Mountains to Sea Trail

While walking the winter beach several months ago I spied a gentleman and two women coming towards me. We all stopped at the same place to watch a large pod of dolphins swimming back and forth just beyond the breakers. As we were ready to move on, the gentleman handed me his card. He was Jerry Barker, Board Member of the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in North Carolina.

Photo by David Pozo, courtesy Mountain to Sea Trail

I had heard of the Trail, but didn't know any details, so when I returned home I did some research. As their web site explains, the Trail, which is an official part of the state parks system, "stretches 1175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks, stopping at many of our state’s most beautiful places along the way." Ocracoke is included in Segment 18, The Outer Banks, from the Cedar Island Ferry to Jockey's Ridge, which the web site describes as "rich with history, wildlife, and scenery."

Photo by Paul Travis, courtesy Mountain to Sea Trail

On further reading of their web site I discovered this paragraph: "What can the MST mean to you? It may mean a short walk with your family near your home. It may mean a weekend backpacking trip with friends. Or it may mean a challenging, inspiring trek of 1175 miles across North Carolina. However you experience the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the beauty of North Carolina will fill you with wonder and joy."

So, check out the Mountains to Sea Trail. Whether you decide to hike the entire 1175 miles, enjoy a shorter camping trip, or simply stroll along the beach at Ocracoke, think kindly of the folks who help preserve and maintain those special places in North Carolina for our enjoyment. 

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the entertaining story of Calvin Wilkerson and his Condomed Nautilus. You can read it here: https://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042117.htm.