Discovering Uwharrie National Forest

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Uwharrie Trail - Uwharrie National Forest – 4/21/12 – 6.5Miles
At the invitation of member Karl Munn, I joined an outing ofthe Uwharrie Trail Club for a spring Saturday hike in Uwharrie National Forest,over 52,000 acres of protected land about an hour’s drive east of Charlotte, NC– yes, east.  On several occasions I havevisited Morrow Mountain State Park, which butts up to the western edge ofUwharrie, but I have never ventured farther into the country’s oldest mountainrange.  You read that right:  oldest. Once similar to the Rockies, erosion had its way and now the Uwharriestop out at about 1,000 feet.
What was I waiting for? I am embarrassed to say that Uwharrie, although old and important andall that, never seemed adventurous as I always looked west for higherelevation.  After a fine day with somefun folks, I have been educated. 
There are around 65 miles of hiking-only trail within theforest, plus sections that are multi-use (horse, bike, even ORV).  The major hiking trail running north to southis the Uwharrie Trail. (I’ve read that we can thank Joe Moffit, who grew uproaming the Uwharries during the Great Depression, for making the trail areality in the 1970’s when he served as scoutmaster for a troop of Boy Scouts earningtheir Eagle rank.)  There are three majortrailheads and a couple of other minor roads that cross the trail.  We hiked a chunk in the middle, from the HorseMountain Trailhead on Tower Road (SR 1134) southbound to the NC Hwy 109Trailhead. 
The crew:  Karl,Annette, Robert and Don, plus me
Is that gal wearing a skirt, you ask?  Why, yes. This was the first time I’d met Annette and she certainly made animpression on me.  Annette is agregarious local, happy to share her ideas and love of the Uwharries and someinteresting stories about the area and its residents.  That smile did not fade all day long. 
There was more up-and-down than I expected on this trail anda couple of times we had to stop talking to get up one of the rollinghills.  So much for the flatPiedmont!   Annette was scouting forout-of-the way camping spots for a solo overnight trip she was contemplating.  She sometimes hikes alone, mostly out ofnecessity, but she said she finds it peaceful and contemplative, much the sameas I do.  Actually, when I first askedher how she felt about hiking alone she promptly answered, “I am never alonebecause the Lord is with me.”  Did Imention that Annette is a pastor? 
Don also was born, raised and still lives in the area.  He and Annette shared a couple of storiesabout the by-gone days of moonshining and we saw some rusty evidence of that pastime.  Our favorite story that had us slapping ourlegs with laughter was about a community called Black Ankle.  Such an odd name!  Well, they say that you could tell kids fromthat community by their black ankles, from running around bare-legged near thefires beneath the stills. 
A muddy crossing
Mountain laurel were bursting into bloom overhead
Uwharrie is a popular destination for Boy Scout troops from theeastern part of North Carolina.  Wepassed many of them along the trails. For some reason, the adults were always bringing up the rear…
Doesn’t this look like the result of some scoutmastersaying, “All right, boys, go build something”? And how about that fire ring made with quartz stones?
Nice bridge over a large stream
There were several tent cities set up along that stream – donot go here for solitude
As we got closer to our exit, more people streamed in loadedfor an overnight stay.  One fellowcarried a Barbie pink cooler and a “cube” container full of water, must have been a couple of gallons. Sorry, no photos, just trust me.
A day well spent exploring a new-to-me area practically inmy back yard.  I look forward to hikingthe other sections of the Uwharrie Trail and some of its connecting trails too.
Of course there is much more to Uwharrie National Forestthan the tiny slice I enjoyed, including boating and water activities on Badin Lake and many campgrounds.  Check out the resources here and here.
To me a lush carpet of pineneedles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persianrug.  ~Helen Keller