Great Outdoor Blog

Driving to the trailhead I wondered if we’d packed enough cold gear. Snow had been reported at Wilburn Ridge with an overnight low in the 20’s. My buddy and I have a crew of eight high school kids with a collective playlist of nearly 10K songs but did they pack enough insulation?

My concerns are dismissed once we reach Grayson Highlands. Our midnight arrival stirs a Park Ranger who provides an adequate shake-down of the party. She’s impressed to see a group of young people, 4 girls, 4 guys and two dads, out in the woods. She also cautions us to be careful – “Deer season opens tomorrow at sunrise.”

After finding gloves, hats and headlamps we hoist our packs and head north to connect with the Appalachian Spur Trail and over Wilburn Ridge. Our party carries a variety of packs – the majority being Osprey Packs. Two boys lead the way as they’ve hiked this area with their Scout Troop. The girls help with reading the map. Everyone is excited to get on the trail and enjoys the night hike experience. Jokes are passed down the line as we discuss who brought along a blaze orange vest and who brought the antlers.

I kid you not, a rifle shot awakens me just before dawn. Unable to return to sleep I decide to crawl out of a cozy MSR Carbon Reflex 2 and explore the area where we’d chosen to camp. The shelter was occupied when we passed it at 1am so we hiked a bit further before pitching our tents. The babbling of Big Wilson Creek has me digging out the Platypus Gravity Works (video demo here) as I do my best to appear non-deer-like making my way to the creek. Water filters as I fire up the MSR Pocket Rocket and take in the sunrise with a cup of coffee.

The next two days with the crew were great. These young people share a profound connection with this wilderness and each other. Away from our busy city life we can live in the moment – present and connected to the beauty all around. We talk about how the most difficult part of the trip is returning home. They want to do this again – soon – and bring along more friends. We all have a new sense of adventure – maybe it comes from the from the night hike, or stream crossing, or maybe from meeting the hunter who shared his story – but that sense of adventure remains with us long after we return home. Kids these days are eager to get outside and share that adventure with others. They are the next generation of conservationists and it was a privilege to join them on this trip.

Thanks to the folks at Outdoor Sports Marketing and my skillet carrying friend, Blake, who help to make this and many other Scout and Youth adventures possible.

YARMOUTH, Maine — (March 9, 2011) — The DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator has been honored as a recipient of a 2011 Backpacker Magazine Editors’ Choice Award. The most prestigious award in the outdoor industry, it is given annually to products in recognition of their outstanding innovation in design, materials, and/or performance.

The Earthmate PN-60w is a rugged, waterproof handheld GPS offering full navigation capabilities, plus the unique ability to create custom Type & Send text messages for delivery via the SPOT Satellite Communicator. Users can explore and stay connected with family, buddy lists, social network sites, and emergency responders, even if far beyond the reach of cell phone service.

The Backpacker Editors’ Choice Awards, bestowed annually since 1993, honor the products that Backpacker editors have chosen as the best of the year based on months of trail testing by teams of highly experienced hikers and climbers. With no set categories for the awards and no set number of recipients, the products and the testing process drive the award categories.
The Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator was one of only 13 innovative products that have been honored with a 2011 Backpacker Editors’ Choice Award.

High-Tech Trifecta
“Here’s a high-tech trifecta,” Backpacker said in describing the PN-60w and SPOT messaging capabilities. “Navigate the backcountry and call for emergency help and stay connected with those at home.”

Backpacker Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Dorn explained how his staff, led by Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter, conducts their testing.

“With a core team that has several centuries of combined trail time, along with first descents, decades of retail experience, and expertise in every backcountry discipline, Kristin puts new products through an unprecedented level of real-world abuse in every terrain and weather imaginable,” said Dorn. “She also oversees a transparent process that has earned an unrivaled amount of trust from readers, retailers, and manufacturers. The results are reviews that lead consumers to smart, durable products that consistently prove their worth with years of best-in-class performance.”

DeLorme Vice President Caleb Mason added, “The Backpacker Editors’ Choice Award bestows enormous credibility and we are very proud to add this to the numerous honors we’ve already received for this product.”

Indeed, the Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator has been the most-honored outdoor GPS product since it was launched in September. Previous honors include Popular Mechanics 2010 Breakthrough Award, 2010 National Geographic Gear of the Year honors, and a 2011 Consumer Electronics Association Innovations Award.

>> More Info

by Chuck Millsaps, Minister of Culture

For the barefoot runner, or would-be barefoot runner, who searches for freedom beyond an “individual toed shoe”, emancipation is near! Starting today the new Merrell Trail Glove, which features a Vibram outsole, is now available in our shops. Discover how to stimulate your senses, develop stronger muscles and find a more balanced posture in this new minimalist shoe. Stop by shop and take a pair for a spin. We also stock the Women’s Pure Glove and Pace Glove.

