Quote :

"REI Lookout 40"

i have this pack, though it might be last year's model as i got for $22 (yes, $22) after 20% coupon

i LOVE the pack

so, we're canoeing the roanoke this weekend...50°F and 70% chance of rain on saturday, 45°F and 80% chance thunderstorms on sunday

GOING TO BE AWESOME

3/25/2011 2:12:33 PM

yea, i like the fact it has a built-in pack cover for the rain.

3/25/2011 3:25:14 PM

has anyone camped+hiked at pilot mountain?

I'm having trouble understanding if you can camp outside of the areas designated on the website (or if you can do this, in general, at various parks).

3/28/2011 10:32:51 AM

Need suggestions for backpacking stoves:

Jetboil vs MSR canister vs MSR multi-fuel

3/28/2011 2:46:51 PM

^ If you don't already have cookware, etc. and are considering propane I might suggest my setup:

GSI Outdoors Dualist set
http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/pdp/pinnacle_dualist/integrated_systems_nform_ultralight/

Snowpeak Gigapower stove
http://www.snowpeak.com/stoves/backpacking/gigapower-auto-stove-gs-100a.html

The stove+pot are probably not as efficient as a Jetboil, but the stove, propane tank, and 4 bowls (2 of which double as insulated cups) fit nicely into the pot and wash bin.

I've never done a trip more than 3 days, so maybe white gas/multi-fuel would be better. The only time I've wished I had white gas or Jetboil was trying to boil snow while it was 10F and >20mph winds

3/28/2011 4:00:57 PM

Yea the majority of my stove use will be >32F, but I'm wondering if I should get multi-fuel just for the rare occasion a fall night temperature drops and I want to actually cook something. I do like the no priming and minimal cleaning / maintenance of the canister stoves

3/28/2011 5:48:54 PM

you can check multi fuel stove bottles on an airplane too, but not canisters.

[Edited on March 28, 2011 at 5:54 PM. Reason : or do i have that terminology wrong?]

3/28/2011 5:54:27 PM

did some platform camping on the roanoke this past weekend...given all the nice weather we had last week, it was a little disappointing that the temps were in the 40s and it was rainy...but still a great time

there were a lot of beavers on the river, and at night i thought we were in a jungle because the owls were so loud...they sounded like monkeys during mating season



































[Edited on March 28, 2011 at 8:23 PM. Reason : .]

3/28/2011 8:20:36 PM

Awesome pictures! Looks like that was a great time.

3/28/2011 10:50:49 PM

that old boat looks cool

3/29/2011 7:48:48 AM

^^ yeah, it was a blast...although i've been sailing and kayaking quite a bit, i'd never been canoeing before

^ yeah...if we had had more time (or, rather, known how long it would take us to get to our site and that it wasn't going to rain until later), i'd have liked to have gotten closer to it...also, i really wanted to check out this thing, which looked like an old steam engine or something...the pictures aren't great because i only got them as we were going by pretty quickly

3/29/2011 10:26:31 AM

k- we are looking for some place to go camping within an hour-ish of Raleigh for a full weekend. We are willing to pay, and we would like a place we can drink (I mean, we can keep it on the down low, like in cups and what not, but don't want the fun police sponging up our good times). Any ideas? Near water would be ideal, and maybe some things to do in the area (ie: fish, hike, etc...)

ideas?

4/18/2011 7:43:00 PM

also- we could go up to a 2 hour drive, but the closer the better

4/18/2011 8:59:54 PM

Hanging Rock (state, so tech can't drink) is prolly closest that you're looking for...aside from badin lake which we've all done and those in our area

4/18/2011 10:36:59 PM

from Cerro Chirripo in Costa Rica:


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4/18/2011 11:07:27 PM

^^I looked at Jordan and Falls lake- both run by state as well (even though Jordan is technically run by the army corp of engineers... still says no alcohol). But Badin Lake was "no alcohol" as well, but we managed to drink out there (just had to not act like fools). I'm curious how cool the people at Falls or Jordan Lake are about casual drinking

4/19/2011 6:42:46 AM

I have had a keg in the back of my van all weekend camping at Jordan before. We just made sure to set up in a camp site that was away from families and we didnt get too loud. We were up until 4 am drinking by the fire, but nobody ever bothered us or complained. J

4/19/2011 7:38:35 AM

^^^awesome pics

did you stay in the Refugios? are they crappy or nice?

