Blog

Our new Explorer Series helps you realize your epic adventures

Julie Steiner atop 19,341-foot Mount Kilimanjaro When it comes to adventure, we all have goals, some of which would qualify as lofty. What we often lack in attaining these loftier...

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Setting goals that stick: 8 tips for 2018

Climb Mount Mitchell, from the base, in winter? Make it happen in 2018. We begin a new year with great expectations of the adventures to come: of that section hike...

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November Adventure: Hit the deserted trails

Paddling. Camping. And, of course, hiking. All the things that November is ideal for. We’ve covered the first two in previous posts: paddling here, camping here. Today, we make our...

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November: A month of bonus (and boffo) paddling 

A remote finger of Jordan Lake, perfect for a November paddle. Two things typically cause us to put up the kayaks and canoes come November: water temperature and air temperature....

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Hiking the John Muir Trail: Marya McNeish

Navigating one of five snowfields on the JMT As a part of our Pints & Paths programs with GetGoingNC.com, Marya McNeish talked of her adventure on the John Muir Trail....

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Section Hike the MST: 10 Miles on Falls Lake

Looking to launch your own long hike, a section hike on North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail?Here’s one of our favorite MST routes to get your section hike off the ground.Region: PiedmontStart:...

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Hiking the Colorado Trail: Kate Rice

Kate on the Appalachian Trail near Mount Rogers As a part of our Pints & Paths programs with GetGoingNC.com, Kate Rice shared her experiences on the Colorado Trail. We spent...

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Section Hike the MST: Blue Ridge Parkway North

Hiking the MST through Doughton ParkLooking to launch a Section Hike on North Carolina’s longest trail, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail? Here’s one of our suggested hikes to get your section hike...

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Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail: Susan Levy

As a part of our Pints & Paths programs with GetGoingNC.com, Susan Levy shared her experiences and tips for thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. We spent the the first part of...

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Make this your best fall hiking season ever

Amid the dizzying number of scientific reasons for taking a hike add this: simply smelling a tree can drop your blood pressure and make you more relaxed. It’s true; by...

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How To Pack for a 6 Day Wilderness Trip

First our apologies. Half the fun of an adventure is packing (and repacking) the gear. Reading this may deny you the full enjoyment of that exercise. In packing for a...

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GetPaddling! Resource Page

Paddling the marshlands of Falls Lake One of our favorite questions when a newcomer walks in the door: “So, is there any good paddling around here?” Well, reckon that depends...

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GetBackpacking! Resource Page: Tips to help you get started — and keep you going

GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking Class of February 2017 We love backpacking. We sell lots of useful, essential and fun backpacking gear, our GetBackpacking! program helps you learn the ropes, then...

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The case for winter paddling

It is the escape I keep in my back pocket in winter, the one I turn to when the need to truly give civilization the slip is greatest. The winter...

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Winter Backpacking: Prepare for 'me' time 

Wet? Why worry? The forecast for our weekend backpack trip to the Uwharrie Mountains last weekend: rain early Friday, clearing in the afternoon, returning mid-day Saturday and staying through Sunday....

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Quiet, and other reasons to hike in winter

Each of the four seasons has its arguments for being on the trail. Spring offers warming temperatures, wildflowers, the promise of life renewed; summer brings trips to the cool air...

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Embrace the winter! Here’s why (and how)

Along New Hope Creek, Durham It’s odd, this notion that winter is time-out in the outdoors: It’s too cold, the days are too short, there’s nothing to see what with...

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The New Hiker: 5 Things to Bring on Your First Hike

Through our GetHiking! program and our involvement in the Hike NC! hiking initiative launched this fall by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, an increasing number of folks...

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