GetHiking! Triangle

The Triangle Land Conservancy's Horton Grove Nature Preserve in northern Durham County is one of the least-visited prime hiking spots in the Triangle. Thus, the reason we visit on this Saturday morning escape in our new series of Small Batch Hikes — hikes limited to 8 hikers hiking at least 8 feet apart. From the trailhead, we hike through an open meadow, then disappear into a cedar forest. The cedars cede to hardwoods as we pick up a small creek, then climb a buff for a view of the creek 80 feet below. We cross gravel Jock Road and the hike transitions into a more mature hardwood forest that should be showing strong signs of spring. We close by passing through a beech forest that climbs an east-facing bluff. Total distance is about 5 miles. The terrain is rolling, with no steep climbs. There is brief exposure at the beginning; sunscreen and a parasol may be in order. Difficulty: Moderately. GetHiking! has always respected a hiker's personal space; please help us keep these hikes going by continuing to do so, and by keeping our hikes from going viral. Please do not sign up for this hike if you have: + Tested positive for the COVID-19 + A temperature in excess of 100 + A cough or shortness of breath + Underlying health conditions that may weaken your immune system, including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes This is a small group gathering (no more than 10 people) outdoors. We always respect each other's space on GetHiking! outings; we do it even more so now. Getting out for a hike has never been more essential. Join us!

The Triangle Land Conservancy's Horton Grove Nature Preserve in northern Durham County is one of the least-visited prime hiking spots in the Triangle. Thus, the reason we visit on this Sunday morning escape in our new series of Small Batch Hikes — hikes limited to 8 hikers hiking at least 8 feet apart. This is a slightly longer version of another hike we are conducting, at the same time. On this hike, we will begin at the South Parking area just after you turn into Horton Grove. We will begin on the Jordan Trail, and hike 0.7 miles up to the main loop, do the main loop, hike back down the Jordan Trail, then take the Sowell Loop around the farm pond. Total distance is just under 7 miles. The terrain is rolling, with no steep climbs. There is brief exposure at the beginning; sunscreen and a parasol may be in order. Difficulty: Moderately. GetHiking! has always respected a hiker's personal space; please help us keep these hikes going by continuing to do so, and by keeping our hikes from going viral. Please do not sign up for this hike if you have: + Tested positive for the COVID-19 + A temperature in excess of 100 + A cough or shortness of breath + Underlying health conditions that may weaken your immune system, including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes. We require that you wear a mask at the trailhead, when we are gathered, and keep it handy on the trail should we cross paths with other hikers. This is a small group gathering outdoors. We always respect each other's space on GetHiking! outings; we do it even more so now. Getting out for a hike has never been more essential. Join us!

In your own home, at your own leisure: now you can learn a ton in the online portion of Disaster + Travel + Wilderness First Aid! Course Fee: $220, which is $55 per person less than what another national school charges for their shorter less-in-depth course. You get a 3-year credit for an in-person class, plus the online learn-now bonus. ~ ~ ~ Here is a sneak peek of the course: https://www.solowfa.com/online-sample.htm This "Blended Learning" format has two parts: Part 1) COURSE TOPICS VIDEOS & SELF-GUIDED PRACTICE portion almost exactly as MEDIC SOLO always presents it. Our instructors just finished recording topic presentations in the latest of disaster and wilderness medical science. Intermixed at several points we guide you to practice various skills. >>> Testimonials: • "Fantastic online program." • "The quality of teaching and the personality of each instructor was ABSOLUTELY STELLAR. There is a lot more to learning than just the textbook curriculum, especially with medical situations." • "It was much less stressful having the opportunity to be taught on my own schedule rather than having two intensive days." • Much appreciation for the ability to click "pause" to take notes and write down questions (which MEDIC will answer), and ability to rewind and replay demonstrations, explanations, etc. -- can't do that in a live class. Part 2) A 3-year credit to attend any in-person open-enrollment MEDIC SOLO dtWFA course, to solidify your skills and graduate with SOLO WFA certification. INFO and REGISTRATION / TO GET STARTED: www.solowfa.com/register-SOLO-disaster-wilderness-first-aid-course.htm Let's all please do our part to maintain social distancing, and do what we can to prevent problems and treat injured people, so as to reduce demands on hospitals. Exercise outdoors, where allowed, is great to boost your immune system; however we've found many people on trails are not respecting social distancing when passing by. If you decide to go out, when you see someone you'll pass by, please proactively step off trail at least 6 feet. Try to leave no trace as best you can, stepping only on durable surfaces like bare rock when possible. Thanks! Now is a time when your dtWFA skills may be needed most. • Hospital beds are filling up and we need to reduce their demand. If with dtWFA skills you treat someone and they no longer need to go to the hospital, fantastic and so helpful in many ways. • Some parks are seeing their highest-ever mid-week daytime visits. More people are outdoor adventuring and most don't have the skills you signed up to learn, and may be in need especially as more first-timers go explore the outdoors. • Hopefully the following will never happen: fewer EMTs staffing ambulances and thus a call to 911 for medical assistance is less responsive, or outbreaks occur within hospitals and those entire facilities end up being quarantined and unavailable ... leaving it up to dtWFA-trained folks to provide care. Thank you everyone, for all that you do to strengthen our communities, making disaster and wilderness areas safer for all.