Our Footwear Buyer, Chad Baird, came across this grouchy snapping turtle on his 11 mile morning commute this morning.
» Read more on Joe Miller’s N&O BLOG
» Download a PDF of the Black Creek/Umstead/Reedy Creek Greenway Map provided by News & Observer
On the first Saturday of June, businesses across the state show their support for their local land trusts by donating a percentage of their sales, supporting membership drives, or by making donations. Great Outdoor Provision Co. began Land Trust Day in 1992 as a way of giving back to groups that are protecting the great outdoors.
Shop your local Great Outdoor Provision Co. on Saturday, June 2 and we will DONATE 10% of total sales to local land trusts
Prime camping time is here and we’ve got some new additions to our tent lineup to provide shelter needs for any adventure. Classic double walled tents are great at keeping condensation outside the tent, but that comes at a weight cost. Single wall tents are ultralight, but can leave campers waking up to soggy sleeping bags. The 
North Face Vario 23 takes the best of both worlds and combines them into one innovative tent. Two sides are single walled for shaving excess weight while the other two employ the mesh body and fly system to provide ventilation and a vestibule. Vents in the ceiling keep moisture at bay even when the rain fly is closed. If ventilation and space take precedence over weight, 
The North Face Morraine 33 is perfect. It boasts of plenty of room for three campers and a body with multiple large, mesh windows.
Headroom and weight are primary concerns for Mountain Hardwear’s new Viperine 2. Its unique pole-hub design 
shaves ounces while providing a roomy interior almost four feet high! Near vertical sidewalls guarantee this head room can be enjoyed by everyone.
Along with the updates in our primitive camping tent category, we also have some new family camping and/or base camping tents whose luxury features will make sure your trip is comfortable. The new North Face Trailhead 6 offers compartmentalized camping for 6 so that you can spend time 
together when you want, and still get a good night’s rest. The dividers stow away when floor space is needed. We are also proud to off the new Eureka! N!ergy series. It represents a revolution in the world of family camping. The tents come wired with 3 removable 12V power outlets. 
With optional camping specific accessories, the Nergy line is ready to accommodate the most discriminating campers. » More N!ergy INFO
Does the word ultralight conjure up images of aching backs, leaky tarps, and undernourished trips? This year’s latest pack offerings are working to dispel that notion with lightweight packs that offer great load distribution and 
increased volume for any length adventure. Women looking to lighten their load without sacrificing comfortable suspension can look to the Osprey Aerial 55. At less than 4 pounds, its versatile size is great for weekends and challenges users to stay out longer while its beefy suspension carries over 50 lbs comfortably. Last year when Osprey introduced the extremely popular Atmos and women’s Aura series, they proved that lightweight packs could still carry their weight. We’ve got the 
Atmos 65 and Aura 50 models in stock and their capacity to weight ratio is fantastic. Couple this with features like ventilated back panels and convenient shovel pockets and you won’t believe they weigh a little over 3 pounds!
For the truly dedicated, weight-conscious hiker, there’s the new Osprey 
Talon series. These are the most full-featured ultralight packs around and are great for thru-hiking, adventure racing, or any trip where speed and weight are the primary concerns. Along with Osprey’s new packs, two new Mountainsmith packs have just arrived. The Approach 3.0 is a versatile pack that’s comfortable for long daytrips but still big enough that it can handle an overnight or two. It’s also got tons of pockets that are great for organization and access. The Lily pack
fills a similar niche as a women’s specific pack with a suspension designed for their frame. Not too big for a day, not too small for a weekend.
Backcountry adventures aren’t the only kind of traveling we endorse. We also carry great travel gear and clothing for the globetrotter in all of us. 
Osprey’s Meridian 22 luggage won Outside Magazine’s gear of the year award for its versatility and durability. This 60 liter pack has a removable daypack that attaches securely to the bag, a solid and stable plastic base, and a retractable handle that doubles as a frame stay for a hideaway suspension system. The Meridian 28 has the same stellar features of the 22 with an additional 15 liters of packing space. The new Eagle Creek Explorer LT is also in stock. This adventure pack has the comfortable suspension of a multiday backcountry pack
plus travel friendly features. Its multiple pockets help you keep things organized while its three in one travel shell acts as a security cover at the airport, and rain fly in the field, and an extra duffel bag on the way home!
