As a one-time inhabitant of a cooler climate, I have a great sympathy for the dilemma of outdoors enthusiasts come summer. On the one hand, you want to get outside and play. On the other, summer's heat makes you feel like holing up in an air-conditioned room until fall. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds?

Heed the call of the Carolina wild

GORP thinks so, especially in the western mountains of North Carolina. From the obvious (whitewater rafting) to the off-beat (mountain biking at night), we bring you 10 great mountain adventures in the Tar Heel State that make keeping your cool this summer a breeze.