Great Outdoor Blog

Sarah Wilson in the Smokies

Fall is a beautiful time of the year to be outside and catching the peak of our state’s leaf change is a highlight. Howard S. Neufeld, biology professor at Appalachian State University, has been forecasting the leaf change cycle for years. Dr. Neufeld is the North Carolina Division of Tourism’s official “Fall Color Guy” and provides his predictions on autumn glory at http://biology.appstate.edu/fall-colors/fall-color-week-october-9-2011 Dr. Neufeld says,

“There is still plenty of color throughout the mountains which should persist through next weekend. In fact, some areas haven’t yet peaked, and this coming weekend should be their time to show off. This year has been a real guessing game with respect to how brilliant and intense the colors will be, but based on the drive I took on Saturday, I’d say this year’s colors rank 9 on a scale of 10, where 10 is the best it can be. So, if you want to see some great fall foliage, this is the year to do it!”

So to help you plan your trip our staff has the following suggestions where you are sure to find autumn’s blaze of glory.

1) Grandfather Mountain State Park – Check out the colors at their peak!

2) Hanging Rock State Park – Sourwoods and Black Gums are among the first trees to change.

3) Wiseman’s View at Linville Gorge – The Grand Canyon of North Carolina

4) Nantahala National Forest – Be sure to drive along Cherohala Scenic Byway

5) Shining Rock Wilderness Area – The Art Loeb Trail is a great Hike

If you have questions about where and how to reach any of these destinations please talk to us @TrustyGOPC or contact one of our local shops.

Enjoy this wonderful Fall!

by Mike & Amanda, Charlotte Staff 

Tips and Tricks for “gourmet” dining in the backcountry:

• Plan for three meals and 2-3 snacks per day (breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack)
• No dieting or cutting carbs in the backcountry! You need plenty of carbs and proteins to fuel your body, balanced with sodium and fats.
• Separate food into packets for each meal and clearly label them; re-package items that are too bulky and keep the directions.
• Multiple ingredients can be stored in one bag; just tie off a corner to separate them until use.
• Add some variety to your menu. By the fourth day in, you’ll be sick of the same old thing.
• Condiment packets of hot sauce, ketchup, mayo, relish and margarine will keep well and give you a good serving size.
• Tortillas and pitas make a great alternative to bread.
• Cured meats and hard cheeses travel well in the backcountry.
• Package eggs carefully to avoid breaking. They will keep in moderate temperatures.
• Dried herbs and spices can add punch and variety to any meal.
  • Mexican – chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, oregano, onion powder, coriander, crushed red pepper, garlic powder and black pepper
  • Italian - dried basil, dried marjoram, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, rosemary, crushed red pepper flake
  • Indian – Cumin, ground ginger, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, turmeric, black pepper
  • Creole – chili powder, garlic, parsley, salt, thyme, cayenne pepper
  • Thai – chili pepper, ginger, coriander, red pepper flakes, cumin, cinnamon, star anise, salt, garlic, dried lemon peel, dried shallots

Menu suggestions for great packable, easy-to-use foods:

• Meats – summer sausage, packaged meats (tuna, shrimp, salmon, chicken), beef jerky, salami, pre-cooked bacon
• Dry Goods – Pasta, rice, couscous, lentils, instant potatoes, beans
• Mixes – Soups, sauces, hummus, dips.
• Add-ins – Dried mushrooms and tomatoes, dried fruits, nuts, honey, peanut butter, Nutella, granola
• Breakfast – quick-cook cereals like oatmeal, grits or cream of wheat,
• Breads – bagels, flat bread, tortillas, wraps, pita bread.
• Drinks – Cider, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, drink mixes.

A Typical Daily Menu:

Breakfast: Amanda’s Power Oatmeal

• 1 package instant oatmeal
• 3 tablespoons applesauce OR peanut butter
• Assorted mix-ins (dried fruit, granola, nuts)
• ½ cup water

Heat water to a boil. In serving bowl, mix dry oatmeal mix and dried fruit. Add water and allow to hydrate for approx. 2 minutes. Stir in applesauce or peanut butter. Stir in granola or nuts.

Morning Snack: Granola bar and dried cranberries

Lunch: Wraps with cheese and pepperoni and a Snickers bar

Afternoon Snack: Power Bar

Dinner: Mike’s Couscous “burritos”

• Tortillas or wraps
• 1 pkg. couscous (flavored or plain)
• Cheese
• Meats or dried veggies to add in

Heat water to a boil, then add meat and/or dried veggies. Remove from heat and add couscous and flavorings (packaged or your own blend). The couscous will hydrate in about five minutes. Roll into wraps “Colorado style.”

Dessert: Backpacker’s Pantry Hot Apple Cobbler and Hot Cider Toddies

by Ward Swann, Winston-Salem Staff

Tired of swimming for your anchor in rocky water? Tie the anchor rope to the bottom of the anchor and “wire tie” the rope to the top. In normal functions there is no difference to what you usually do with the anchor. When it gets stuck pull the rope hard enough to break the wire tie and the anchor “backs” out of the sticky spot. This way you spend less time swimming for anchors and more time fishing!

