I've camped here for 10+ years:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=35.95001,-81.791067&spn=0.02953,0.045576&z=14

I agree with Leave No Trace.

Take a trash bag.
You'll need a trowel & bio-degradable TP.
You'll want to take a large water jug or two for potable water

1) 200 ft. from water, camping, trails
2) Dig a hole 6-8" deep (not too deep)
3) Use as little paper as possible (pack out paper if possible)
4) Cover when done.

9/24/2009 12:57:20 PM

Quote :

"^^^^there are lots of national parks, etc where you're not allowed to just shit on the ground. you have to pack your shit with you. it's gross but true."

LOL...pack your shit out...LOL...yeah, ill never do that...but i also know how to "properly" shit in the woods

there's also a difference between shitting on the ground, and in the ground



[Edited on September 24, 2009 at 1:32 PM. Reason : d]

9/24/2009 1:25:59 PM

okay, next question:

what are some other options for locations? needs to be federal land, not a campground, mountain-ish. something < 5 hours from rocky mount.

9/24/2009 3:45:07 PM

i personally love the north carolina/ TN border....You need to hit up Roan Mtn. it's got balds with 360 views, and is only ~4 miles if i remember correctly from a somewhat major road. Granted, it's up hill, but there are good camping sites right before the balds.

Roan is over 6k ft i believe

Although, there is a shelter called the over mountain shelter. An old barn, that is up on roan mtn. you can drive up within a mile of it and walk a dirt road that leads up to it.

Great view of the valley and has a fire ring





[Edited on September 24, 2009 at 3:52 PM. Reason : nm...forgot you were car camping...i dunno then]]

[Edited on September 24, 2009 at 3:54 PM. Reason : d]

9/24/2009 3:49:58 PM

and i think the nc/tn border is farther away than the wilson creek area

9/24/2009 4:04:00 PM

well, it's not right on the border...

9/24/2009 4:10:32 PM

BTW you don't have to hang off a tree to shit if that's what's scaring you. Just squat!

plenty of people shit that way every day. if you ever travel you may see these toilets

9/24/2009 4:50:31 PM

Quote :

"yes definitely. If I forgot my broom I'd probably cancel the trip and go home. and for God's sake don't forget the mini dustpan."

Why would you try to make me spit tea on my laptop???/ Why?

9/24/2009 5:07:40 PM

good advice in this thread

9/25/2009 1:02:20 AM

^^^ yeah, i've seen one of those at a bar in Crete.

9/25/2009 1:23:45 AM

Being a forester, I spend a lot of time in the woods...
My favorite method of outdoor pooing is to simply lean my back against a tree. I've never buried it though. Unfortunately, digging holes right next to a tree stump is difficult due to the roots.
Maybe I'll have to dig a hole a foot or two away and use a stick to push it in before burying.
Or try the rope method. The rope method sounds useful.

We got the fire thing down.

9/28/2009 4:49:58 PM

Quote :

"we're going camping the first weekend in october and it'll be our first time just camping out in the woods w/o toilets or showers or running water. what are your experiences and recommendations for stuff to bring?"

is this post a satire? If not then props to you for real camping without the heated bathroom building 50 ft away, the AirConditioned RV, and the kitchen sink; all of which is 200 ft off the main road.....

Quote :

"bring long johns if your sleeping bag isnt the greatest"

unless you are from florida long johns this time of year is overkill. I good northface jacket and pants will be fine. By end
october then we can talk.

Quote :

"we bought this thing that's basically a little toilet seat on a stand and you dig yourself a hole."

lol

Quote :

"So you're camping for a weekend. Two nights?"

shit for two nights i'd hold taht shit in!

Quote :

"Water purification tablets would be a good thing as well, and maybe some high energy granola"

They are not backpacking the appalachians or sitting up camp in the amazon. Just bring enough water; in all liklihood if they go to some
touristy campground they will have well water anyway. no point of even dealing with nasty purified stream water.

Quote :

"extravagant tent that would suffice as a family home in a 3rd-world country."

lmao some of our guy's (grayson) used to bring the 10 person tent after you left duke. I think it even had a "family room".

Quote :

"...and personally, i don't really get camping at a campsite with facilities. that's not camping. that's just living in a place that sucks for a few days. the exception might be if you were taking a big (like cross-country) road trip...but still, that's not really camping."

what he said.

Quote :

"there are lots of national parks, etc where you're not allowed to just shit on the ground. you have to pack your shit with you. it's gross but true. "

zomg its the law! So Ranger bob or officer hardass are going to jump out of the woods right as you pinch off that major dump to give you
a "shitting in public" ticket???????

9/28/2009 11:48:32 PM

I, too, second leaning against the tree for #2. But cover that shit even if you can't dig a hole.

