I'd Rather Walk

Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 5 Great Hikes in 4 Great Days

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 35 minutes

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is right on the edge of the areas of North Carolina and Tennessee that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

That said, the Park is open and many of the surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your tourist dollars to help rebuild!

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest Park, Trail and road repairs.

Mists rise from the mountains after a summer rain. — Smoky Mountains get their name from the mist that settles in the valleys.

For years, I’ve been driving from my home near Raleigh, NC past the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) in Tennessee for work, but never had a chance to stop and explore.

It was very frustrating… 🙁

The Pulpit rock cairn marks the end of the Bullhead Trail.

But finally, last summer, I was able to spend a few days hiking in the GSMNP.

It was everything I hoped it would be!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) was the most visited national park in 2019, with over 12.5 million visitors.

That’s nearly twice as many tourists as the Grand Canyon had that same year!

The Park covers 522,419 acres in North Carolina and Tennessee, making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States.

It also straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain.

And as if that’s not enough to warrant a visit, the Appalachian Trail also passes through the center of the park on its route from Georgia to Maine.

Read on to learn about the park layout, history and the amazing trails that I hiked during my visit… and how you could hike them, too!

Continue reading Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 5 Great Hikes in 4 Great Days

On the Comeback Trail – Training After An Injury

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Training back to your “normal” fitness level after an injury or illness can be very discouraging.

It’s especially devastating if you’d been training towards a specific goal, like a race or an epic hike.

I’m currently training back from illness/injury for the third time this year. Ugh!

But it sure beats not being able to work out at all.

So, just in case you’re new around here, I’ve been spending 8 weeks training (again!) for a specific amazing hike.

Last time, I did this training to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand.

The hike was wonderful!

I just managed to squeak that trip in very early last Spring before travel was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So this time, I’m training for an amazing hike in Kauai.

This trip has already been rescheduled twice due to COVID travel restrictions.

But even if the hike has to be cancelled again, training as if it’s going to happen will get me back in great shape 🙂

While I’m very impatient with it, I’ve found that it’s possible to do meaningful training while you’re still recovering from injury without pushing yourself too far, too soon.

It’s always good to have a plan! 🙂

Continue reading On the Comeback Trail – Training After An Injury

Hiking Accessories – Inexpensive, Fun and Useful Gifts

Most recently updated August 11th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

That’s right – I’m reposting this just in time for Prime Day, July 16-17!

Why? Well, because I’m a marketing opportunist making use (of course) of a big sale 🙂

During Prime Day you can pretty much just buy stuff you want or need and can afford to get more more than you usually could.

And If you or your sweetie are a hiker, outdoorsy, like gadgets, or just ever even *leave the house*, one of the things on sale could be a great gift, too!

Unless you’ve been hiding out in the backwoods you’ve probably heard of Amazon Prime and Prime Day.

CLICK HERE FOR GREAT DEALS BEFORE THE SALE ENDS!!

Wouldn't your Dad look great with a new water bottle at Hanging Rock State Park? — Wouldn’t your Dad look great with a new water bottle at Hanging Rock State Park?

With all of the choices out there for outdoorsy gifts, why give hiking accessories?

I mean, chances are they’ve already covered the essentials – hiking boots, a day pack, jacket and poles.

Prime Day Sports & Outdoors Deals

If you’re not a hiker yourself, you might not know what else they could use.

Also, basic pieces like boots, poles, pack, and clothing are really a personal choice, and frankly can be quite pricey.

On the other hand, socks or a hat can be a fun, functional, and reasonably priced gift.

But remember – no matter what deals or gifts you choose to get, you need to be a Prime Member to get all the the savings. Click the banner below for your free 30-day Trial Prime membership:

>GET THE FREE 30-DAY PRIME TRIAL!<

Read on to learn about more useful hiking do-dads you can give your outdoorsy friend or loved one – or yourself! – without breaking the bank. 🙂
Continue reading Hiking Accessories – Inexpensive, Fun and Useful Gifts

Get Rid of Painful Foot and Leg Cramps

Most recently updated July 7th, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

You’re snoozing along, all peaceful and comfy in your bed, when suddenly –

Your toes curl back and touch your instep or your calf muscle tenses up as hard as a cannon ball. And boy, does it hurt!

Talk about a rude awakening… The cramps get worse, and you have to get out of bed and walk it out to get relief.

