Description

The hike is section 1 of the Uwharrie Trail, 6.79 of the 28 miles of the total trail. Departing from State Road 1109 at Strieby Church, the troop will hike north to the northern terminus on State Road 1142 just west of the Asheboro Municipal Airport. The trip will be under full pack carrying all food with water available along the trail.

The original trail, conceived by Joe Moffitt and constructed with the help of his and other Boy Scout troops, included an additional 15 miles of trail north of the current northern terminus. Access to the southern seven and a half miles of that section has been lost due to private land conflicts. This trip will cover the remaining northern seven and a half mile segment, known as the Birkhead Wilderness Trail.

As a reference point, this portion of the Uwharrie is approximately five miles southwest of Asheboro.

The climb is light; typical ascents and descents are two to three hundred feet per mile with occasional climbs of up to five hundred feet in as little as a half mile.

Schedule

 

Depart:	7:30 a.m	23 Jan. 99	Chapel of the Cross
On-Trail:	9:30 a.m. (approx.)	23 Jan. 99	Trailhead at Strieby Church
Overnight:		23 Jan. 99	Campsite 1B near Coolers Knob (4.81 mi.)
Hike Out:		24 Jan. 99	(1.65 mi.)
Pickup:	1:00 p.m.	24 Jan. 99	Northern Trail Terminus
Return:	3:00 p.m.	24 Jan. 99	Chapel of the Cross

Messages and Emergency Contact

Telephone messages for emergency contact or for pickup after the hike and before the troop starts home may be left by calling 933-1969.

Electronic mail messages to lyman@page.unch.unc.edu will be forwarded by radio page.

A status message including the times that the troop starts for home and expects to arrive may be heard by calling 933-1969.

Personal Equipment

See the troop's equipment list for details. Pack for a simple overnight campout. Assume local extremes of weather; i.e., pack clothes for 25 deg. F. to 85 deg. F. Send some combination of sunscreen, hats and light-weight, long-sleeved shirts if sun protection is an issue.

Food and Group Equipment

Food (except Saturday lunch) and group equipment will be coordinated at the troop meetings by patrol.

Water

There are documented water points along the trail. Start full. Bring a pump or water purification tablets.

Driving Route

Estimated travel time is two hours.

•  15-501 29 mi.  South to Pittsboro
•        64 38 mi.   West to Asheboro
•       49 28 mi.    South to SR1163
•   1163 1.4 mi.   South to SR1142

Then, to Northern Terminus
•   1142 1.1 mi.   West to foot of hill just before creek. Trailhead is unmarked.

Or, to Southern terminus
•   1142 2.5 mi.   East to SR1143
•   1143 7.3 mi.   South to SR 1109
•   1109 0.7 mi.   North to Strieby Church

Maps

The following maps were used in the preparation of this material and are relevant to the trip but are not required.

• USGS 15 minute Topographic Series: Troy, Asheboro, and Morrow Mountain Quadrangles 1957, pencil overlays of the trail available on request.
• Sportsman's Guide to the UWHARRIE Trail and the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness, Bob Finley, 1991.
• USDA Forest Service Map: Uwharrie National Forest, North Carolina, 1982.
• North Carolina County Maps: Montgomery County, reproduced by County Maps, Lyndon Station, WI, undated, approximately 1986.
• North Carolina State Transportation Map & Guide to Points of Interest, 1978-79.