A few times I've spent over 3 weeks camping without any facilities--the hardest part is just keeping yourself clean. I wear contacts and it is extremely hard to keep them from being anything but filthy, especially when there is no clean water source nearby.

9/28/2009 11:54:44 PM

Quote :

"is this post a satire?"

what in the world made you think this was satire?

Quote :

"if they go to some touristy campground"

i think i've made it abundantly clear that we are NOT going to a campground. we are not going to a place where lots of people set up tents on tent pads with tables and fire rings and toilets and showers. you just quoted in your own response my original post where i said "camping out in the woods w/o toilets or showers or running water."

wow

just to clarify [again]: we are camping in a forest owned by our federal government, not state. we will not be at a campsite/campground/whatever. there are no facilities (toilets, shower, running water, man-made structures, etc). we are only going for 2 nights. it is not a backpacking trip, we will be car camping essentially. i have been camping (yes, in a campground) several times before and this is not my first trip camping nor is it my first in "cold" weather (although i would not consider this cold).

back to my question, where are some good places to camp other than northern pisgah? scenery is important. must be federally owned land, no state parks.

[Edited on September 29, 2009 at 1:28 PM. Reason : ]

9/29/2009 1:22:59 PM

roan mountain sounds like just what you are looking for. you should contact adam8778 to get directions to the barn on roan mountain...as stated earlier, you can park on a dirt road and walk about a mile to the barn, which over looks a valley. it's like .3 miles off the AT and you can definitly take a day trip out to the balds, giving 360 views all around...you get a good view of grandfather mountain...

from raleigh, i think its about 4-4.5 hours away

[Edited on September 29, 2009 at 2:31 PM. Reason : d]

9/29/2009 2:30:48 PM

that'd make it 5-5.5 hours from rocky mount then

9/29/2009 3:25:13 PM

bummer....it's a kick ass spot

9/29/2009 3:39:49 PM

I dont know too many places away from the AT, but go to REI, check out the appalachian pages (its a trail guide book in the literature section) . You will see where roads cross the trail and how far away they are from camp grounds and what not.

There are plenty of forest service roads listed that cross the AT

[Edited on September 29, 2009 at 3:44 PM. Reason : d]

9/29/2009 3:42:52 PM

What about places that allow alcohol? All state parks prohibit it....

9/29/2009 3:48:14 PM

eeeeerrr, uhhh...just follow the LNT rule and dont burn shit down if you ask me...and be mindful of others



[Edited on September 29, 2009 at 3:51 PM. Reason : your risk though...i risk it]

9/29/2009 3:50:21 PM

what about uwharrie? it's a little closer, and esp since a couple will be leaving later that might make it easier on them.

9/29/2009 3:55:33 PM

you should pm adam8778, he knows those parts (uwharries) well, and theres also the foothills trail. look into that. The foothills trail is fairly close to you i believe.

[Edited on September 29, 2009 at 4:00 PM. Reason : d]

9/29/2009 4:00:03 PM

i'm in rocky mount, in nash county, about an hour east of raleigh.

9/29/2009 4:13:19 PM

for some reason i was thinking rock hill...my b

still, pm adam8778

[Edited on September 29, 2009 at 4:16 PM. Reason : l]

9/29/2009 4:16:12 PM

hehe yeah i thought you might be thinking that.

i did pm adam. thanks!

9/29/2009 4:17:42 PM

go to harpers creek....if you're familar with the wilsons creek area, its about 20-30 minutes past the campgrounds at wilsons. There are 4 or 5 different trails in the area and at this time of year, you'll likely be camping alone no matter which area you choose.

9/29/2009 4:48:34 PM

this weekend was probably the best camping trip we've been on. for the first time it didn't rain!

we took our little toilet seat on legs and it worked great. i only got laughed at by one squirrel. chris said using that is way easier than trying to lean on a tree or whatever. i didn't mind the no shower thing too much, except for my hair. thank goodness it's short. next time maybe we'll get a little dishwashing bin thing and some water + soap. the body bath wipe things don't work in your hair.

bee mountain is called that for a reason. there are bees. just fyi

we set up on top of a big grassy hill/mini mountain knob thing.


if you'd like to see more pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2334991&id=11805098&l=8741243520

10/5/2009 2:34:59 PM

AWESOME!! So glad you had a good time...sounds/looks like you got just what you wanted.

i still might give you a hard time about the toilet seat though

10/5/2009 2:43:12 PM

Quote :

"what are you planning, going to da club? who needs extra clothes after one day? "

well, I don't know about you, but sometimes I get sweaty or really dirty when out in the wilderness (or if it rains and you the clothes you are wearing get wet...)

You might want something extra, if nothing else, to at least sleep in. I also like to have a "clean" set of clothes for the ride home because it is usually at least a 2-3 hour drive and I know I will be stopping on the way home

10/5/2009 2:48:29 PM