Hamburg Mill Road in Greensboro. Participants will hear about the PHOC, it s opportunities, appropriate gear for PHOC hikes, what to expect and how to stay safe on the trail. The orientation will take about 45 minutes. Afterward we hope you will join us for a short walk in the woods of course all members are welcome! Those interested in the walk should bring plenty of water, a snack, and wear appropriate clothing to be outside (it could be very chilly). The orientation and walk should wrap up no later than 5:00 p.m. If you need additional information, please contact Butch or Terri. We look forward to seeing you in the conference room and/or on the trail! December 7

10 Outings Page 11 of 16 December 8 December 10 Cook s Wall and Moore s Knob Hanging Rock State Park Non-refundable cost of $5 per PHOC member and $15 per non PHOC member. Guests and PHOC members both pay the Holiday party fee. This event will be limited to the first 125 members and guests who submit their payment. Last year, all 125 spaces were filled in two weeks and we had a waiting list. The route from the visitor center to Cook s Wall, a fine snack location, will be the direct one using a portion of the Chestnut Oak Nature trail. Individuals desiring a relatively short hike will break away from the group at the bottom of Magnolia Springs trail and return to the visitor center. Hikers continuing on the full loop will enjoy lunch on Moore s Knob. We ll hope the clearing skies of December will allow for excellent views to the south from House Rock, to the southwest and west from Cook s Wall, and to the northwest and northeast from Moore s Knob. Individuals interested in this outing should contact Edward about details. Bring water, lunch, and rain gear. (6 or 9 miles, 900 or 1800 feet of elevation gain, R 15 or 27) December 10 Annual Holiday Party 6:00 pm RH Barringer Distributing Co Fairfax Road, Greensboro, NC Cost $5 per member, $15 non-member Come on out and join the fun at RH Barringer Distributing Company at 1620 Fairfax Road in Greensboro. This location is courtesy of Fred Craig (thanks much Fred!). The party starts at 6:00 pm. The catered dinner will be at 6:30 pm. Tea and soda will be provided, but do bring your own adult beverage if you like. Bring a dessert to share after the catered dinner. There will be dancing after dinner. Send your payment (check or money order) of $5 per member and $15 non-member: Piedmont Hiking & Outing Club P.O. Box Greensboro, NC December Backpacking Trip Mt. Rogers Thomas Knob shelter has been recently renovated so it s time for a visit. The moon will be full, the weather will be clear, and I m headed up to Mt Rogers for my final backpacking trip of the year. It can get just a little chilly up there in late December, so the exact route will depend on snow if any and temperatures. No more than 10 miles each day, and probably less. You should plan on having at least a 20 degree sleeping bag. for more details as the date gets closer. (15-20 miles +/ ft, R-Cold) December 11 Birkhead Loop Uwharrie National Forest-Asheboro We ll hike on three trails to form a lollipop loop. One of the trails is unmaintained and passes by several old home sites and goldmines. There are a few minor creek crossings and hills are mild so although

11 Page 12 of 16 Outings it is 12+ miles, it is an easy 12 mile hike. We ll meet at 9 a.m. at the Tot Hill Road trailhead or car pools from Winston-Salem and Greensboro will be arranged. Contact Jim if you plan to attend. (12.2 miles, 1400 ft, R-26) December 11 Lake Higgins Greensboro Watershed Trails Lets meet at 1:30 and hike the Bald Eagle Trail at Lake Higgins. Drive north on 220, aka Battleground, past the turnoff to Bur Mil Park, down the hill, past the spill way on the left, and then left on Hamburg Mill Road. Go past the gate to the Lake Higgins Marina and park in the gravel parking lot just past the fence on the left. This is an easy hike, 8 miles total. December 11 2:00 pm Hike Leadership Bull Session Lake Higgins Marina, GSO Have you ever thought of leading a hike, but are not sure how to get started and what is expected of you? Are you an experienced hike leader who would love to share your experiences and lessons learned with newbies? This two-hour bull session of learning and sharing the best ways to enjoy the trails is for you. Jill and Nicole will first do a presentation on the responsibilities of a hike leader and what works toward making a hike safe and enjoyable. After the presentation, the floor will be open for a question/answer/ comments session. We encourage experienced hike leaders to come and enrich the discussion with their personal experiences and wisdom. If all works well, we hope to initiate an informal mentoring program with experienced leaders offering to help newbies take the plunge. Please meet at the Lake Higgins marina on Hamburg Mill Road at 2:00 p.m. Dec 14 December 15 December 17 Raven Rock State Park Lillington, NC Let s go to Raven Rock State Park and hike. The hiking is pleasant with no long hard ups or downs with a beautiful stream to hike beside. There will be views of the Cape Fear River. There are 14.8 miles of trails. We will hike 9.3 miles of trails that are rated easy to moderate by the park. Let s meet at Burger King on US 421 (Martin Luther King Drive) just off I 40/Bus 85 in Greensboro and be ready to leave at 8 A.M. The drive from Burger King is just over 1.5 hours. December 17 Bluff Ridge/Flat Rock Ridge Trails Doughton Park This hike includes the demands of the steep Bluff Ridge primitive trail but also the viewing rewards of the southern section of the Bluff Mountain trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway and of the Flat Rock Ridge trail. Participants on this outing will have an opportunity to examine up close the outstanding work done in restoring stone walls built in the 1930s along portions of the parkway. A dinner stop at Mis Arados or Amalfi s in Elkin can be a reward for the day s physical exertion. Bring water and lunch and wear layered clothing. Contact David if interested in this outing. (13 miles, 3300 feet, R46)

12 Outings Page 13 of 16 December 18 Lake Brandt Loop Greensboro Watershed Trails This primarily ridge-based hike requires no rock hopping across creeks but does include some steep climbs. The route is through the backpack campsites on the Widow s Creek trail, up Scott Ridge to the abandoned aerial tramway site, and back down the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Views of the ridges of Stone Mountain State Park, of Stone Mountain itself from above, and of the valley beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway are excellent during the winter. Hikers can be home for supper at a normal time. Bring water and lunch and wear layered clothing. Contact David if interested in this outing. (11 miles, 2800 feet, R39] Join us for an 8.5 mile hike around Lake Brandt. We will meet at the Lake Brant Marina - Nat Greene watershed trailhead (on the left as you enter the marina parking lot) at 1:00 pm. This is a pleasant and invigorating stroll around the lake, using 1.3 miles of the greenway and the rest in the lakeside woods of the Nat Greene and Piedmont Trails. Short break at Bur-Mill Park. A local club favorite. Call or us if you have questions. (8.5 miles, R-12) Dec 21 December 22 Dec 28 January 1 Cook s Wall and Moore s Knob Hanging Rock State Park The route from the visitor center to Cook s Wall will be the direct one using a portion of the Chestnut Oak Nature trail. Both House Rock and Cook s Wall are excellent snack locations. Individuals desiring a relatively short hike will break away from the group at the bottom of Magnolia Springs trail and return to the visitor center. Hikers continuing on the full loop will enjoy lunch on Moore s Knob. We ll hope clear winter skies will provide excellent views to the south from House Rock, to the southwest and west from Cook s Wall, and to the northwest and northeast from Moore s Knob. Individuals interested in this outing should contact David about details. Bring water and lunch and wear layered clothing. (6 or 9 miles, 900 or 1800 feet of elevation gain, R 15 or 27). December 29 December 31 Scott Ridge/MTS Trails Stone Mountain State Park Announcements on Next Page!!