Great Outdoor Blog

By Becky France

Pack light: I want gear that performs well, is durable and whenever possible, dual purpose.
Quick drying long sleeve shirts: offers sun protection, anti-chaff, easy wash and dry, bug protection and warmth for damp nights.

Head lamp: durable, water proof, strong light beam and long battery life. Necessary for caves, camp duties, journal writing at day’s end and for a safe night trip down a dark jungle path to the loo.

Water shoes with toe protection: quick on but a full shoe, quick drying and cushioned sole. Good for kayaking, swimming, camp shoe, short hikes and once back in town, go to dinner.

Pelican Case: My SLR camera in the Pelican Case was the only thing that stayed completely dry the entire trip. I used a waterproof point and shoot on the water, but was so happy to have my SLR on land.


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Winston-Salem Staffer, Ward Swann, and his wife recently returned from an adventure in Brazil. Below is Ward’s recap on a few pieces of essential gear used during the trip.
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My Wife and I just got back from a two week trip to Brazil. Part of the trip was inland in a wet flat area called the Pantanal. The other part of the trip was on an island called Ilha Grande. The Island has steep walking trails to get from community to community, no roads. We also had a little time in Rio while coming and going. In the process of this trip I learned a few things that made significant impacts to the enjoyment of our travels. Those discoveries are listed below in hopes others may benefit. Enjoy.

Astral Brewer

Days before I left on the trip I got a pair of Brewers. These are the new shoes from Astral. My intention was to wear some hiking boots, some nicer dress shoes for dinners and the Brewers were going to be for those times when I may be getting my feet wet; they are paddle shoes after all. They quickly became my go to shoe. They are comfortable on the plane and can be worn as slide-ins so TSA check points are a breeze. When I stepped out of the canoe into the piranha infested water of the Pantanal these shoes drained fast and dried fast. When hiking the tall hills or Ilha Grande these shoes hugged the terrain and let me scoot to places around waterfalls for shots that other people were not able to get. Their lightness allowed me to forget I had them on. And when I walked on sand they limited how much sand got in the shoe so I was not constantly shaking my foot like the folks nearby with sport sandals. In fact, the Brewers look so good and are so comfortable that I left my hiking boots in a trash can on Ilha Grande and never wore the dress shoes. The one caution I have on the Brewers is that with great rubber comes great responsibility. The 5.10 rubber bottoms left some marks occasionally. 95% of the surfaces out there this isn’t an issue. If I suspected the shoes might mark I just made sure that I didn’t scuff my feet.


Camelbak All Clear

It took me awhile to warm up to the idea of UV purification. When it was pointed out that just about all bottled water is treated with UV and some pools use UV to treat the water I then started to get on board. But most importantly I trust our customers who have bought our UV purifiers. Each have comeback with praises for the UV light. I took the Camelbak All Clear UV Purifier on this trip for the “just in case” and the “around the hotel room” needs. It became MUCH more important than that. The All Clear comes with a .75L bottle. I bought two more. We kept these bottles fairly full by filling from the tap. UV Filters require clear water for optimal light penetration, not clean water. Screw the Lighted cap on the top, turn upside down and hit the button. After a minute the light goes off and water is ready to drink. They say the battery will do this 80 times on one charge. We were there for two weeks and we never had to recharge the battery. We filled up from sinks, water fountains and streams.

That’s the preamble. Here’s what it meant to us. The businesses on Ilha Grande do not always take credit cards. The little businesses that sell water and snacks seldom take cards. We had planned to get more currency before we went to the island but had complications with the card. Once on island we were forced to conserve the cash we had. We managed to keep just enough cash to pay all the parties that would only take cash and charge the rest. In short, we saved our money by treating water instead of buying it in bottles. With the convenience and security of the All Clear and the cost of bottled water I feel that the unit just about paid for itself in this trip alone.

Power Monkey Extreme

I had thought of Solar powered battery chargers as things that only hard core, long trip, mountaineers and Sea Kayakers could use. WRONG! I have started seeing a trend to rechargeable batteries, good rechargeable batteries, move into the outdoor products. This is probably not a new trend but, hey, I can be hard headed. The battery on the Power Monkey Extreme can charge my phone, my ipod, my video camera, my GoPro camera, an Ipad the Camelbak All Clear (mentioned above) and just about anything else that is smaller than a full sized lap top. The Power Monkey Extreme Battery can be charged by the included Solar cells draped to your pack while moving or propped up in the window of your hotel room as you are out exploring. Or you can plug the battery into the wall. You can plug it into 220 or 110 volts and then use the battery to charge your stuff. In this way you never have to worry about frying your goodies because you THOUGHT it was 110 you were plugging into. The Power Monkey extreme gives you freedom from the grid and confidence when you want to use the grid even in distant regions.

Columbia shirts

Deep pockets to hold passports or those annoying custom forms yet comfortable and looks good when you get off a 9 hour overnight flight.






