hah youre awesome, ill pm you if i have further questions if thats ok, for now i think i can plan pretty well

9/10/2011 6:50:37 PM

No prob. Shoot me a PM if you need me

9/10/2011 8:46:11 PM

I appreciate the suggestion of the tent, but I don't think I want to spend that much on a tent.

9/10/2011 11:24:25 PM

BHS, check out a military surplus store or the next gun show at the fairgrounds. you can get those water bladders dirt cheap there. you can also save money on stuff like a sleeping bag, pad, and army cot.

9/11/2011 12:06:21 AM

^^you might be better off with a coleman tent then. we have one from target that was like $75, sleeps 12 allegedly, has a little dog house thing attached to it. completely waterproof, bathtub floor, etc.

9/14/2011 1:53:36 PM

i have a coleman tent that claims to sleep 6, i cant imagine it would but what would a general rule of thumb be with regards to bodies in the tent, seated comfortably considerig gear kept inside

[Edited on September 14, 2011 at 3:02 PM. Reason : f]

9/14/2011 3:01:43 PM

Yep...been looking hard at the Coleman tents.

Thanks.

I think we would be "okay" in a four-person (my boys are 5 and 6), but we are going to want room for our other crap.

9/14/2011 3:05:05 PM

^^I think one real life person is equivalent to 1.5 tent people. Our 2 person backpacking tent is a little more than enough for one person plus stuff. Our 6 person tent could hold 4 people with some stuff fairly comfortably.

9/15/2011 9:52:05 AM

^ pretty much...gear is generally not factored into a tent's capacity, and i'm convinced that they're referring to 5' tall, 100lb asian people anyway

9/15/2011 11:00:34 AM

Most are made in China after all...

9/15/2011 11:03:02 AM

could i get away with laying a thick blanket on the ground and sleeping on it?

folding the blanket over a couple times

9/23/2011 2:11:32 PM

yea, probably. BHS I have a few ridge rest pads laying around that you can borrow if you want.

9/23/2011 2:13:29 PM

thanks but ill probably do the blanket thang!

9/23/2011 2:16:00 PM

Hitting up Harper Creek trail again tomorrow morning with a large group. Got some n00bs with us, so this will be interesting. I'm hoping they will enjoy it enough to start backpacking on their own.

If anyone is interested, I actually have gpx/kml data for this area. My N1 battery lasted for almost 3 days and 13mi of GPS tracking

9/23/2011 4:04:21 PM

Harper's is one of my favorite areas...generally not very many people around, and some of the best wild trout waters in the state.

9/23/2011 4:15:27 PM

^^ it'd be great if you could post a link to the data...i'm thinking about throwing up the GPS logs from my trips from here on out, myself...

9/23/2011 4:28:28 PM

Got some logs from Wilson's Creek also.

9/23/2011 4:31:05 PM

anyone have any experience with the REI Alcove Shelter? I've been looking for an easy to set up sun shade... it has pretty good reviews, but doesn't look too sturdy (although some of the reviews had people talking about how surprised they were by its stability). It is also about half the price of the Kelty version!

9/23/2011 4:56:43 PM

O wlb you do alot of trout fishing?

9/23/2011 7:54:05 PM

I am trying to plan a two night backpacking trip in the mountains (pisgah) around the first of november with 3 other people. Would like to get some suggestions on a 12-15 mile route that isn't ridiculously difficult as we are relatively new to backpacking (and this will be first trip to the mountains). Also, what will bear activity be like that time of year?

10/3/2011 11:50:46 PM

Oh man, TOTALLY do some of the Art Loeb Trail, it's amazing. I do it every year. You can pick up at Black Balsam or the like. The Trail is a total of over 30 miles end to end, but you can pick a chunk that you like, either in Shining Rock Wilderness, or just outside of it where it meets up with Mountains to Sea Trail. Black Balasm is a bald area, absolutely gorgeous, and you'll see the best sunsets/colors. Shining rock section is not blazed b/c it's wilderness area, so i'd avoid that area if you aren't good with a topo and compass. Otherwise, all other areas are pretty well marked and obvious...but again, the Black Balsam area is by far my favorite area of all time, hands down. If you need help or ideas/maps, PM me and I can help you out. I LOVE THIS TRAIL!

I wouldn't worry about bears...just be smart. Make sure not to have food on you, hang it away, and try not to cook anything smelly where you're going to hunker down...I usually eat dinner and hike about another half hour or hour more to get away from the smells. Just make noise and be safe...I've been in Pisgah tons of times and I've honestly never seen a bear.

