ROCK THE HILL
Webster’s Rock the Hill 36 annual climbing competition with multiple divisions will be held the last week of February at the Chapel Hill Community Center climbing wall. It’s the country’s oldest indoor climbing event and was moved up a bit this year. Finals are Feb. 28–March 1. Online registration starts Dec. 10 and costs $35 for residents, $45 non-residents. There are four divisions—youth, recreation, intermediate, open. Register to climb 3-9 Feb. 28, 9-3 March 1, or 3-9 March at webtrac.townofchapelhill.org.
URBAN ARCHERY
Urban archery deer hunting dates are Jan. 11-Feb. 16, 2025, in the Chapel Hill town limits. Bow hunting only. All state hunting rules apply. Program began here in 2010 but hasn’t made a dent in the explosive deer population. Questions? Call the rec dept 919-968-2784.
DUKE FOREST REOPENS
Duke Forest sections Durham, Korstian and Blackwood reopen Dec. 13 for public recreation following the 17th deer herd reduction program that began in September.
INDOOR WINTER SHOWS
Jan. 10-12, Bass & Saltwater Fishing Expo, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh.
Feb. 21-23, Central Carolina Boat & Fishing Expo, Greensboro Coliseum.
March 21-23, Raleigh Convention Boat Show, downtown.
OUTDOOR TOWNS
Top Outdoor Towns selected from 100 destinations by Blue Ridge Outdoor readers were Asheville, large town; Charlottesville, Va., medium town; Gatlinburg, TN, small town; Cherokee, NC, tiny town. The voting was done before Hurricane Helene swamped WNC.
TREES PLANTED
Seventy volunteers planted 530 native trees and plants last month along Bolin Creek in Carrboro in areas where invasives recently were removed.
Friends of Bolin Creek remembered P.H. Craig whose Craig Preserve near Seawell School Road offered protection against development for 77 acres along Bolin Creek. Craig, 87, died Nov. 17.