Hiking in Cold Weather

I'm not too experienced in cold weather hiking, and this Winter has been what may prove to be a record Winter for cold temperatures. So, I'll bow to others who have more experience in hiking in the elements. There advice is linked to below.

Cold-Weather Family Hikes
http://www.familytime.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ArticleId=384&CI=122

Harriman Hikers Guide to Winter & Cold Weather Hiking
http://www.harrimanhikers.org/Harriman_Hikers_Guide_to_Winter_Hiking.pdf

Hike Greensboro at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Looking for some hiking near Greensboro? Try the Battlefield Walking Trails. These trails cover 2.5 miles and the best part is they are close to town if you live there. Check out the rich history while there.

Directions from the Guilford Courthouse website

Car
I-85 SOUTH: As you near Greensboro, take BUSINESS I-85/I-40 and then exit I-840 (EXIT #131). Go north two miles and exit on HIGHWAY 70 WEST (BURLINGTON ROAD). Continue west toward Greensboro (BURLINGTON ROAD will become WENDOVER AVENUE) and exit on US HIGHWAY 29 NORTH. Go north on US HIGHWAY 29 (O'HENRY BOULEVARD) approximately two miles and exit on WEST CONE BOULEVARD. Go west approximately five miles on CONE BOULEVARD to BATTLEGROUND AVENUE. Turn right on BATTLEGROUND AVENUE (US HIGHWAY 220 NORTH); go approximately three miles north to NEW GARDEN ROAD; turn right on NEW GARDEN ROAD to Guilford Courthouse NMP at 2332 New Garden Rd.

I-85 NORTH: As you near Greensboro, take BUSINESS I-85. Exit on HOLDEN ROAD (Exit #34). Turn right on HOLDEN ROAD; go north approximately six miles; crossing BRYAN BOULEVARD to BENJAMIN PARKWAY; turn left on BENJAMIN PARKWAY,go one block and turn left on BATTLEGROUND AVENUE (US HIGHWAY 220 NORTH); go north on BATTLEGROUND AVENUE approximately three miles to NEW GARDEN ROAD. Turn right on NEW GARDEN ROAD to Guilford Courthouse NMP at 2332 New Garden Rd.

I-40 EAST: As you enter Greensboro, exit on GUILFORD COLLEGE-JAMESTOWN ROAD (EXIT #213); turn right on GUILFORD COLLEGE ROAD (after crossing the Interstate bridge, you are approximately 6 miles away from park at this point); go north two miles, crossing MARKET STREET and FRIENDLY AVENUE. Crossing FRIENDLY AVENUE, COLLEGE ROAD becomes NEW GARDEN ROAD. Continue north past Guilford College campus and turn right on NEW GARDEN ROAD; go east three miles, crossing BATTLEGROUND AVENUE, to Guilford Courthouse NMP at 2332 New Garden Rd.

NOTE: Brown directional signs are placed on major routes into Greensboro (including US220 and US29) to assist you in finding the park. I-85 and I-40 join in Greensboro. Business I-85 departs I-85 NORTH/SOUTH and I-40 EAST/WEST into Greensboro; a new I-85 by-pass takes you south around Greensboro missing the exits described above.

LOST? If you need directions or assistance, please call us at (336) 288-1776 (8:30 AM to 5 PM).

Hike to the NC State Fair on Loblolly Trail

Saw this at http://www.getgoingnc.com/2009/10/holy-corn-dog-here%E2%80%99s-a-fair-hike/.

"How you can hike to the fair on the Loblolly Trail: First, drive to the main entrance of Schenck Forest. From Wade Avenue, that would entail exiting at Edwards Mill Road and going 0.7 miles east, to Reedy Creek Road. Go left on Reedy Creek for 0.3 miles, take a left on State Farm Road. Go another tenth of a mile and park. Here’s a map.

Is the trail easy to follow? Sure. Just follow these directions, starting from the Schenck Forest gate where you park, walk down the dirt road for:
0.75 miles — (the dirt road ends in a turnaround loop at about mile 0.7; continue downhill on the narrow trail at the beginning of the loop).
1.3 mi. — Take a right turn, cross a small creek on seven stones, proceed through the left side of the pedestrian tunnel/culvert under Wade Avenue. (The tunnel is lit, but can be a little wet. Friday, there was no more than an inch in the deepest spot.)
1.7 mi. — You’ll see a cool bridge that you don’t get to go over on your right. Instead, walk another 30 yards and go left into the tunnel under Edwards Mill Road (this one’s dry).
1.8 mi. — Trail, which becomes paved on the other side of the tunnel, Ts into RBC Center Road. Either take sidewalk right or go right on the footpath just before the roadway. For our purposes, we’re sticking with the natural path.
2.0 mi. — Trailhead parking for Loblolly Trail. Go left on sidewalk along four-lane street, then go right at first right. This will spit you out onto Trinity Road at …
2.2 mi. — Go left on sidewalk along Trinity Road up to Youth Center Drive.
2.6 mi. — Cross Trinity on Youth Center Drive (but not before the State Highway Patrolperson says it’s OK).
2.7 mi. — Arrive at State Fair ticket booth.
See the map below.

Anything else I need to know? Yes. Though the tunnels are lit, the rest of the Loblolly Trail is not. Plus, technically, the trail closes at dusk. For the record, sunset today is officially at 6:37 p.m.; by the time the fair closes on Oct. 25 it will set at 6:26 p.m. Plan accordingly. Also, this is a fairly easy trail but the wet weather has made it a little mushy in spots. I did the trail Friday in a pair of low-cut hikers and my feet stayed dry. Good tread is important.
Enjoy the fair!

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