The question took me by surprise, in part because we had been talking about federal grants at the time and usually when Anthony changes topics he signals it by saying, “Random question …  .”

It also caught me off guard because I happened to be reading a book about a guy who lived off the grid — way off the grid — in Western North Carolina. He’d begun his love affair with the woods as a teen, to get away from his father. When he reached the age of consent, he went at it full-time, with his mission to bring all of America with him. There was a lot to admire in this guy’s quest, which was largely driven by a love of the natural world and a desire to preserve it. A desire that included living in a low-impact teepee; drinking spring water; learning about ,and living off the plants around him; eating road kill. I was thinking about the latter when turned to Anthony and asked, “How far off the grid are you talking about?”

“Not having any bills to pay,” he answered. That, some follow-up questions revealed, meant still having modern conveniences — appliances, for instance — just not buying them on time. And also having a self-contained power system — solar, a water wheel, etc. 

We then asked each other how long we thought we could live off the grid.

“Not very long,” Anthony speculated.

“A weekend,” I answered. “Or up to a week.”

My answer was based on fact because I’d done it maybe 100 times over the past two decades. Or roughly how many times I’ve gone backpacking.

As Anthony and the fellow from the book demonstrate, living off the grid means different things to different people. I draw the line at eating roadkill and foraging for certain wild foodstuffs. Mushrooms, for instance, where there can be a very fine line between a fungi that sautés nicely over a camp fire and one that will kill you. I’ve drunk from many a spring (filtering if I think the source suspect), and while I’ve yet to build a shelter, it’s on my list. Until then, I’m content to sleep in a tent. 

Off the grid? Well, I need no outside power sources to get by, I’m self-sufficient, and because I’m observing Leave No Trace, I’m living harmoniously with nature. I may not be eating squirrel with a tire-track down its back and it may only be for a weekend, but it is, for the time being, the right amount of OTG living for me.

One last thing. That book I’m reading came out in 2002. Toward the end of the book the subject was growing suspicious and distrustful of others. I was curious about what had become of him, so I Googled him to see if he’d stuck with it and if so, how a lifetime spent off the grid had worked out. Not so good, it turns out. He’s less well-known today for his environmental efforts, more for his embrace and promotion of conspiracy theories. Apparently it takes a special kind of person to live entirely off the grid. 

Because I’m not special, I will confine my off-grid living to weekends, beginning Fridays after work, continuing through late Sunday. I’ll be in a tent, I will have hot coffee in the morning (thanks, JetBoil), I will have a comfortable place to sit and savor the evening (yo, Helinox Chair Zero). Off the grid, away from the grind.

At least for a weekend.

The post Off the Grid? Sure, for a weekend appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

We love winter hiking. Why? We’ll refer you to this post from two years ago to explain why. Today, as we do every year at this time, we trot out our tips for how you can take the perceived discomfort out of winter hiking, making it possible to better appreciate what to many hikers is the sport’s lost season.

These tips from our GetBackpacking! Winter Camp tips sheet, which also covers cold-weather camping. (See below for how you can get a copy of the full 8-page guide.)

Gearing up

Preparation is huge for any hike. It’s huger still when it’s cold.

• Layering up top Quickly, here’s how to dress for a cold-weather hike:

• • Base layer The base layer is the layer of clothing next to your skin. Your base layer should be thin and made of a synthetic or high-tech wool that wicks the moisture from your body. Dry skin = warmer skin. It should not, under any circumstances, be cotton. Sweat sticks to cotton, the sweaty cotton sticks to your skin, your body expends lots of energy trying to warm your cold, sweaty skin, and you run the risk of hypothermia.
  • Insulating layer Generally a slightly heavier layer that helps create a pocket of air warmed by your body between it and the base layer. Synthetic is preferable, wool is again preferred.
  • Outer shell This is especially important when the weather gets cold (30s and lower) and there’s wind. An outer shell is a slick fabric that will shed rain and wind. A good outer shell will have some sort of vent system to keep condensation from building inside. Zippers in the armpits is one popular option as is mesh under the arms and along the side of the torso.
• Pants. Nylon pants that break the wind and retain your body heat are good. Our legs typically don’t sweat as much, so having pants that don’t “breath” isn’t as crucial as it is with your outer shell. Convertible pants — with zip-off legs — are great for those days when the mid-day sun heats things up.
• Gloves. On the trail, thin polyester gloves, even glove liners, are good at keeping heat from leaking out our fingertips while you hike along. If you’re expecting wet weather, invest in a pair of waterproof, or at least water-resistant, gloves.

• 

  Hat. Heat can escape through your noggin (especially if you don’t have a thick natural covering), so cover up. In less cold weather, and if you’re the type who hikes at a good clip, ear warmers may be all you need. But for colder weather, a slower pace and standing around at camp, you can’t beat a close-fitting wool beanie.

