GetHiking! Valentine' Day Hike/ Loblolly Trail to Schenck Forest
Details
Technically, Valentine' Day is on the 14th but most of us can only hike on the weekends, so we'll be one day late. For those who are new to this Sweetheart Hike, everyone brings a small gift of chocolate candy and puts your name on it. Then it is collected and hikers get to randomly choose a piece and maybe meet a new hiking friend or catch up with someone familar. I've been told that there is a danger buying the candy too early.. as several more trips to the candy section are required before the actual hike.
This year we will be beginning from Umstead Park , hike the Loblolly Trail to Schenck Forest which is about 5 miles in length.
The Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest, also known as the Schenck for short, is a 245 acre forest located in western Wake County, North Carolina. It is managed and owned by North Carolina State University as a teaching and research forest. Visitors can walk the trails to enjoy bird watching and wildlife, see a managed forest that shows succession stages and enjoy the picnic facilities.
We will meet at Schenck Forest, park along a dirt road, load up the cars for a short shuttle to Umstead (Harrison Rd entrance) where there are open facilities. Enough cars should be left (at the start) to shuttle the drivers back to cars left at Umstead.
It can be muddy and as always pack water,snacks and appropriate clothes for the day. NO DOGS are allowed in the Schenck Forest so this is a no dog hike. One last note, temperatures need to be above 30 for us to go.