Great Outdoor Blog

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The SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger provides a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when you need it. Using 100% satellite technology, SPOT works virtually anywhere in the world, even where cell phones don’t – all with the push of a button.
Our price is $149.95

SUMMER SPOT PROMO: FREE Tracking service when you activate Product Replacement. That is a $32 savings on additonal SPOT Services! Promo valid 6/1/10-8/31/10 >> Download Redemption Form (PDF)

What does Spot do?

SOS / 911: Use this function In the event of a life threatening or other critical emergency to notify emergency services of your GPS location and that you need assistance. The GEOS International Emergency Response Center alerts the appropriate agencies worldwide – for example contacting 9-1-1 responders in North America and 1-1-2 responders in Europe.

Help: In the event of a non-life threatening emergency, you can use this function to notify your personal contacts that you need assistance. Additional SPOT Assist services can be purchased and programmed to your Help button as well. When activated with SPOT Assist, the Help button will notify professional services either on the land or water. SPOT has partnered with national service providers to offer non-life threatening assistance.

Check-in/OK: This feature allows you to let your friends and family know that all is OK with a pre-programmed message along with your GPS location. With a push of a button a message is sent via email or SMS to up to 10 pre-determined contacts and your waypoint is stored in your SPOT account for later reference. Your stored waypoints can be easily integrated into a SPOT Shared Page or SPOT Adventure account.

Custom Message: This feature allows you to let your friends and family now receive a custom message along with your GPS location with a push of a button. Use this feature as a secondary OK message or transfer your personal help alert to this message function if you are using a SPOT Assist service on your Help button.

Track Progress: This feature allows you to send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress in near real time using Google Maps. With your SPOT account you have the ability to set up a SPOT Shared Page which allows you to show your SPOT GPS locations to others on a Google Map.

Check one out at your local shop

The state’s most beautiful places identified by popular vote

Land for Tomorrow, a coalition dedicated to supporting the preservation of North Carolina’s land and water resources, announced the winners of the first-ever “North Carolina’s Ten Natural Wonders Contest” yesterday. The contest is part of Land for Tomorrow’s effort to highlight past generations’ conservation successes and urge North Carolina lawmakers to continue supporting conservation in our state. In fact, several of the nominations, including many of the Natural Wonders identified, were protected with the help of North Carolina’s conservation trust funds.

Participants were encouraged to nominate any landscape, natural feature, wildlife or plant life that is unique to North Carolina and should be considered among the state’s greatest natural wonders. About 1,300 nominations yielded 200 unique potential “Natural Wonders,” which were narrowed to a field of 25 semifinalists by a panel of prominent North Carolinians. From those 25, “North Carolina’s Ten Natural Wonders” were determined by popular vote. Over 3,000 individual votes were submitted.

And “North Carolina’s Ten Natural Wonders” are:

• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout
• Grandfather Mountain
• Great Smoky Mountains
• Lake Mattamuskeet
• Lumber River
• Merchants Millpond State Park
• Mountains to Sea Trail
• New River
• Ocracoke Island

“North Carolina has something to offer to nature lovers of every description, and the excitement this contest generated is proof of that. We had a great time reading everyone’s arguments in favor of their favorite spots – each one is worthy of that affection, no matter how small or little-known,” said Reid Wilson, Executive Director of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina. “People who live in North Carolina and those who love to visit are passionate about protecting their favorite places and – with their support – we’ll continue to put that passion into action to safeguard these beloved natural wonders.”

As a bonus, several participants won prizes from contest sponsors from across North Carolina.

Great Outdoor Provision Co. provided the grand prize for the contest, a collection of backpacking gear, including an Osprey Atmos 50 Back Pack, a Thermarest Trial Lite Sleeping Pad, a GSI – Mess Cook Kit and a Camelbak Water Bottle. The winner was selected randomly from the voting pool.

“North Carolina is filled with unique and beautiful natural wonders – many, many more than the 10 we’ve chosen through this contest. Great Outdoor Provision Co. is proud to help conservation organizations, hiking and outdoor groups, and nature-lovers across the state protect fragile landscapes and then get outside to enjoy them,” said Chuck Millsaps, Minister of Culture at Great Outdoor Provision Co. “We’re glad to see our love for North Carolina’s beautiful land, water and wildlife is shared by so many people, and we hope they’ll help us support the organizations that protect these special places.”

Visit the Land for Tomorrow Facebook page or landfortomorrow.org for more information on our sponsors and judges, and to track the debate and view photographs from participants’ favorite natural places and things in North Carolina.

ABOUT LAND FOR TOMORROW Land for Tomorrow, a coalition of conservation, agriculture, wildlife, business and local government organizations, is committed to preserving and protecting North Carolina’s land, water and historic places. Its goal is to increase public awareness for the need to protect additional lands that are critical to the economic well-being and quality of life in North Carolina. Land for Tomorrow seeks to help the state reach its declared goal of conserving a million acres, and ensure that critical land will be available to provide clean air and drinking water, strengthen our communities, promote job growth and enhance the quality of life for generations to come. For additional information about Land for Tomorrow, visit landfortomorrow.org or facebook.com/L4TNC.

IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing
Surf City, NC
Atlantic Division
Competition Date: May 23, 2010

Registration and Captains Meeting: Begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 22
Location: Beach House Marina and Yacht Club
111 North New River Drive
Surf City, NC 28445
(910) 328-2628

Take-off: Location of your choice
Weigh-in: Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Hanover Center
3501 Oleander Dr (US 76)
Wilmington, NC
(910) 343-1648

More info at this link

We showed you a preview of the upcoming new SOT from Hurricane Kayaks right here at GOPC a few months back and were really looking forward to this new, cleanly laid out SOT. However, we wanted Hurricane to make some minor changes to the promising prototype as follows:

• We wanted some deck rigging added to that nice bow storage area.
• We wanted a Paddle Park added to make it easier for folks to stow their paddle while fishing, taking pictures, viewing wildlife, etc.