Sound familiar? It should if you – like me and around 60% of adults – have had nocturnal foot or leg cramps.

This common, mysterious pain happens when a foot or leg muscle gets involuntarily stiff and can’t relax.

Overdoing it on the trail can cause leg cramps.

The recurrent, painful tightening – known as a cramp or charley horse – usually occurs in the calf muscles and can lead to insomnia, especially if it happens more than once per night.

Usually the cramping subsides in a few minutes, but you’re left wide awake with a sore leg, wondering what caused the cramps and how you can make it stop.

“They tend to happen more frequently as we age,” says sports medicine specialist Caitlin Lewis, MD.

Foot and leg cramps can vary from just being a nuisance to being a painful and crippling experience.

By finding the triggers for your specific cramping situation and making some simple lifestyle changes, you can minimize the occurrence of foot and leg cramps and sleep undisturbed. Continue reading Get Rid of Painful Foot and Leg Cramps

Hike to the Zombie Tunnels! – Schenck Forest’s Richland Creek Trail

Most recently updated May 4th, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

The Zombie Tunnel Hike is a route that goes from Umstead State Park, and all the way through Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest – with the help of the Richland Creek Trail.

All tunnels could be zombie tunnels... — All tunnels could be zombie tunnels…

I’ve been leading this hike for years, and people really enjoy it.

At over 11 miles, it’s a good long hike, but it’s pretty flat, and has a lot of different features – like Zombie tunnels!

Okay, there may not *actually* be any Zombies, but it sure looks like there could be….and one time I did find a mutant fish in there 🙂

According to legend, Brigadoon only appears for one day every 300 years.

I don’t host this hike very often because conditions need to be just right or the route is impassable, and I hate to disappoint anyone.

The other thing about this route is that, depending on recent weather conditions or new construction, parts of the trail have been known to disappear like Brigadoon at sunrise.

So earlier this year, before I posted the hike for others to join me, I decided to take a look and see if the route was still there – and still the same.

Good news! The route was still there – and still mostly the same. In fact some parts had actually been improved!

Now – just in time for Halloween! – I’ll tell you what I found, and how to get there – and maybe you can go try this somewhat spooky trail for yourself…

UPDATE: There have been some major changes to the Schenck Forest access area over the past few months. Read on for more updated info.

New construction on the Schenk access road off of Reedy Creek road. — New construction on the Schenck access road off of Reedy Creek road.

Continue reading Hike to the Zombie Tunnels! – Schenck Forest’s Richland Creek Trail

Have a Kids’ Day of Adventure at Raven Rock State Park

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Raven Rock State Park, a North Carolina state park, was a favorite destination when my daughter was in grade school.

Located near Lillington, North Carolina, it covers 4810 acres along the banks of the Cape Fear River.

We would go on our own, or with another single Mom friend who also had young kids, and make a day of it.

The kids loved the access to the Cape Fear River at the Fish Traps rapids, and scrambling on tree roots and rocks on the trail to the massive Raven Rock.

The trails were short enough that we hardly ever had to carry them back to the trailhead – a big plus, since neither of us were all that much bigger than the kids 🙂

I haven’t had much reason lately to make the 50-minute drive to Raven Rock, since my daughter (though still pretty short) has been out of grade school for much longer than a decade now – and I usually like longer trails.

I’d also lost touch with my friend, and though we’d comment on social media now and then, hadn’t really talked for at least ten years – no reason, just the kids got older and we had drifted apart.

Then, when I went to wish her a happy birthday, I found that she’d recently passed away.

So I decided to take a trip down to Raven Rock, walk the trails, and remember my friend.

Some things had changed, but the park is still a good place to go for a walk – with your kids or on your own. 🙂

Continue reading Have a Kids’ Day of Adventure at Raven Rock State Park

Hike Virginia’s Triple Crown – an Appalachian Trail Section

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 22 minutes

The Appalachian Trail (AT) runs through or very near areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

Portions of the AT are open, along with many other Virginia and NC State Parks and trails in the Eastern part of the State. That said, Parks and the AT on the Western side of the State have been damaged and may be inaccessible.

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest area Park, Trail and road repairs before you travel.

As soon as I heard about the Triple Crown hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I knew I had to do it!

