Busy time on the trail, fall. Something about temperatures in the 60s and trees ablaze in color brings out the hiker in darn near everyone. For the next couple of months, the trails will be packed. Well, some of the trails. In today's GetHiking! Southeast Podcast, taken from our first Lunch with GetHiking! Zoom session, we discuss how to find the trails less traveled during the fall hiking frenzy.
As mentioned, the episode is taken from our new Lunch with GetHiking! series: every other Thursday at noon we'll gather on Zoom to discuss hiking topics pertinent for the season. Here's a schedule of our topics through year's end, followed by the Zoom link to join in.
Sept. 16 — Finding the Trails Less Traveled. This early run of fall-like weather has been both blessing and curse. After a summer of heat and humidity, the first half of September has been hiking-perfect: Sunny, dry days coupled with clear, cool nights. You can’t wait to get on the trail — and neither can the seasonal masses who discover hiking every year at this time. In the first of our every-other-Thursday Lunch with GetHiking! Zoom gatherings, we’ll talk about ways to find the trails less traveled. Some may be obvious, some not so much.
Sept. 30 — Our Favorite Trails Less Traveled. Last week we told you how you can find the trails less traveled, this week we tell you about some of our favorites. .
Oct. 14 — Fall color comes to the piedmont. Color should be beginning to blossom in the Triangle. We discuss what to look for, where to look for it. We might bring in someone with State Parks to talk specifically about color in the parks.
Oct. 28 — Longer hikes. Maybe your hikes have been in the 3- to 5-mile category so far this fall. And lately, maybe you’ve felt you’d like to hike farther: cool weather will do that. We discuss what to consider as you start hiking longer as well as some of our favorite Piedmont hikes in the 5- to 10-mile range.
Nov. 11 — Coastal Hiking. It’s finally cool enough, the biting bugs and slithery critters are at bay. It’s time to look east for a hiking destination. We discuss 5 of our favorite coastal hikes, with handout.
Nov. 24 (Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving) — Where to take the visiting kin for a Thanksgiving Day/Weekend hike. Our shorter favorite trails that showcase the best the region has to offer. Includes handout.
Dec. 9 — Winter hiking. It’s a knee-jerk reaction: it’s getting cold, time to hang up the hiking gear until spring. Winter can be a magical time on the trail; we discuss how, and why you should keep hiking through the winter.
Dec. 23 — Hike in the New Year. Where to hike in the new year and what to expect on a First Day hike. Plus, setting goals for 2022.
Join us! Here's the link to join us at noon every other Thursday for Lunch with GetHiking!