I should note that I incorporated “barefoot” into my running about 2 years ago with the Vibram Five Finger KSO and Bikila. After 30+ years heel-strike running I now run exclusively on soft surface trails and made the transition to “barefoot” by salting it in over a 4 month period. I currently average 40-50 miles a week with about 20% of that barefoot. Running “barefoot” has encouraged my mid-foot strike, strengthened my Achilles and calves, and reduced injury. The new Trail Glove from Merrell allows me to further increase my “barefoot” mileage thus increasing the benefits.

So why another barefoot shoe like the Merrell Trial Glove? Well, after nearly a month of testing the Trail Glove I can say the name is perfect. Only 6.2 oz (men’s size 9) the Trail Glove feels like an ultra light racing flat with a wide toe box. (I am a “D” width on the Brannock, and fit comfortably in the Brooks Cascadia which is my other choice for trails.) The snug fit through the heel and midfoot of the Trail Glove is balanced with a wide toe box allowing the foot to spread its toes freely. My first extended run (7+ miles) covered a multiple of surfaces including pavement, single track and crush-n-run fire road. I like the traditional lacing system which allows me to snug up the ankle collar without crimping the toe box. The 4 mm EVA midsole is most adequate for the single track portion of the run where leaf cover often hides broken billiard ball quartz stones. The outsole has a modest lug pattern but the traction is excellent even when transitioning from muddy slope to granite climb. The zero drop from ball to heel gives the shoe that sports car feel that hugs the terrain.

The Merrell Trail Glove is the ideal choice for the runner looking to start their barefoot experience. Merrell has provided a great resource on their website http://merrell.com/Barefoot where you can learn more about their new barefoot collection. For expert advice be sure to come by the shop and talk with our staff. I encourage you to try on a pair and see how stimulating and freeing the barefoot performance can be. Don’t be surprised if you drop a size or two when try a pair. I wear an 11 in regular shoes, a 43 in the VFF Bikila and found the 10 to be the best fit in the Trail Glove. The Trail Glove will continue to be a part of my running experience. Hope to see you on the trails.

Backpacker Magazine, the authority on outdoor adventure, is bringing its widely celebrated Get Out More Tour presented by Woolrich to Wilmington, NC on April 20, 2010. The Tour’s renowned team members, Randy and Sheri Propster, will visit Wilmgington as the tour makes its way to 73 venues in 48 states, inspiring more than 55,000 hikers and backpackers to get out and explore the great outdoors!

What: Backpacker Magazine’s Get Our More Tour
When: Tuesday, April 20 @ 7pm
Where: Great Outdoor Provision Co. – Hanover Center, Wilmington
Who: Randy and Sheri Propster, Get Out More Tour Hosts
Cost: Free!
For more information, go to: www.getoutmore2010.com

The Get Out More team is offering in-depth, 60-minute presentations at retail locations and festivals across the country, inspiring both the expert and beginner with their seasoned advice.

Informative and fun presentations will cover a range of topics including:

• Essentials of backpacking
• The latest in gear and apparel
• Survival Skills
• Trail-tested tips

Giveaways at each retail location will offer participants the chance to win the latest in outdoor gear and apparel, worth hundreds of dollars!

(Santa Cruz, CA) – The 14 foot Bark Expedition was named “Best Stand Up Paddleboard” in the Dec 2009/Jan 2010 issue of the Men’s Journal. The “Gear of the Year” issue awards top honors to the best outdoor products of 2009. Other “Gear of the Year” honorees included notable brands such as Oakley, Canon, Rolex, BMW, Mountain Hardware and GoPro among other prestigious brands. “We couldn’t be happier with this honor.” said the board’s designer Joe Bark. “I worked with my top team guys here in California and in Hawaii testing out countless 14 foot boards over the course of more than a year until we found the magic formula. We were designing boards that would paddle well in flat, calm water and in rough, choppy seas. We had our guys test the boards in oily glass conditions as well as open ocean wind swells. This board far exceeded expectations in both conditions.”

“An Everest size pile of new products materializes every year, each one claiming to be the next big thing. The majority are unremarkably satisfactory; a few are laughably pathetic. Rarest of all are the 25 superlative objects on these six pages.” stated the Mens Journal article. In honoring the 14 foot Bark, the article went on to say, “As stand up paddleboarding grows from niche to mainstream, the gear only gets better. Case in point: the new Joe Bark 14 foot Expedition from the legendary South Bay shaper, made by Surftech. The sleek silhouette makes quick work of multi-mile trips, yet still feels stable in choppy seas.”

To get your hands (or feet) on our Standup Paddle board selection, stop by one of our SUP shops in Greenville, Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. The Bark Expedition is expected to arrive in Raleigh early this spring.

>> More about Stand Up Paddleboards

by Chuck Millsaps

While I was packing for a west bound adventure there was another traveler with the same destination. A winter storm that would drop 3 feet of fresh powder in the Tahoe Basin and cap the temperature in the teens. With another trifecta of storms in line to drop an additional 4 to 5 feet my gear selection was of utmost importance. Insulation was at the top of the list. Well, actually tire chains were #1 but the Patagonia Down Sweater took a close 2nd.