• Socks. Wool hiking socks come in three weights: light for summer hiking, mid for the shoulder seasons, heavy for winter camping. Some folks like to improve their insulation potential (and reduce their blister potential) with liner socks. Note that wearing two or more pairs of socks can   result in a tight boot, reducing circulation: among other things, that will make your feet even colder. Pack an extra pair of socks: even a little sweat can cool you rapidly in winter. Switch when you break for lunch.
• Sunglasses: Earth is closer to the sun in our winter than in our summer. Thus, don’t underestimate the force of its glare. Even if there’s no snow, a bright winter sun can still damage your eyes.
• When in doubt … If you’re undecided between a lighter fleece and heavier fleece, pack both. And pack more snacks (see “Food & Drink,” below) than you might in warmer weather; you burn more calories in the cold.

Food & drink

• Food. In addition to the calories you burn hiking, your body will burn extra calories trying to keep you warm in the cold. It’s recommended that you derive 60-65 percent of your calories from carbohydrates, 20-25 percent from proteins, 10-15 percent from fats. The nutrition facts on the packaging should help you see how well a meal meets those requirements. Above all, though, pack something you’ll look forward to eating; if it’s something blech that simply meets nutritional requirements, there’s a good chance you won’t eat it.
• Snacks. Snacking on the trail is important in cold weather because your stores run down more quickly. Keep whatever you choose — GORP, nuts, a trail bar — handy, in your pack’s hip belt, for instance. And remember the carb/protein/fats mix.

On the trail

• Regulate your thermostat with hat & gloves. An easy and efficient way to regulate body heat is with hat and gloves. You can quickly lose heat through your head and hands. Start your hike with a wool cap and gloves to keep heat from escaping. Once you warm up, try shedding one or the other. Give it a few minutes to see what effect the change is having
• Layer up at breaks. When you stop for a snack, add a layer before you grab your gorp. You’ll want to retain the heat you built up hiking, and this will do it.

• 

  Hike in the sun. On an especially cold day you can up your odds of staying warm by choosing a trail that lets in a bit more light. That can mean picking a trail that you know has more hardwoods, which have shed their umbrella of leaves for winter, rather than hiking under evergreen pines. That can mean looking for trails that are double-track, which are wider and thus have a wider opening in the canopy, rather than narrower single-track. A couple ways to distinguish between the two on a map: a wider double-track may be marked with parallel dashed lines, and trails marked as “multiuse,” especially if they allow horses, are more likely double-track.

• Hike in the sun II. Pick a trail with a southern exposure. You’ll need to know how to read a topo map to pick a south-facing trail. Or have the number for the local ranger station handy.
• Hike early. You’ll want to take advantage of the sun as much as possible. So start early, when the trail is still be in shadows, and finish while the sun is at its brightest and warmest, rather than finishing as the sun is setting and the air is cooling.
• Hike early II. Remember that the sun sets early this time of year and that the temperature can drop like a rock once the sun sets.
• Start cool. Too many folks start a hike all bundled up: five minutes down the trail they’re sweating. Instead, right before heading out, strip off that outer layer. You’ll be cool for a minute or two, but should warm up quickly.
• Drink! In cold weather, you may not feel thirsty. But you need to drink for these reasons: breathing cold, dry air drains the body of liquid; we do sweat, although the cold quickly turns it to vapor, so we don’t realize it; you may feel less thirsty but your active body needs fluids to operate.

When you finish

Don’t linger at the trailhead when you finish. The heat your body has built up hiking will dissipate quickly, causing a chill to set in. And the last memory you want from a wonderful winter day on the trail is being cold at the end.

Besides, isn’t there a beer with your name on it waiting at home?

* * *

Guide to banishing the brrr

Our 8-page GetBackpacking! Winter Camp tips guide includes additional insights into staying warm on the trail as well thoughts on staying warm on a winter camping trip. Find it here.

The post Warm up to Winter Hiking appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

We run this feature every couple of years. It has been updated as of June 30, 2026.

We take a lot of groups on weekend hiking trips to the mountains. As a result, we stay in a lot of group campgrounds. When we book a group campground, we look at a number of factors, including:

1. Proximity to good hiking. Ideally, we look for a campground with immediate access to trails — and not just any old trails, but trails that will yield a full day of memorable hiking. If we can treat people to an entire day of using just their own feet to get around, we we find they enjoy the day that much more..
2. Shaded camping. We hike mostly in summer, so we need to pitch tents where they won’t broil during the day.
3. A commons area. A big fire pit, a picnic table or two, rocks or logs to sit on — we don’t ask much, but these are biggies.
4. Basic amenities. We need water at the campsite, we’d like a privy not too far away. A bathhouse, of course, is nice. And if we can park a reasonable distance away — within 50 yards of the campsite, say — all the better.
5. Privacy. From others in the group, to some degree (hey, we all need a little me time), but mostly from neighboring campers. We escape to the wild for various reasons; it’s those who escape to the wild to be wild that we prefer to avoid.
6. Good vibe. Most importantly, the site must have a good vibe. It needn’t be immaculately groomed; rather, we like a spot that fits in with the natural surroundings. Sometimes you know the second you drive up, sometimes it takes a night or two of camaraderie to summons the vibe.

