Annual Hillsborough to Durham hike - rescheduled
There is a gap in the trail between Hillsborough and Durham.

Join us on our annual Hillsborough to Durham hike (dotted lines, second map) during which we will bushwhack this gap, and explore one future trail option to extend the Mountains to Sea Trail from Hillsborough to Durham.

Date: Mar 5, 2022, 9 AM, (Sat)
Rain Date: Mar 6, 2022, 9 AM. (Sun)

Meeting Location: The Few's Ford section of the Eno River State Park, at
the at the end of Cole Mill Road (6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham). The ERSP has multiple parking areas, we will meet at the one farthest into the park (closest to the suspension bridge--near the restroom building). (map below).

We will leave half the cars parked in the park, and carpool to our starting point in downtown Hillsborough: the main entrance of the Riverwalk, by the Eno River Parking Deck at the end of Nash and Kollock Street, Hillsborough. We will park (free) in this parking deck.

For reference, the starting point is near the Weaver Street Market (228 South Churton Street), a great option for picking up last minute trail snacks. Please do not park in their parking lot during the hike

At the end of the hike, we will again carpool from ERSP back to Hillsborough and those cars parked there.

The hike will traverse:
  Eastward on Hillsborough's Riverwalk,
  Classic American Homes Preservation Trust trail,
  Pass the entrance to the Historic Occoneechee Speedway,
  The James M. Johnston Nature Preserve trail,
  Bushwhack 'the gap' mostly within the ERSP,
  The river leg of the ERSP's Cox Mountain trail,
  Then the ERSP suspension bridge across the Eno to the meeting site.

The bushwhack section is roughly 5 miles of unmaintained social or no trail, uneven ground, occasional holes, through sections of high brush, crossing drainages and one stream, potentially marshy areas and some quite steep slopes. If the ground is wet, there may be slippery sections. 

The total hike is roughly 8-9 miles, in the past it has taken 6-7 hrs.

There was a lot of interest in our Jan 8 attempt. The hike will naturally break into smaller groups, each going their own pace, defining their own stopping points (for photographs, water breaks...), and accompanied by one of our experienced volunteers. The whole group will regroup at multiple key points along the trail, including at the top of a magnificent bluff overlooking the Eno (our traditional lunch site).
Below: Jan, 2019 lunch break.
If you can join us: Please respond by email to [email protected] by Mar 2 -- your response puts you on the notification list for update, postponement, or cancellation messages.

What to bring: You will need to wear appropriate-for-the-weather clothes (that can get muddy or wet), solid shoes or boots, and bring lunch, snacks, and water.

Cancellation: If the hike is postponed or canceled due to bad weather, high water, or (sigh) COVID, an email will be sent out no later than 8 pm. the preceding day (to the RSVP list).

COVID-19 concerns: We will carpool twice. Please bring a mask and be prepared to use it, if requested. We may also request that all carpools drive with windows fully open.

Hope to be hiking with you.
Bill
Friends of the MST Task Force Leader, Orange County
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Friends of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail https://mountainstoseatrail.org/