Wool Socks & Boxers

What Kind of underwear and socks to you take to the tropics? Wool! I was always comfortable in Brazil when wearing wool socks from FITS and wool PhD socks from SmartWool. Since wool moves moisture at a lower temperature then synthetic materials, I was constantly cooler in the wool than I was in synthetic. My SmartWool boxers never caused me to feel sticky or sweaty. Good stuff performs without you having to think about it. The wool items allowed me to think about the Giant Otters instead of worrying about discomfort.

GoPro

GoPro cameras have always been the leader for catching that incredible shot mostly because it’s so tough that you are willing to put it into conditions that would make you think twice about using a different camera. Not only is the camera in HD, but you can also get a battery back that sticks on the camera and has a remote control function. The remote control that you can get from GoPro is really basic, but GoPro has an app that turns you smart phone or tablet or other portable wireless device into a remote control. Now here’s the big stuff, the image the camera is seeing can be shown on your device’s screen. Now you don’t get home and think… Oh, too bad that’s not level, or Oh, I wish that was just a little to the left. Now you can verify the camera angle, in a position that is comfortable to you before you hit “REC.” Get the right shot the first time because you may only have one shot. My biggest mistake on this trip was to not combat the moisture build up in the sealed waterproof case. Uncooked rice or the packet of Silica from GoPro will keep your lens clear from condensing humidity inside the case. The latest GoPro cameras (Silver Edition & Black Edition) have the wi-fi built in, is twice as powerful, and is smaller.

Opsrey Travel Packs

Just about our entire luggage selection is from Osprey. The core of that is made up of the Meridian and the Sojourn. When standing at the bottom of five flights of super steep stairs, so steep that my wife and I continually said “on Belay” before climbing and “on Repel” upon descent, I was happy to have an Osprey Sojourn. This is a pack that I could not only comfortably carry up those stairs on my back, but I was also able to throw the non-Osprey pack on top of the Sojourn using the retractable handle as a shelf. The steep hills of Santa Theresa flattened out when the comfort and convenience of Osprey is applied.

Thanks for reading –
Ward

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!

Upon first meeting Drew Harding I knew this mountain of a man’s heart was proportionate to his size. Growing up in a rural village of Ethiopia, Drew was raised with an understanding of compassion and service. His missionary father was the water engineer for a rural community called Yirga Chefe, about 8 hours south of the capital city of Addis Ababa. I had learned much from Majka Burhardt last September when she presented “Vertial Ethiopia” so I was intrigued to hear Drew’s efforts to provide clean water to the developing world.

This conversation led to support from Osprey packs who donated a Waypoint 90 to Drew who has been traveled around the world with the pack. Check out the images here and learn more about Senai Global at senaiglobal.org.

Drew’s Testimonial: I have been on a quite a few trips with the Osprey Waypoint 90 and I LOVE IT! Seriously, it is the best pack on earth to travel with. I can pack for 2 weeks in it and still bring it on as carry-on! I have been to the Dominican Republic, Oregon, Burundi, and Kenya with it so far. Next week I head over to Ethiopia for some projects. You guys have helped me out so much with this pack, seriously, it has been fantastic.

Exclusive presentations presented by Mountain Hardwear:

Mon, Oct 26 – Wake Forest University
Annenberg Forum in Carswell Hall- 7pm

Tues, Oct 27 – Broughton High School Auditorium
Session 1-7:55am -9:25am
Session II – 9:35-11:15am
Visitors must sign in at Main Office. Drivers License ID required.

Read more about Jon HERE

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!

Beautiful nature photos from North Carolina have inspired generations of people to be better stewards of our precious natural resources. Excellent wildlife photography taken in state parks and other conservation lands across the Mountains, Piedmont and Coastal Plain has been the cornerstone of Wildlife in North Carolina magazine and of exhibits at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences for many decades

The Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition aims to encourage people to participate in nature photography, thereby fostering greater understanding and appreciation of North Carolina’s wildlife and wild places. Winning photographs will be published in the January 2010 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina. Thanks to our exhibition sponsor, JW Photo Labs of Raleigh, the winners will also be exhibited at the Museum of Natural Sciences and at other science museums and wildlife education centers across the state in 2010.

Competition begins at 8 a.m. on June 1, 2009. Entries must be uploaded by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.

Great Outdoor Provision Co. is proud to be the corporate sponsor of the competition.

Photos will be judged in 10 categories:

• Birds
• Mammals
• Reptiles and Amphibians
• Invertebrates
• Peaks, Valleys and Plains: Our landscape category.
• Wild Plants: Wild-growing plants only, including their flowers, leaves, fruits and other parts. Absolutely no cultivated plants will be accepted. Mushrooms and other fungi should be entered in this category.
• Outdoor Recreation: Show how people interact with North Carolina’s natural world through activities that are inextricably linked to nature, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, rock climbing or canoeing.
• Animal Behavior: Anything animals do, from everyday activities to interactions with other animals to unusual behavior.
• Youth Photographer, 13–17: Any of the above subjects, shot by photographers under 18.
• Youth Photographer, 12 and under: Any of the above subjects, shot by children 12 and younger.