There are other factors, but these are the basics. Based on these basics, here are our our five favorite group campgrounds in North Carolina.

Standing Indian Recreation Area

Nantahala National Forest, Franklin

No. of group sites: 3

Each site accommodates: 25 people

$108 per night

More info here.

The Standing Indian Recreation Area is a U-shaped bowl rimmed, for the most part, by the Appalachian Trail. From the bottom, several trails snake up and connect to the AT, making for all kinds of loop and near-loop options. The three Standing Indian group sites (pictured at top) are located along  Kimsey Creek; an eponymously named trail parallels the creek to Deep Gap and connects to the AT; from there, it’s about a mile to 5,499-foot Standing Indian Mountain and a grand view of the Georgia mountains beyond, before returning to camp via the Lower Ridge Trail. Boom! An 11-mile loop right out of camp. Then there’s Kimsey Creek itself: On our first visit, after doing the aforementioned 11-mile loop on a steamy August day, we returned mid-afternoon to camp; within 20 minutes, everyone was parked in the creek (with some hoisting adult refreshments). We stayed until the sun slipped beneath the basin’s western rim and the temperature began to quickly drop: by 8 o’clock, we were sporting fleece around the campfire, a campfire in a generous stone firepit. We love this trip so much that rather than our typical 3-day visit we’ve extended this year’s visit in mid-August to 4 days. (See below for details.)

North Mills River Recreation Area

Pisgah National Forest, southwest of Asheville

No. of group sites: 1

Accommodates: 30 people

$58 per night

More info here.

North Mills River was our Plan B the first time we visited. We’d intended to stay at the nearby Davidson River Campground outside Brevard, but the campground was booked when we went to make reservations. We got out a map, started searching nearby … and noticed North Mills River about 20 crow-fly miles to the northeast. We wanted to stay in the region, so we booked.We were rewarded upon arrival with a grass meadow perfect for Frisbee, rimmed by hardwoods ideal for camping beneath or stringing a hammock between. A nice commons area with picnic tables and fire ring, and we couldn’t have been happier. Or so we thought. The next day we set out from camp and hiked up the river to the old Hendersonville Reservoir, then continued up old-growth-rimmed Fletcher Creek, with about a dozen creek crossings. Eventually, we took the Spencer Gap Trail up to the Blue Ridge Parkway on one of those classically challenging-yet-rewarding Pisgah hikes. The following day we did a similar hike, on different trail, up to the parkway. There’s a good week of hiking out of this campground

Briar Bottom Campground

Pisgah National Forest, Burnesville

No. of group sites: 6

Each site accommodates: 50 people

$125 per night

More info here.

Basecamp for our annual Mount Mitchell adventure, this collection of six group sites sits at the base of the highest mountain east of the Black Hills, 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell — and there’s a trail you can catch right outside the campground that takes you 5.5 miles and 3,700 vertical feet to the summit. There are other hikes as well, and it’s only about a 30-minute drive to the top, where you can hike short nature trails or head out the rugged 13-mile Black Mountain Crest Trail, which spends much of its first few miles above 6,000 feet. At an elevation of 3,000 feet, the campground is blessed by cool nights for sleeping. Because of the number of sites and their capacities, large groups tend to flock here and take up multiple sites. Your best bet for a little privacy is the Ash camp site. If you like to fly fish, the South Toe River, known for its trout, is a short walk.

Cataloochee Group Campground

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee

Accommodates: 25 people

No. of sites: 3

$50 per night

More info here.

You get the distinct impression you’re in remote country on the windy gravel road that descends into the Cataloochee Valley from civilization. And you are, although that wasn’t always the case. Prior to the park’s creation, a town of 1,300 thrived in the valley, a town you can still see remnants of in the handful of preserved buildings you can tour in the south end of the valley. A popular evening activity is to walk from the campground into the valley as evening settles in and watch the elk heard emerge from the forest fringe to feed. Then hang out and watch the shadow rise on the valley’s east wall as the sun sets. Oh, and the hiking! Several shorter (shorter as in under 10 miles) loops can be created via trails on the south side of the valley. If you’re up for an epic, an 18-mile loop heading out on Little Cataloochee and Long Bunk trails takes you up to the boreal zone of Mount Sterling, then returns down Pretty Hollow Creek (trip No. 19, if you have a copy of “Backpacking North Carolina.”). Both options expose you to the restored buildings of Cataloochee.

