Wednesday Evening After Work Hike at Bent Creek
Details
Hard Times Trailhead near Lake Powhatan Rec Area
This hike is the after-work hike that Paul Koerber used to lead on Wednesday evenings at Bent Creek.
RSVPs will close on Wednesday, July 26 at 5:40 pm.***
Please read the full description before RSVPing, and only sign up if you are sure you can go. Thanks in advance for keeping your RSVP up-to-date and not being a last-minute cancellation or no-show. This is an ongoing issue with Meetups and often keeps people on waitlists from being able to attend our hikes.
As of Monday evening, 7/24/23, the weather forecast for Wednesday calls for it it be warm (high 88) and sunny on Wednesday, so be prepared with extra water and appropriate clothes for the hike.
I cannot promise to do this every week this summer, but I will try. I may have to switch it to another evening if the weather forecast is unfavorable.
The hike will be about 6.2-6.5 miles, moderate/difficult in difficulty overall with some potenitally difficult hill-climbing.
Please folks, this is intended as a fast/moderate paced hike, and we'd like all attendees to keep up with the hike leader. This hike is intended as a workout hike for people to get in condition to do weekend hikes.
Fast paced means 17-18 min miles where the moderate posed hike is in the 22-23 min mile range.
As such, we do not take breaks, take in views, or snap photos along the way. We will continue to increase the pace a bit each week to get a little faster so that this becomes more of a cardio workout like we did in past years. Please make sure you're able to keep up with the group. This hike has always served as a good chance to get exercise during the week, meet new people, and create interest for weekend enjoyment hikes. It's a great introduction to the AHG family.
Last Wednesday July 12, we had an average 19:17 minutes per mile pace for 6.1 miles, which is about 3.1 miles per hour. (We went a little slower because of the different trails in the Arboretum.)
No need to RSVP "No" or "not attending" unless changing from a "Yes."
Directions to Hard Times Trailhead near Lake Powhatan Rec Area
Follow signs off of Brevard Rd (Rt 191) to Lake Powhatan Rec Area. The road is Bent Creek Ranch Rd. to Wesley Branch Rd. Follow signs to Lake Powhatan until you come to Hard Times Trailhead on your left, 2.5 miles. It is very clearly marked. Parking is very limited at the trailhead but there’s a paved pull-off just before the Hard Times trailhead and more parking just beyond at the Ledford Branch trailhead. We will access Bent Creek forest by way of Hard Times Trail and do some combination of loop and out and back.
Arrive at the trailhead BY 6:00. Because it is a weeknight hike, we are unable to wait for latecomers, fighting daylight.
***If you are running behind, please post a comment on this Meetup page by 5:40 pm. There is no cell service at the parking lot, so if we don't have any advance notice of you running late by 5:40, we can't get any notifications at the trailhead and we will not wait for you. (I work downtown, and it might take me until about 5:40 to get to the Bent Creek area depending on traffic.)
We start the hike promptly at 6:00 pm, so we can be done between 8 - 8:15 pm.
• Wear closed-toed footwear appropriate for hiking. The trail will consist of dirt, rocks, roots, mud and mulch.
• Bring plenty of water or other hydrating fluids.
• Bring rain gear if a chance of rain is in the forecast.
• Dogs on leashes the whole time are welcome. This is an active mountain bike area and it can get messy with dogs running loose amoung hikers and mountain bikers. In addition, leashes are REQUIRED on the trails around Lake Powhatan and by the Lake itself.
Please make sure to keep your RSVP up-to-date. You don't want to be "that person" who cancels last minute or no-shows and keeps someone from joining in if there's a waitlist. Thanks for your consideration - it is appreciated!
Feel free to post questions not covered in this description in the comments section.
Thanks - we'll see you on the trail!
Sammy