4/19/2011 9:16:04 AM

the first one at 7.5km is for water only, you can't camp at it, it kinda looks like a building used for trail maintenance teams or something...

the second one at 14.5km is the one everyone stays at. it's pretty much an isolated hostel. can hold like 40+ people, with bunk beds (mattress only), cold running water, kitchen (w/ gas stove and pots & pans) and picnic area for cooking and eating indoors, all you really need is a sleeping bag.

the permit to hike is $10/person, and another $15/person to stay at the hut at top which is the ONLY place camping is allowed in the park, so you pretty much have to pay the $25/person to do the full hike, but it's worth it.

[Edited on April 19, 2011 at 10:50 AM. Reason : .]

4/19/2011 10:49:57 AM

Drinking on the scanoe at falls or Jordan hasn't stopped you...camping shouldn't be any different. And I know all about badin...Justin and I have camped there 3 times. Drank during all 3 trips.

But I can't think of any nat'l or private sites in your <1-2 hr limit...those will be mountain or beach sites. So there's your suggestions and options.

[Edited on April 19, 2011 at 3:15 PM. Reason : Have fun]

4/19/2011 3:12:33 PM

^ you realize you're invited if you and incubabe are up for it, right? Especially if its close like Jordan Lake.

4/19/2011 3:47:47 PM

I didn't and wouldn't have assumed we were, but thanks. may is pretty busy as is...mid may my bro gets his masters

4/19/2011 10:56:57 PM

dr daughtry was supposed to clue you in- so far we got 7 (enough to establish a double site)

if yall can make it, we'd love to have yall!

4/19/2011 11:33:43 PM

we want to go back to glacier national park do to a little backpacking & some camping this summer. flights are way more expensive than a couple of years ago so we're starting to consider other options. we want mountains (preferably sharp pointy snow-capped ones, not rounded old ones like the appalachian mtns). flying to denver is way cheaper than kalispell ($350 vs $750), so doing something in CO could work. we'll be renting a car.

we kinda only want to backpack for a 2-3 nights, then camp, then spend the last night before we leave in a hotel. a loop trail would be awesome but we're willing to go in & backtrack.

oh, time frame is july 23-30

any ideas/suggestions?

[Edited on April 25, 2011 at 11:50 AM. Reason : ]

4/25/2011 11:49:58 AM

^ have you considered flying into helena and then renting a van or something for the drive to glacier? not sure if it would be any cheaper

4/25/2011 11:55:05 AM

just checked. that's $831 + a 4 hour drive

4/25/2011 12:06:31 PM

^^^I've always wanted to to do the Four-Passes Loop in the Snowmass-Maroon Bells in CO. I'm pretty sure its close to Denver and would be awesome for scenery. It would be pretty strenuous too (you have to go through 4 passes well over 11K ft I believe) its pretty close to aspen so you could maybe spend the night there. I've read that parts of the trail (especially near the trailhead w/ dayhikers) can be sorta crowded but if you are there during the week maybe it wouldnt be too bad.

first hit with a search gives you a good idea what it would be like
http://www.swarpa.net/~danforth/wj/4pass.html

If not that trail I'm sure there are other cool spots in the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness and its only a 4 hours? from Denver


also obligatory Rocky Mountain National Park post but I don't necessarily have anything there on my radar (but maybe I should?)