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)

By Bill Mauney

Spring is a wonderful time of the year.  The plants and trees renew their beauty, the days get longer and the winter cold becomes a memory.  Beautiful days woo us to go outside and get active.  As spring evolves into summer the mercury begins to climb.  Pursuing active adventure in the outdoors in hot weather brings some new challenges to prevent heat and sun related problems.

Here are some tips to Beat the Heat:

Stay hydrated – Drink often, whether you feel thirsty or not.  Avoid caffeinated drinks, such as colas, tea or coffee as they are diuretics, causing you to urinate more often, thus dehydrating you.  Water is best, supplemented with electrolyte replacement drinks if you are involved in heavy exertion activities.  Old timers used to say, “Pee clear!”  This means that you are staying properly hydrated.  Water bottles are great and easy to carry.  Hydration systems, such as Camelbak are wonderful for drinking while hiking, biking or paddling.  Studies have shown that people drink more often and thus stay more hydrated when using such systems.  Cool drinks are received by your body faster and are certainly more refreshing.  Insulated water bottles or insulated hydration systems are great for day trips when you can ice down your liquids.  Of course, out in the wild you will need to treat water from natural sources to prevent illness.  Great Outdoor Provision Co. has an incredible selection of water bottles, hydration systems, filters, purifiers and storage systems.  Come checkout the options at our shops.

Protect your eyes – Use sunglasses that protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays.  Polarized glasses are great if you are on the water as they protect against the glare of reflective sun rays off of the water.  You can also spot objects just beneath the surface of the water better.  This is great if you are fishing.  Don’t forget some sort of eyewear retention strap so you won’t lose them.  Some of these retention straps will float your glasses.  Checkout our awesome selection of fine sunglasses.

Protect your skin – Many of the shorts, pants, convertible pants and shirts we carry have UPF ratings indicating the degree of sun protection offered.  These garments typically have lots of useful pockets, are made of a quick-dry material and the shirts are well ventilated.  Some pants and shorts have built in liners, so they double as a bathing suit.  Light colors don’t absorb heat like dark colors do.  All of these clothes keep you very comfortable on those hot, sticky days.  You will also need waterproof and sweatproof sunscreen for skin exposed to the sun’s rays!

Don’t forget your head – We have a number of hats to choose from that will protect your face, neck and ears from those burning rays.  Tilley hats have a 50+UPF rating.

Tips for cooling off:

• Wet the inside of your wrists, inside the elbows, head and back of the neck
• Wet your hat
• Rotary cooling – practice that kayak roll!
• Water fights – bilge pumps and water bazookas are perfect for such use.  We’ve got ‘em!
• Go for a swim – immersed you will cool off fast!
• Catch the breeze – Face the wind or fan yourself.  If your head, back of the neck, inside of your wrists, inside of your elbows or other exposed skin are wet, you add evaporative heat loss to the convective heat loss, thus cooling off even faster.
• Travel during the cooler morning hours while the sun is low
• Find shade and rest during the hottest part of the day

Seek shade and rest if you experience weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, muscle cramps, loss of appetite or faintness.  Rehydrate using water and electrolyte replacement drinks.Come by our shop and let us gear you up for adventure this summer!

Paddling a sea kayak around all seven continents prepares you for just about anything.  Including an auditorium full of middle schoolers. Jon Bowermaster, a six time grantee of the National Geographic Expeditions Council, shared stories of his adventures in Antarctica when a 6th grade boy raised his hand with a question. Film-maker and author, Bowermaster, braced for the question. “How did you use the bathroom in Antarctica?” asked the curious student.  Bowermaster responded, without hesitation, “Quickly!”

Jon speaking at GOPC Charlotte

Bowermaster is traveling through North Carolina visiting Great Outdoor Provision Co., a local retailer offering outdoor clothing and equipage for adventure. Great Outdoor Provision Co. is committed to protecting endangered areas and supports Bowermaster’s mission. “Everywhere we go, we see evidence of three things,” says Jon Bowermaster, who has paddled the world, “climate change, overfishing, plastic pollution.” His message today was well received by the student body at Martin Middle School.  Martin, a Magnet School program familiar with adventure, recently supported climber Chip Popoviciu in his successful summit of Mount Everest where he placed the school’s flag. Popoviciu worked with Magnet Program Coordinator Lisa Thompson to develop a curriculum that took the school to the top of Everest. Today, Jon Bowermaster may have just found a crew for his next adventure on the high seas…as long as he can provide a suitable bathroom.

Learn more about adventure – both global and local at greatoutdoorprovision.com. Jon’s stories, pictures and video can be found at jonbowermaster.com. Thanks to Mountain Hardwear for sponsoring the visit.