View of the Dragon's Tooth at the hike summit. — View of the Dragon’s Tooth at the hike summit.

It’s an epic hike within easy driving distance from my home in North Carolina, do-able as a solo hiker – with reasonable precautions – even in the heat of summer.

Most importantly the summer of 2020, the Triple Crown trails and trailhead parking were just re-opened for use.

Effective June 13: The National Park Service has reopened the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, including the Triple Crown section of Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs.

The Triple Crown hike is actually a group of three hikes – Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs – that can be done individually or tackled as an overnight backpacking hike all together.

The Triple Crown trail loop is 35 miles of the best hiking in the Roanoke Valley and arguably some of the best overlooks in the entire state of Virginia.

If you decide to explore this portion of the Appalachian Trail, you’ll be rewarded with incredible overlooks, unique rock formations, shelters for rustic camping, and challenging, bucket-list-worthy trails 🙂 Continue reading Hike Virginia’s Triple Crown – an Appalachian Trail Section

Historic Yates Mill County Park – Hike and Learn

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes

Historic Yates Mill County Park is not on my usual round of go-to parks.

This is mainly because it’s a longer drive for me than either Umstead State Park or Bond Park, both of those parks have longer trails – and these days I’m usually looking more for a place to have a serious hike than to entertain kids.

Raven Rock State Park is another great place to take younger kids, but it’s an hours drive away….

But a couple of weeks ago, I had an hour to spend and didn’t want to get too sweaty.

So I dropped by Historic Yates Mill County Park to take an active break.

I’d visited Yates Mill once before, in the winter, but this visit I got to see what it was like in the summertime.

I wasn’t disappointed.

There’s a pond, a few shorter – mostly shady – flat hiking trails, and fishing (with a permit).

Plus, it’s got a historic working water-driven grist mill. So there’s that 🙂

Based on what I found, if you’ve got grade school or younger kids, or even Middle-schoolers who (unlike mine) DON’T refer to hikes as “forced marches”, Historic Yates Mill County Park could be a wonderful hang-out for your family!

Continue reading Historic Yates Mill County Park – Hike and Learn

Asthma and COVID-19: Are You at Higher Risk?

Most recently updated July 7th, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 20 minutes

If you have asthma, like I do, you may be extra concerned about how COVID-19 could affect your health.

COVID-19, after all, is a respiratory disease and those of us with asthma have had bad experiences with those.

And by “concerned” I might also mean frightened, anxious, panicky… 😉

The COVID-19 virus is known to cause problems in the respiratory tract (nose, throat and lungs).

Because asthma is also a respiratory disease, it’s been assumed that people with asthma have a greater chance of catching the virus and getting very sick from it than other people.

It’s a reasonable assumption, and asthmatics have been classified as “high risk” since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But I’m here to tell you, I’ve done the research, and at this point – maybe for the first time ever – asthmatics are just like everyone else 🙂

It’s important to know that currently there’s no evidence of increased COVID-19 infection rates in those with asthma.

And now, after months of studying this new disease, medical and infectious disease experts have been able to create a more exact picture of the risk to asthmatics.

Since the release of the vaccines, there have also been questions about the possible risk to people with allergic reactions. I’ll tell you what I found about the current CDC advice.

(I’ve included photos of my garden and places I’ve traveled, as a reminder both that while there is beauty to be found at home, the world is still full of amazing places waiting for us to find them!)

Continue reading Asthma and COVID-19: Are You at Higher Risk?

Take a Walking Tour at White Oak Lavender Farm

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes

Almost exactly a year ago, I spent a great week in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.

Gazebo surrounded by lavender plants at the White Oak Lavender Farm

Most of my time was spent hiking at beautiful Shenandoah National Park – you can read about my five days of hikes here – but I also took a break from hiking to see some other things in the area.

White Oak Lavender Farm & The Purple WOLF Vineyard is a family owned farm located in Shenandoah Valley, near Harrisonburg.

I’m an enthusiastic gardener and also enjoy a good glass of wine, so a visit to White Oak Lavender Farm was a perfect break from all of the sweaty hiking 🙂

They offer wine tastings, farm tours, lectures, classes, a petting area and a lovely lavender gift shop all in a historic setting.

They were also only a quick 20 minute scenic drive from my lodgings near the Park.

Continue reading Take a Walking Tour at White Oak Lavender Farm