http://www.backpacker.com/destinations/category/210




[Edited on April 25, 2011 at 12:10 PM. Reason : total link fail]

[Edited on April 25, 2011 at 12:11 PM. Reason : ^^(*)*()M also carat fail V]

4/25/2011 12:09:05 PM

^^ yikes

i'd love to go back to glacier...i've never been to the rockies, but glacier was, by far, one of the prettiest places i've been

with the price of a trip to denver, that's probably your best bet

[Edited on April 25, 2011 at 12:09 PM. Reason : carats]

4/25/2011 12:09:34 PM

^^i was just checking out that Baker Gulch to Bowen Gulch on bp's site. i'll check into the others. i'd like to go to CO i think, but i REALLY REALLY LOVE glacier

4/25/2011 12:12:43 PM

Quote :

"Hanging Rock (state, so tech can't drink) is prolly closest that you're looking for...aside from badin lake which we've all done and those in our area"

seconded. I recently camped at pilot mountain and checked out hanging rock which is only 20 minutes away. pretty awesome places for being so close to raleigh.

4/25/2011 1:33:18 PM

okay after pricing everything i could think of, including calgary (suggestion of my aunt), salt lake city, seattle, somewhere in idaho, sequoia nat'l park, and shit tons of other little airports...denver is the only one <$400. it's $386/person.

soooo who's been out that way? there's a couple of trails on BP, but not a whole lot of details. is there a certain area/section with pointy mountains?

4/27/2011 11:58:25 AM

http://www.coloradotrail.org/ or go to Rocky Mountain National Park, those are my two favorite places to backpack. Also the San Juans, beautiful area.

I think Nerdchick has lots of Colorado trail experience.

4/27/2011 1:11:17 PM

I'm heading into the San Juans in July and attacking some "easy" 14ers...I'll let you know how the area is!

4/27/2011 11:02:39 PM

cool. we're looking at going july 23-30

4/27/2011 11:07:53 PM

Haha...those are the same dates I'm leaving.

4/28/2011 6:03:24 PM

Awesome haha. Have you bought plane tickets yet? If so, which flight & what did you pay, if you don't mind me asking?

4/28/2011 8:57:18 PM

Yep. No worries. Paid around $550 for a round trip to Durango. Leaving at like the ass crack of dawn...I think like 6:30am.

4/29/2011 6:21:58 PM

Looking to pick up my summer sleeping bag in the next few days before Trail Days next weekend (13-15). Primarily focused on something light, cheaper and durable. Being that it will be used for warmer weather it doesn't have to be $Texas but still need it to be light. I am leaning towards synthetic and will be doing some research on my own, I just figured I'd ask around here while I was at it.

5/5/2011 7:08:33 PM

this is the year I pony up for a nice 30-35 degree bag. It'll get more use damn near year-round for the kind of things I'm (not) doing these days. Likely a Western Mountaineering Mitylite.

Barring that, I'm getting off my ass and sewing a summer down quilt. It'll take a weekend at most, but I just need to squirrel away the time to do it. Them materials are $$$ though, and I'm chickenshit.

5/5/2011 8:06:17 PM

^^ the bag with the best temperature rating for its weight will be down, but of course that comes with a higher price tag

i, for one, use a cheap $13 bag i got off woot (seriously, it was $25 for two after shipping: http://www.woot.com/blog/viewentry.aspx?id=8428)...they're small (packs into a 32oz nalgene bottle, actually), lightweight (30oz), and do exactly what i want them to do in the summer: cover me up (keeps me warm enough in the mid-50s)

the only have the long version available now, but you might want to consider this one for $40: http://www.rei.com/product/798905/lafuma-extreme-800-40-sleeping-bag-long-special-buy

it's lighter (26oz) and probably keeps you warm down to the upper 40s

5/5/2011 11:02:24 PM

heading out to Ramsey's Draft Wilderness for a couple nights tomorrow, something like 20 stream crossings on the way up the valley before returning south on a ridge - wondering how that will go with all the rain we've had out that way

5/5/2011 11:21:07 PM

Anyone been to Art Loeb trail out in Pisgah?