The North Carolina Geocachers Organization will be hosting GeoWoodstock 5 on Saturday, May 26 at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. What is GeoWoodstock? Only the largest geocaching event the world has ever seen! Whether you’re a geocaching fanatic or just curious about the activity, this is an all-day event that you won’t want to miss. Basic registration is free, and includes family-friendly activities, a barbeque dinner, and a day of relaxing fun with geocachers from all over the world.
To learn more about geocaching, check out www.geocaching.com. For more information about GeoWoodstock 5 (or to register), check out www.geowoodstock5.com.
Even when kicking back, true adventure addicts demand a shoe that goes beyond expectations. The Pen Shell Clog has exactly what they need. Its Ergomorphic™ footbed and 360° lacing with climbing grade cord provide customizable comfort, while its wet/dry traction goes just about anywhere.
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Ergomorphic™ Footbed: An anatomically shaped removable footbed with a layer of Ergomorphic™ foam that customizes to the shape of the wearer’s foot after approximately 12 hours of use, resulting in a personalized fit. | |
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Super Structure Cord: One piece cord made of either climbing-grade rope or extremely strong Kevlar® cord that spirals around the Sculpted Super-Structure, resulting in the wearer’s ability to customize a precise fit based on the demands of their activity. | |
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Wet/Dry Traction: Ultimate traction on wet and dry surfaces with a unique outsole design that features a proprietary Quad-Cut™ siping configuration and Gripstick™ rubber compound. | |
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Ultra-lite: Wet or dry, Mi?n™ footwear is designed to be feather light. | |
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100% Water Compatible: Mi?n™ footwear does not get wet like leather or fabric footwear. Most of our styles literally cannot absorb or retain water. |
Our staff love these shoes! Stop by the shop and slip them on
Meet Danny, author of new guidebook Hiking the Carolina Mountains, for a slide show and discussion of hiking and backpacking opportunities in the Western North Carolina mountains.
WHERE: Winston-Salem Shop - 7:30pm
WILDATHON REPORT from Brian Bockhahn (Falls Lake SRA):
I ended up having to go with my rain date of May 7, 2007, even though the forecast was cold and very windy. The low was 46 degrees and the high 71 and winds were continuous at 15-25 mph! Fortunately, the skies were clear and the sun prevailed to make critters active.
I started at 4 a.m. in my carport using night vision monocular to view an Eastern Phoebe on its nest. I watched as the mother looked at me and blinked, and then I recorded it as my first bird of the day. With the way the spring has been going I had a feeling I could break my record for 108 bird species in a day. I decided not to count up my total until the day’s end, just for suspense.
I saw a White-tailed Deer on the side of the road on the way to the north end of Beaverdam Lake. I checked some cover boards and quickly found a Black Racer, the most abundant animal of the day, tallying a total of 15!
9 Stores and much gear ago…
On the morning of Wed. May 2, Great Outdoor Provision Co. was at the at the NC History Museum Auditorium with the North Carolina Conservation Network and over 150 clean water advocates for Clean Water Lobby Day at the NC State Legislature. Individuals and groups from all over the state made the trip to Raleigh to show that clean water is a priority in North Carolina. The agenda for the day focused on urging legislators to endorse three bills currently on the political chopping block. The bills address issues relating to sedimentation and erosion control, swine farm regulations, and interbasin transfer practices. After a brief welcome from the NC Conservation Network, the group of blue-shirt clad lobbyists “streamed” across Bicentennial Plaza on their way to the legislative building. On the way, they listened to encouraging words from Senator Joe Sam Queen and Representative Pricey Harrison (Primary Sponsor for the sedimentation bill). (more…)
May 19, 2007 - The FMST - Falls Lake Task Force will start trail construction from NC-50 towards Durham. This will be an extension of the Falls Lake trail. Come be a part of history as we kick off this work and head towards Penny’s Bend in Durham - 30 miles! Free Breakfast sponsored by Great Outdoor Provision Co.
» Click here for details
June 2, 2007 - LAND TRUST DAY at Great Outdoor Provision Co. 10% of Sale to Local Land Trusts & National Trails Day Events Across the State
» Register for the June 2 Work Day Sponsored by FMST & Great Outdoor Provision Co.
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