This Land, Your Land

Next Saturday morning may not be the best time to visit Raven Rock State Park, unless you're into sharing the trail with long-distance runners.

The Raven Rock Rumble, 5- and 10-mile trail runs, is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. November 19. The runs start on the park's main road and take in the Raven Rock Loop, including American Beech Nature Trail, Little Creek Loop and Fish Traps Trail, and the Campbell Creek Loop.

The state parks division says to be aware of heavy vehicle and visitor/race participant traffic between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. This will include parking in the overflow lot off Moccasin Branch Road, according to the Rumble's website.

If you want to join the run, online registration has closed, but walk-up registration and packet pickup is to be at the new picnic shelter on the right side of the main park road.

The race is a benefit for Friends of State Parks and the Cumberland County Special Olympics.

Put a ranger in your pocket with the new free North Carolina State Parks app for iPods, iPhones and Android smartphones.

The downloadable Pocket Ranger Mobile Tour Guide was created by ParksByNature Network, a developer of mobile, interactive networks, for the state Division of Parks and Recreation and Friends of State Parks, a news release says.

It provides details about park locations, trails, facilities, reservations, events and special news alerts. A "pro" version for iPod and iPhone offers GPS-aided navigation of state parks, storage of detailed topographic maps and enhanced interactive features for $3.99 (an Android version is in the works).

Each version also has social networking tools.

Park and campground maps plus details on natural features, activities, fees and regulations are also part of the app, and are available regardless of cell phone capability once the app is downloaded.

The Pocket Ranger Mobile Tour Guide can be downloaded from the iTunes Store and Android’s Market – by searching "NC State Parks" or "NC Pocket Ranger" – or directly at http://stateparkapps.com/nc/apps.php.

ParksByNature has a tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/user/PocketRangerApp.