Carlton's defining moment

Operation Bootcamp Day 3

After work last night, I stopped by Apostrophe lounge for the weekly Pop Life party, sponsored by Creative Loafing and the Sol Kitchen.

I arrived about 12:30 a.m. and CL editor Carlton Hargro was still there. (Drinking water.) He had to be at Latta Park by 5:30 a.m. for Operation Bootcamp, and I knew he was going to be hurting today.

He was.

"Today showed me I think I'm going to get through this thing," he said. "After three hours of sleep, I got my (rump) up and boy I didn't want to go. I DID Not want to go. I was trying to think of excuses."

Carlton told himself: "If you keep doing what you've been doing you're going to stay the same way. Just go."

He did.

Today was upper body day. They used big rubber bands, circuit training and running, Carlton said. They did lots of crunches and core work, such as planks. Organizers split up the veterans and the rookies. He was glad. He could not have survived if today was like Tuesday, he said.

"Carlton rocked today," said bootcamp's Christen Lewis.

She said today's workout was called Guts & Guns.

Carlton said he convinced himself to workout this morning with plans of napping before work, but he felt too energized to sleep.

"This was a defining day for me."

Carlton sweats beer

Creative Loafing editor Carlton Hargro said he was sweating beer after his first day of Operation Bootcamp.

Hiking trail connects Carolinas

Crowders Mountain is my favorite day hike. It's a quick getaway from Charlotte, and a great place to set the tone for a romantic evening. Assuming your baby doesn't mind physical exertion, a hike to the top followed by a picnic overlooking tree tops can be an excellent prelude for the evening.

The determination of thousands of volunteers means the hiking options around Crowders is even better. After seven years of shoveling and digging, Friends of Crowders Mountain and other nature enthusiasts created the 8 1/2-mile Ridgeline Trail. It connects Crowders Mountain State Park with Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park, which are in South Carolina, according to a Charlotte Observer story. The network of hiking trails is more than 45 miles long.