The hiking page... Oh yeah! There are some super cool places to get lost in North Carolina. Not literally lost, but you know... get away from the world. I will list all the different hikes that I am available to go on and each will have their own page. I will also, as I get time, list the details for each one as far as time, mileage and difficulty. For now I will post photos of each one and you can look at it and say, "I want to go there."
Many of the areas I hike in are semi-remote with some steep spots both up and down. It's nothing that the average person can't handle if we make a day of it and take our time. Photo opportunities are abundant and in most places there is a river with calm, cold pools to cool off in. I won't talk you into anything that I don't think you can handle, because above all; the day is supposed to be fun, safe and relaxing.
One of the things that has always impressed me is the attitude of people coming back from one of these hikes. I would sum it up with two words... happy and content. There is a sense of accomplishment along with a very relaxed state of mind. You have it all, clean air, exercise, good company with friendly ribbing and you are removed from civilization as we know it.
My suggestion for everyone would be to start the day out early by walking to a summit for an inspirational view. After a break and a little drive, we head down a trail into the valley and in search of a cool waterfall. At the end of the day you will be tired and smiling from ear to ear. These places are awesome and I get excited every time I get to go back.
Enough rambling. I will set up specific hike pages as I have time. Go get your boots on, prop your hiking stick up next to you and drink from your Nalgene bottle while you check it all out. See you on the mountain! - Larry
"Get out in nature, go deep where nobody else is around with no roads and no phone and you are disconnected with the world. Feel the wind and sun, splash in the water, take a deep breath and smell the life all around you. Walk barefoot and feel the earth. Stop to see what bug is crawling up a tree or lizard laying on a rock. It won't be long until your mind is in a place where you don't want to leave and everything is in perspective." - Coov AKA The Happy Naked Frog
I wanted to include some photos of my good friend Terry Church. Terry is the one who got me started hiking in the North Carolina mountains and taught me a bunch of things. He has a great sense of direction and his enthusiasm is contagious. The center photo on the top row is us waiting for help to come after our car got stuck on an icy hill on a long isolated stretch of forest road, that was a long night. I gave Terry the trail name Possum because he can climb right up any tree and he's always looking for something to eat. Thank you Possum for getting me addicted and I look forward to more hikes when the summer work slows down. If you look at the back design on the HNF shirts, Dianna and I are the ones in the kayaks and that's Possum up on the cliff looking over us.
Here are a couple of short videos I made while hiking. The first is at Gragg Prong and the other is Shortoff Mountain next to Tablerock. Really cool places!
Here is another video with Possum and myself. This one is at North Harper Falls in the winter. We went in at Persimmon Ridge and came out at North Harper (about 6 miles) then walked a tad over 3 miles back to where we left the truck. It was a cool route that took us past Bard Falls as well.
We have decided that all outings will be a part of the Happy Naked Frog Ministry and will be by donation only. Fellowship in nature is healing emotionally and spiritually. It doesn't seem right to set a fee for helping others in a search for peace. This opens the opportunity to those who may be limited financially. It also gives us the chance to trust completely in God to meet our needs as we try to do what we feel we have been called to do.
We hope this will encourage those who are searching for answers to join us in God's Chapel for fellowship, meaningful conversation and support.
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God has made they can clearly see his invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature." - Romans 1:20
List of hikes... click on each one to open that hike