5/6/2011 12:11:15 AM

^ yeah...pics are on page 5, about halfway down: ?topic=588561&page=5

i forget how to link to an individual post

5/6/2011 9:08:37 AM

I want to go car camping around Asheville, somewhere it's easy to get into town so we can enjoy their fine beers! Any suggestions? I was looking at Mt. Mitchell state park but I'd like to hear from someone with experience!

me and ambrosia1231 used to take a camping trip on the Parkway every fall. We'd drive into the little towns during the day. We stayed at Linville Falls a few times but I'm looking for something closer to Asheville. Thanks!

5/6/2011 6:19:39 PM

Nerdchick this made me think of you. I ordered this little stove to try out and see if it's what I want to use on my Hike. It should be here any day now. I've also been watching YouTube videos on making my own little stoves out of pepsi cans.

http://www.shop.backpackingadventuregear.com/Soloist-Stove-with-Windscreen-Soloist.htm

5/6/2011 8:21:39 PM

^ great! the pepsi can stove is very easy to make, and it's also easy to find denatured alcohol. in fact a lot of hostels on the trail sell it. You can also use yellow bottle HEET (it's a gas line antifreeze, so prepare to get some weird looks if you buy it in summer. most large gas station stores have it)

5/7/2011 7:42:00 AM

do realize, of course, that using alcohol is, by far, the worst choice of fuels

it's the most inefficient, most expensive, most susceptible to wind (helped by a windscreen, of course), and sucks in cold weather (a non-issue in warm weather, of course)

isobutane is a pretty decent choice...you can get stoves for ~$20 and fuel is cheap/plentiful (though perhaps not so much on the trail)

5/7/2011 12:47:13 PM

At me second thru-hike class the girl there used that stove and I am a bit compelled by the weight (only 3oz) and the fact that, as some folks have pointed out, more moving parts means more room for something to get bent/broken. Besides, it's only $20 and I have plenty of time to decide if I like it or if I want to deal with the weight of the whisperlite +2 bigass containers of fuel.

5/7/2011 1:53:47 PM

oh, don't get me wrong...i use a titanium alcohol stove on a lot of my weekend trips and i love it

i just find it somewhat amusing that when you consider how inefficient it is, an alcohol stove system CAN weigh more than its isobutane (and possible multi-fuel, i haven't compared them) counterpart...it just depends on how much time you're spending between refueling, since it's the weight (and cost, among other things) of the fuel that makes alcohol stoves inferior

heck, a fuel tab (esbit) is more efficient and lighter than alcohol, though the efficiency isn't that much better and its slightly more expensive

[Edited on May 7, 2011 at 2:33 PM. Reason : .]

5/7/2011 2:32:38 PM

every now and then I'll see a post an think that qntmfred went and turned into a fool, then I realize it's just quagmire02. Any alcohol stove can boil 2 cups of water on less than 1oz of fuel. In fact, many need only 1/2 oz. A 4oz fuel cannister weighs 7oz and makes about 10 meals. An alcohol stove can make the same number of meals on the same weight of fuel. (I admit that with 8+ days between resupply, isobutane has the weight advantage. but most AT hikers resupply ever 4 days or so)

Especially on a thru hike, when your cannister is less than half full and you get to town, you have to buy a whole new cannister and carry two to last you till the next town. With alcohol you only have to bring exactly as much as you need.

A 4oz fuel cannister costs about $3.50, it makes 10 meals. A 12oz bottle of HEET costs $2-6 and will make 12-20 meals. It's also common to find HEET in hiker boxes, or split a bottle with someone because so many people use it.

Alcohol does not cost more and does not weigh more. I'll give you that the boil time is longer but your other arguments are crap

5/7/2011 4:58:23 PM