Hurricane delivered on all our requests and we’re proud to offer this kayak to anyone looking for a very light, versatile SOT with an emphasis on maneuverability and acceleration.

You can check out the Hurricane Open Bay 120 in more detail here.

Update: James and his teammate Steve summited Everest North Side safely on May 23 at 5:30 a.m. He wrote “It was the craziest weather season, causing a very short window and thus a night time summit (we climbed early to avoid the lines on the second step – the strategy which really allowed us to succeed).” Pictures coming soon.

Audio interview has been posted to WRAL.com

When we first met James Wilde he had completed 5 of the Seven Summits. This Raleigh native had us riveted to our seats at Cameron Village as he shared stories from the climbs. Now only Everest awaits as he sits in Base Camp North. Follow the adventure tonight on WRAL and learn how you can support his clean water initiative GlobalH20 that helps supply clean water throughout the world.

View more images at this link.

Land for Tomorrow is a coalition of conservation, agriculture, wildlife, business and local government organizations across the state committed to preserving and protecting North Carolina’s land, water and historic places. This contest is part of Land for Tomorrow’s effort to highlight past generations’ conservation successes which made North Carolina’s natural treasures and outdoor spaces what they are today.

>> Visit this LINK to cast your vote thru May 18

Each participant who votes in the final phase will be entered into a random prize drawing, and will have a chance to win great prizes from vendors across North Carolina.

You can also follow the contest at: facebook.com/L4TNC

About 35 participants came to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium on May 1st and about 20 participants came to the Carolina Kayak Club on May 3rd to learn about kayak fishing from local pro angler Ashley Williams. Those in attendance learned what to look for and consider when purchasing a fishing kayak, how to outfit a fishing kayak to meet their individual needs, and basic tips on landing that first fish from a kayak. In addition to listening and taking notes, participants were able to have their hands on the latest fishing kayaks from Wilderness Systems such as the Tarpon 120 and Commander 120. Kayak fishing gear from Scotty Fishing, Seattle Sports, Werner Paddles, and Stohlquist Waterwear were also available for participants to check out and see the best equipment offered to enhance their kayak fishing experiences.

So you just bought a Canoe or Kayak and want to know what is required to be legal. Laws governing boats such as canoes and kayaks vary, depending on the body of water and the agency that has jurisdiction. For example, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has a set of comprehensive requirements for most inland waters and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) considers kayaks and canoes to be a Vessel Under Oars for purposes of regulation. Consequently, we’re going to focus on Canoes and Kayaks that are used in our local area -namely the state of NC.

Putting aside issues of safety and common sense for the moment, here is what you need simply to be legal when using a canoe or kayak in NC, as of 2010:

• USGC approved, Type I, II or III PFD (if under 13 years old, the PFD must be worn at all times). Racing Canoes/Kayaks and Rowing Shells are exempt from this requirement.
• Sound Producing Device, such as a Whistle
• Navigational Light, such as a handheld waterproof flashlight (for waters under USGC jurisdiction, such as coastal waters, or on inland waters from Sunset to Sunrise).
• Daytime/Nighttime Visual Distress Signals, such as 3 aerial flares (for waters under USCG jurisdiction, such as coastal waters).
• If the Canoe or Kayak is powered by a trolling motor of any kind (gas or electric), the boat needs to be registered and titled (unless solely operated on a private pond). A Registration Card will need to be carried with you and presented, if requested by a NCWRC officer. This does not apply to non-powered canoes or kayaks.
• If the canoe or kayak is primarily powered by sail and is over 14 feet in length (for example, a Hobie Mirage Adventure Island), the boat needs to be registered and titled. A Registration Card will need to be carried with you and presented, if requested by a NCWRC officer. This does not generally apply to canoes or kayaks where an optional sail kit is used only on occasion.

More information on the above topics can be found here:

• Required Equipment
• Coastal Paddling-Gear Up Part I
• Boat Registration and Titling
• NC Boating Vessel Operator’s Guide

The above is NOT an exhaustive list applicable to all bodies of water in NC -it is simply a list of the most common items that if missing, can often lead to a citation when paddling a canoe or kayak. Also, regulations do change and the information presented above is not a substitute for reading, understanding and following the specific boating regulations of the NCWRC, USCG, or other appropriate law enforcement agency.

However, reading and understanding these regulations in their entirety can be a complex task since many of these regulations do not apply to non-powered vessels such as canoes and kayaks. For example, take a look at these USCG regulations and you will see that there is a lot of reading and much of it is for large vessels. Consequently, the information above is being provided as a convenience to our customers, most of whom are acutely interested in obeying the laws governing boating but would like a quick review of what they need to help avoid a ticket while paddling their canoe or kayak.

That being said, we can’t guarantee you’ll avoid a ticket even if you do follow the information we’ve provided here. For example, at the Cape Lookout National Seashore, the management agency (the US Department of Interior’s National Park Service) requires all paddlers to file a float plan with the park office. As another example, paddlers on SC’s Chattooga River are required to wear a helmet (and for good reason). As yet another example, paddlers on the Roanoke River who are planning to camp overnight are required to carry (and use) a porta-potty. The rule of thumb is to always check with the local management agency if you have any questions regarding boating regulations.

Here are some related resources you may find helpful:
http://greatoutdoorprovision.com/resources/howto/#paddle

Celebrate Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 9) with our fabulous selection for the active Mom. Hey guys, dresses are super popular right now and most of our collection are sized S/M/L so you’re bound to get the size right for a gift. Choose from dresses by Patagonia, Horny Toad, Lole and more at your local shop.