Blog
Trail Family - (By Guest Authors "The Dower Duo.")
“Trail Family” When my wife and I set out on our adventure to hike the Appalachian Trail, some things had to be left behind. Most of it was easy to...
Gear up for the Festival Season
Rumpl blankets The summer festival season is much like the summer camping season in that you’re essentially living outside. You’re eating outside, you’re sitting outside, you’re drinking outside and in...
Our Top 10 Secret Summer Adventures (that are still secret)
Atop Pond Mountain Two years ago we published a list of our Top 10 Secret Summer Adventures. But you know what? Once you publish a secret, it’s no longer a...
Seven reasons we love Wilson Creek (though there are a lot more)
We’ve been visiting the Wilson Creek area for more than two decades, and every time we return it’s like visiting an old friend who has, somehow, become an even better...
Yadkin Riverkeeper: Protecting central North Carolina's "Hidden River"
Edgar Miller surveys the Yadkin from atop the Will-Cox Bridge at Yadkin River Park. Note: The Yadkin Riverkeeper is one of several organizations dedicated to protecting the environment that Great...
Shoes (or are they sandals?) for amphibious summer fun
Our Wall of Amphibious Footwear We were eating lunch on day two of our backpack trip to Wilson Creek when I noticed Brandon eyeing my shoes, which were surprisingly dry...
Thru Hiker Approved Sections that Won't Disappoint
-Submitted to GOPC by Tara & Jonathan Dower in June of 2019- Greetings from mile 790 of the Appalachian Trail. My husband and I began our thru hike attempt of...
Blue Ridge Discovery Center Inspires Appreciation for Mount Rogers Area
Cade Campbell, left, shows a ringneck snake to Lisa Banish and Aaron Floyd. Cade Campbell walks across the yard holding a ringneck snake he discovered a few moments earlier in...
Women: Be active, look cool on your summer adventures
It’s the summer clothing travel dilemma: you want to have an active vacation, but you also want to look good having it. Time was that could be a challenge. The...
Gear up for the backpacking merit badge
Cullen McMillian’s backpacking experience includes a 30-day National Outdoor Leadership School trip in Scandinavia. Your scout has done the 5-mile hike, three 10-mile hikes, a 15-miler and the big 20-miler....
Earth Day - Catching a Buzz for the Environment
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find itself hitched to everything else in the Universe.” – John Muir Keep Durham Beautiful Pollinator Project Every year our...
Travel gear: A few more recommendations
Osprey Meridian 60L Over the past few weeks in this space, our expert staff has reviewed some of our favorite gear for adventurous travelers. We’ve talked about gear that addresses...
Gear to help you avoid travel’s unpleasant surprises
Our Ward Swann is no stuffed shirt, but he does appreciate a good shirt stuffer, such as the Eagle Creek Pack-It: use the folding board to fold the shirts you...
Sleep, Security, Style: the 3 S’s of Travel gear
When preparing for a big trip, especially overseas, it’s important to remember the three S’s: Sleep, Security, Style.Sleep Bad things can happen when you don’t get enough sleep on a...
William Fike brings his forward observer skills to the front in Greenville
William climbing Fiery Gizzard in Tennessee When most soldiers leave the military, the last thing they want to do is camp. Been there carrying 80 pounds on my back, done...
Guidebook authors share their Camino de Santiago experience
Hiking the Camino For many, hiking the Camino de Santiago is a dream. For David Landis and Anna Dintaman, it’s a dream that came true a dozen years ago —...
Double the Fun With the Double Haul™ Travel Bag
Versatile, durable, and made to fit every adventurer’s needs, the Double Haul™ Convertible Duffel & Tote from NEMO is designed with purpose from start to finish. Here are a few reasons...
Get backpacking with us in 2019
GetBackpacking! guide Brandon Hicks counsels the curious on weight loss. At Saturday’s informal GetBackpacking! Backpacking Get-together with Fiddlin’ Fish Brewery, we talked with all sorts of folks. There were the...