Sunday, January 10, 2010

Hike around Lake Fayetteville

After yesterday's day-long drive to Fayetteville, it felt good to get outside and hike the 6 mile loop around Lake Fayetteville.

It was the first time I'd seen snow on the ground and the effect was very scenic. Normally we shun the pavement, preferring to hike or bike the rocks and roots and single track of the natural trail, but this time we checked out the new 1.6 mile paved extension to the existing 2.7 paved segment. Here's the new 140 foot bridge over the creek and to the right you see the old Copperhead bridge built years ago by the Scouts. In most places, you can't see the paved trail from the nature trail, but the 2 trails briefly converge here...


The new trail beyond the Botanical Garden grounds traverses this lovely conifer grove...




The final mile or so of the paved trail is yet to be built, so hiking the rolling hills on the narrow nature trail is the only option...

...but an option we prefer. We were surprised to see numerous bikers out despite the treacherous ice and snow, and also surprised to find so many hikers and runners enjoying the 30+ degree sunny day following several days closer to zero!

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