10/5/2011 4:44:27 PM

Quote :

"O wlb you do alot of trout fishing?"

damn, just saw this

used to do alot more than I've been able to do lately, but I am gonna try to make it up to harpers in a few weeks. When I lived in the area, I was trout fishing/camping every other weekend...Now I'm lucky if I make it 4-5 times/year.

10/5/2011 5:30:13 PM

been really busy, but I'll get to that GPS data soon

Quote :

"I am trying to plan a two night backpacking trip in the mountains (pisgah) around the first of november with 3 other people. Would like to get some suggestions on a 12-15 mile route that isn't ridiculously difficult as we are relatively new to backpacking (and this will be first trip to the mountains). Also, what will bear activity be like that time of year?"

Which part of Pisgah are you looking at? For 12-15 miles through the mountains you're going to have a hard time avoiding difficult terrain. I guess it depends on what you consider difficult. In most places you're going to climb a mountain and/or drop down into a valley, follow a stream/creek, cross it at least a few times, and then climb back out. You might also have to connect a few loops (or follow Mountain-to-Sea) and/or come in and go out at different trailheads to get that kind of distance. I've also never seen anything but a single water snake any of the times I've been out there.

10/5/2011 5:59:02 PM

Quote :

"Oh man, TOTALLY do some of the Art Loeb Trail, it's amazing."

this

10/5/2011 7:49:19 PM

two days till the trip im all set i think

got new hiking boots AND wading boots, im not bringin the tent im sleepin in the bed according to plan, got a good pack that will hold me gear and all my fishing equipment comfortably

and much much cheaper than i thought. cant wait. Ill buy a poncho when i get up to the site but other than that im set

10/5/2011 9:00:07 PM

Art Loeb ftw...

[Edited on October 6, 2011 at 9:56 AM. Reason : ..]

10/6/2011 9:52:47 AM

doing a couple nights in the Wind River Range this weekend - heading out in the morning - pretty excited

some snow on the ground, looks awesome out there

10/8/2011 12:59:04 AM

looks like we're doing shenandoah the last weekend in october...it was that or mcaffee knob

10/8/2011 8:28:19 AM

the weekend before halloween we plan to go camping. last time we went to pisgah, drove up on a little knob & stayed there for a couple of nights. we'd like do something similar again, just in a different spot. any suggestions? no campgrounds & we'd like to be able to park next to camp or nearby (we have a collapsible wagon to haul stuff). anywhere near linville gorge we can camp this way?

10/8/2011 9:25:10 AM

^ there are plenty of pull-off sites in linville that you could that

10/8/2011 11:34:17 AM

i got a small 19l REI Stock backpack for short day trips. I generally just throw a fleece/jacket, water, and snacks init. I like it a lot. Outlet had em on sale for $28, but i see they're now up to $38 with the new coupon...

http://www.rei.com/product/813746/rei-stoke-19-pack-mens-special-buy

Question: this is the smallest backpack i've ever had and the waist/hip belt is way high on me being 6'4". Wtf is the point of this hip belt? Its like a 10lb max pack, i don't need to put any weight on my hips. should i consider it simply as a "don't flop all around if i do a cart wheel" belt?

10/8/2011 11:49:16 AM

Quote :

"should i consider it simply as a "don't flop all around if i do a cart wheel" belt?"

that's been my conclusion...sometimes when you've got rougher terrain and you're climbing or clambering about, it helps to have it a bit more securely on your back

*shrug*

10/8/2011 5:57:55 PM

Went camping last night in the W-burg KOA. First time for the family, so we wanted to keep it simple (hence the KOA).

Everyone had fun, save for the sleeping. We didn't bring any air mattresses, which we have (and should have brought).

In the middle of the night (one of the many times I woke up), I woke up and couldn't move my right leg. I could feel it (it wasn't asleep). I couldn't move it. I have back problems (herniated disc at L4-L5 and ruptured disc at L5-S1), so it definitely scared me.

We woke up today and the wife and i decided to come home...it's only a 20 minute drive, so no big.

Anyway, it was worth it to do...we all had a good time with each other.

[/end]

10/8/2011 6:31:29 PM

Quote :

"there are plenty of pull-off sites in linville that you could that"

is there a particular road that's best? i haven't looked at a map yet.

10/8/2011 8:32:47 PM

i'd have to check my GPS logs because heck if i can remember exactly where we've stayed before

there's a gorgeous site right on the edge of the gorge, but you have to hike 15 minutes to get to it and the trail doesn't lend itself to dragging anything with you (at least when we were there...we pretty much just tramped through the brush and over fallen trees)

10/8/2011 8:44:40 PM

I can't stay in a KOA after my family camped in one many years ago and my mom got some freaky parasite because their septic system was leaking and flooding the campground unbeknownst to us campers

10/8/2011 9:21:39 PM

What is a KOA?