I selected the Down Sweater because of it’s superior high-loft warmth. I have yet to see a more highly compressible jacket that is so light weight and takes up so little room in the pack. And it didn’t stay there long. I had it out first thing as we began our adventures at Donner Pass. With the wind picking up and the temperature at 10 degrees I was completely comfortable.

The Down Sweater is also equally adaptive indoors. Hoping to acclimatize quickly we found a local gym in Truckee that afforded us the use of a treadmill. After the 4 mile run indoors I put the Down Sweater back on to head back outside. I was impressed with the way it handled my core temperature with sweat-soaked baselayers amidst a wind that was relentless. While certainly no weather for a picnic Patagonia’s Down Sweater is the best choice for any winter outdoor adventure. And certainly would have improved dinner options for the Donner Party.

W’s Down Sweater $200 – also in Real Red

W’s Down Vest $150

M’s Down Sweater $200 – also in Black

M’s Down Vest $150 – Black, Continental Blue & Olivine

Here’s a overview video from the product designer:

My husband and I are on a kayak trip, paddling from Lubec Maine to Key West Florida and we have been using the spot all the way. When we first started this trip, we only had about 10 people following the trip via our spots. Now, 4 months of paddling later, we have over 100 people who receive our SPOT updates. It’s fun for our family and friends to follow along with us, and also a great way for us to be able to track our route after we finish.

Of course it’s also comforting to know that we have the “help” and “911″ options right at our fingertips, if we ever need them. Since our “OK” messages had never failed to go out, I have no doubt that the other messages will be just as successful if needed.

We have really enjoyed it and will continue to as we finish our east coast paddle.

- Bethany Cox

Follow their adventure: dbkayak.com and twitter.com/dbkayak

Learn more about the Spot Messenger here.

A few weeks back, John Pugh paddled the Neuse River Canoe Trail in a Hurricane Kayaks Santee Expedition 128. On August 27, he will set out to paddle the Neuse River from Falls Lake Dam to New Bern.

Check out the list of the kayaking gear he’ll be taking on the Expedition. He’ll be doing video gear reviews while out on the river! Check out a planning map HERE.

From sourcetosea.net:

As North Carolina’s population continues to increase, the need for adequate protection of its water resources become more acute. Riparian zone restoration, land trusts, enforcement of environmental regulations, and sustainable development are all key components to providing clean water for generations to come. Elevated nitrogen and phosphorous loads from runoff and development and numerous Pfiesteria outbreaks helped put the Neuse on American River’s Ten Most Endangered Rivers List as recently as 2007.

I’ll be paddling the 193 miles from the Fall’s Lake Dam (Raleigh, NC) to New Bern to raise awareness of water quality issues within the Neuse River watershed. The trip will begin August 27, 2009, and I plan to take about 10 days to reach New Bern and the beginning of the Pamlico Sound. On September 6, I’ll also be working with the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation with a public paddling session in New Bern. Details will be posted to the website as they are finalized.

Along the way, I’ll be posting podcasts, photos, and journals to our website. To receive these up-to-the-minute updates of the trip, make sure to subscribe to our website by email or RSS.

Education and Outreach
A number of agencies and organizations will be involved in this effort. If your agency, group, media outlet would like more information, participate in the expedition, or schedule a slideshow after the trip,  please feel free to Contact Us.We are also available to talk to your school and organization about water quality issues, our expedition down the Mississippi River, or John’s thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

Groups involved in this Effort

• Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation
• Moore Square Museums Magnet School
• Raleigh Parks and Recreation

Trusty is stocked with great backpack options for campus. From labtop messenger bags to large trail worthy daypacks, your local shop can outfit you in style. Check out these links for tips & reviews:

• Good Housekeeping rated The North Face Borealis Head of Class
• Mayo Clinic provides backpack tips on MSN Health
• The North Face Jester daypack ranked the highest in Consumer Reports’ Backpack Reviews

by Gwen (Charlotte Staff)

Today I took the Hobie Mirage Revolution out for a quick spin in the Atlantic off of Hilton Head Isle. Just like standard sit-on-top kayaks, the Revolution is a blast in the surf and super stable but with the added benefit of having pedals. Once I paddled out in deeper water, I deployed the rudder with a simple pull of the down cable and off I went using the Mirage drive pedals. Returning to the beach was an easy event too, I just turned the rudder lever until I did a U-turn back to the beach. A few steering inputs with the rudder and I was lined up for a perfect straight in run. Once I was closer to the beach I kicked one foot forward to tuck the Mirage fins under the kayak, picked up my paddle and surfed the kayak onto the beach.

Next time I’m definitely taking my fishing equipment to see if I can hook a fish big enough that I will have to utter that famous line from Jaws…”You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”