Sarah Wilson in the Smokies

Fall is a beautiful time of the year to be outside and catching the peak of our state’s leaf change is a highlight. Howard S. Neufeld, biology professor at Appalachian State University, has been forecasting the leaf change cycle for years. Dr. Neufeld is the North Carolina Division of Tourism’s official “Fall Color Guy” and provides his predictions on autumn glory at http://biology.appstate.edu/fall-colors/fall-color-week-october-9-2011 Dr. Neufeld says,

“There is still plenty of color throughout the mountains which should persist through next weekend. In fact, some areas haven’t yet peaked, and this coming weekend should be their time to show off. This year has been a real guessing game with respect to how brilliant and intense the colors will be, but based on the drive I took on Saturday, I’d say this year’s colors rank 9 on a scale of 10, where 10 is the best it can be. So, if you want to see some great fall foliage, this is the year to do it!”

So to help you plan your trip our staff has the following suggestions where you are sure to find autumn’s blaze of glory.

1) Grandfather Mountain State Park – Check out the colors at their peak!

2) Hanging Rock State Park – Sourwoods and Black Gums are among the first trees to change.

3) Wiseman’s View at Linville Gorge – The Grand Canyon of North Carolina

4) Nantahala National Forest – Be sure to drive along Cherohala Scenic Byway

5) Shining Rock Wilderness Area – The Art Loeb Trail is a great Hike

If you have questions about where and how to reach any of these destinations please Twitter us @TrustyGOPC or contact one of our local shops.

Enjoy this wonderful Fall!

Ever wonder how sleeping bag comfort ratings are determined? In this video, Marmot techs explain European Norm (EN) 13537 testing methodology.

Check out our selection of Marmot Sleeping Bags.

“I brought you into this world and I can take you out!” once quipped Bill Cosby to his TV son during the hit comedy The Cosby Show (See video below for other great fatherly advice). Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21 – be sure to Take Dad OUT for some outdoor recreation.

Check out these Great Outdoor Gifts for DAD

After graduating from high school, our oldest son is preparing to visit Peru on a mission trip. Prior to departure he is taking another adventure into the world of the Center for Disease Control and the local health department. It was a bit of a learning curve so we thought it would be helpful to share some of the resources.

While swine flu is dominating the headlines, the CDC has us reading about mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria and yellow fever.  We learned a great deal from the local travel-medicine specialists at PassPort Health. They have several offices in the Triangle and can be found at http://www.passporthealthusa.com/triangle.

Some folks throw caution to the wind and consider the risk just part of the adventure. But failing to receive proper immunizations can cost you your health. The vaccinations for our son were just over $200 but we feel that it is money well spent. Below are a few resources that we found helpful in planning to travel abroad. Feel free to call our shops and ask one of our staff for more information.

• www.cdc.gov/travel
• www.passporthealthusa.com
• World Disease Map (PDF)

Call 1-877-7-CAMP-NC or select a park at www.ncparks.gov. Online and call center reservations can ONLY be made for July 15 and thereafter.

Visitors can continue to make reservations for week-long stays and Falls, Jordan and Kerr lakes for arrival dates of July 14 and earlier by calling or visiting the park. Reservations also can be made for picnic shelters and community buildings at most parks for arrival dates of July 14 and earlier by calling or visiting the park.

Umstead caters to runners and cyclists http://www.newsobserver.com/print/friday/city_state/story/802585.html

PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is a thermoplastic polymer that is second only to Polyethylene in terms of industrial and commercial use. While PVC has some good industrial applications (for example, as a building material), the production, use and disposal of PVC has been linked to some significant health and environmental concerns by credible sources. While nearly every known substance can be considered toxic in the right dose, PVC does seem to be getting a lot of press lately and perhaps rightly so.

For example, PVC production utilizes plasticizers and other additives to make PVC easier to work with. Many of these additives have known health risks and they leach out of the PVC over time in a process called outgassing. Also, PVC is based on a vinyl chloride monomer that has been known to be carcinogenic since the 1960s. PVC disposal can also release Dioxins into the environment in sufficient concentrations to be a health concern.

For some good information on PVC that isn’t anti-industry, look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloride

While there will always be debate over heath risks and environmental concerns related to PVC, we at Great Outdoor Provision Co feel it is prudent to be conservative with our own health and backyards. In the paddlesports industry, PVC is most frequently used as a buoyancy aid in PFDs (lifevests) and as a material used in the production of drybags. If a viable alternative to PVC is available for a comparable price, why not use it? If the alternative actually performs better than PVC for its intended use, everyone wins.

Here are some manufacturers who offer not only viable alternatives to PVC but in many cases better alternatives to PVC:

• astralbuoyancy.com
• drybags.com
• patagonia.com

>> Featured PFDs in the Shop