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.
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

Starting Small – How to Hike with Kids in Tow

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Have you suddenly become a home-schooler and/or a  remote worker because of the new social distancing requirements?   

Hopefully, this won’t last forever. 

Meanwhile, you could take the kids outdoors for a hike to make it feel a little less oppressive.

Running a 5k with my five year old.

In spite of my asthma, I’ve always been an active person. 

Becoming a mother didn’t change that, or my desire to be outdoors in Nature. 

But it did change how I could participate if I wanted (or needed) to include little ones.   

Here’s how I did it!

When I first discovered recreational hiking, I was working at a full-time tech job, a single mother of a toddler with few babysitters around, and my closest family was 1500 miles away.

So most of my activities (outside of work) included the company of my little Mini-Me, and hiking was no exception.

Continue reading Starting Small – How to Hike with Kids in Tow