10/8/2011 10:17:43 PM

Quote :

"Question: this is the smallest backpack i've ever had and the waist/hip belt is way high on me being 6'4". Wtf is the point of this hip belt? Its like a 10lb max pack, i don't need to put any weight on my hips. should i consider it simply as a "don't flop all around if i do a cart wheel" belt?"

Is the belt detachable? If not you can just hike with it unbuckled. I don't like hip belts for light loads because they just make you sweat.

10/9/2011 8:27:21 AM

^^really??? you've never heard of KOA!? wow.

it stans for kampgrounds of america. google can tell you more about it.

10/9/2011 10:30:43 AM

Quote :

" is there a particular road that's best? i haven't looked at a map yet."

There are quite a few on either side of Old NC 105/Kistler Hwy as you drive from the Falls up to Wiseman's View. I've always stayed at one in the area marked on the map below. You might see less traffic if you choose a site just past the Wiseman's View turnoff, but the road drops off pretty quickly at that point.

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=35.91033,-81.91243&z=14&t=T&marker0=35.91033%2C-81.91243%2C2.4%20km%20W%20of%20Hawksbill%20Mountain%20NC

10/10/2011 11:51:09 AM

Quote :

"^^really??? you've never heard of KOA!? wow."

are you seriously freaking out that people didn't know about your franchised campgrounds spelled with a K? With a total of 5 KOA campgrounds in the NC mountains, I can't say I'll be visiting one anytime soon, either - I'll stick to the backcountry camping

10/10/2011 12:26:01 PM

they're not my campgrounds. i've actually never even stayed at one & stopped staying in all campgrounds a couple years ago. they're like the walmart of campgrounds so i thought everybody had heard of them.

10/10/2011 1:29:11 PM

Just picked up a new day pack at REI using my 20% off coupon:

http://www.rei.com/product/796762/osprey-manta-25-hydration-pack-100-fl-oz

Did the 12 mile Crowders mountain to Kings mountain hike yesterday with it and it was awesome. The hydration system is much better than my previous Camelback and the little magnet system that holds the bite valve in place so it doesn't flop around. Also includes a rain cover that comes out of the bottom and folds over the entire bag. Also really easy to get the bladder in and out when the bag is full.

10/10/2011 1:44:26 PM

Picked up a thermarest self-inflating sleeping pad at a yard sale Saturday.
$2.00

10/10/2011 4:59:15 PM

Doing Linville Gorge this weekend. Should be fun. Peak leaf season so crowded but I've never done the full 22 mile loop just segments. Friend hasn't been in the area so it should be a treat for him.

http://bp2.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripId=379572

Crap they're all out of permits for the rest of the season (until November). They said they give out 15 permits on a first come first serve basis if you show up at the cabin when it opens. Anyone have any luck with that? Don't know if I want to drive up there and risk it. Although if we're there Friday morning we may be able to snag one.

[Edited on October 11, 2011 at 11:26 AM. Reason : s]

10/11/2011 11:04:37 AM

Anybody got a recommendation on good hiking boots? I wore out my sissy Timberlands I had, but have not been outdoors much to worry about it. However now that my family is moved up here to Carrboro and I'm in a more serious Scout group with my kids, it looks like we are going to have more chances to go camping. I want a decent hiking boot that I could wear to work if the weather is nasty. Somebody mentioned Vasque boots. Any thoughts on specific ones from them, or something else similar? This is going on the Christmas list. Thanks!

[Edited on October 11, 2011 at 3:17 PM. Reason : ]

10/11/2011 3:17:11 PM

I like Lowa.

http://www.rei.com/product/789686/lowa-renegade-ii-gtx-mid-hiking-boots-mens

Anything Gortex. Just make sure they're comfortable. Don't leave the store with them until you've walked around in them. Plus REI has an awesome return policy.

10/11/2011 4:16:36 PM

When I bought my boots from REI the lady had me try on two different pairs, made me walk through the store, up and down the stairs and up and down their little rock formation thing. Needless to say, I left satisfied and comfortable. I'd also advocate investing in a pair or two of SmartWool socks. They are so so so so worth it.

10/11/2011 4:23:14 PM

neodata686, How did you like the loop? We have attempted it once and turned back due to weather, and made it through once (though we got lost and made it more like a 28 mile loop). I have never gotten a permit and never had an issue with it, I always just planned on claiming I was day hiking with a full pack to get used to the weight if anyone asked...

10/11/2011 7:42:20 PM

^^^^ whatever you get, make sure it has eVent fabric...cheaper and breathes better than goretex, just as waterproof

+1 on the smartwool (REI brand) socks

10/12/2011 8:16:10 AM