Curtis Creek Campground*

Pisgah National Forest, Old Fort

No. of sites: 25

Accommodates: 6 per site

$18 per night

More info here.

Let’s start with the asterisk: this isn’t actually a group campground. Rather, it’s 25 separate sites, but because of the low cost and the fact many of the sites are walk-ups (no reservations; first come, first camped), this is a good bet for the group that failed to plan ahead and reserve a bonafide group site. The campground is in a steep, narrow valley that leads from Old Fort up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Trail from the campground climbs into old growth woods. For less challenging hiking drive up to the Parkway and either head south to Mount Mitchell or north to Crabtree Meadows. If you’re into mountain biking and getting a good workout, the campground is on the route of the 60-mile Off-Road Assault on Mountain Mitchell race, which includes some nice gravel road riding and some challenging singletrack.

The post Our 5 Favorite NC Group Campgrounds appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

If your knee-jerk response to finish this thought is “… not enough adventure,” we hear you. It’s a common sentiment this time of year. The leaves nearly gone, the cycle of another calendar year is fast coming to a close. We begin looking ahead to next year with thoughts of big plans for the year ahead. And that’s when it hit: “What were our plans for this year?” And what the heck happened to them?

If you’re waiting for us to say it’s not too late to redeem 2022 with a quick adventure or two, expect a long wait. Instead of thinking about salvaging this year, an approach that carries with it an air of desperation, think instead of getting a jump on 2023. Go ahead and work in a couple of memorable forays into the wild. But think of them as revving your engine for the year ahead.

We make this suggestion in part because the year ahead, 2023, is Year of the Trail in North Carolina, and you’ll be really bummed if you find yourself feeling this way this time next year. With all the opportunities that lie ahead in 2023, you’ll have no excuse to look back back on the year with regret. 

We make the suggestion in large part, though, because salvaging 2022 is an exercise in looking  back. Getting a jump on 2023 is about moving forward.

Here are two ways we can help you move forward in the year ahead.

Go Wild on the Weetock

Two things we love about winter hiking: 

1. You can head off trail because the undergrowth has died back and you can get into areas otherwise inaccessible.
2. It’s prime time for hiking at the coast, what with the cooler temps keeping the bug and snake populations at bay. 

Both are good incentives on their own. But when you combine the two, then you’ve got a real adventure. Such is the case with the 11-mile Weetock Trail in the coastal Croatan National Forest. At its northern trailhead off NC 58 near Maysville, the Weetock seems like just another trail: there’s parking, an obvious trailhead, even an informational kiosk. And there’s easy-to-follow trail — for the first few miles. But then you cross the gravel Long Point Road,  and … is that the trail on the other side? Or does it head down the road for a spell? And if so, which way? The trail’s uncertainty is one of the things we love most about the Weetock; that and the fact it dives deep into woods that are oddly comforting on a cold, sunny day. (We also like that there are bail-out options should sunset — at 5:07 p.m. on the day of the hike — keep us from trail’s end.)

A challenging hike from a way-finding standpoint. And a really fun hike as well. 

Not up for quite that much adventure? There’s a 7-mile option that forgoes the off-roading.

What: GetHiking! Exploring the Coastal Croatan National Forest’s Weetock Trail

When: Friday, Dec. 30, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Where: Maysville, NC

Cost: $45 (includes a Zoom planning meeting, 7-page trail guide, lunch and trail snacks.

Learn more and sign up here.

Weekend hiking the Blue Ridge Escarpment

Here’s something that could really get you revved up for 2023: a weekend of hiking 20-plus miles on the Blue Ridge Escarpment — with great camping to boot! For this adventure, we hike 1.5 miles along the flat Basin Creek at Doughton Park and set up base camp for the weekend in a spacious, tree-covered primitive campground. Saturday, we do a loop hike of either 12 or 15 miles (depending upon the weather), a hike that gains three-quarters of its elevation in the first 4.5 miles and yields miles of panoramic views from mountaintop meadows. Sunday, it’s a 3.3-mile hike along Basin Creek to a one-room cabin once home to 13 people. 

While Doughton Park is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, we spend less than a mile and a half within view of scenic highway (where you’ll be distracted by the aforementioned views, anyway). For the most part, we’ll be on the well-tended trails that make this part of the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park less about driving, more about hiking. (Doughton Park has about 30 miles of hiking trail, btw.)

You do need to have a bit of camping gear for this trip, though we can help with a backpack if you need one. Probably your best bet for late-season mountain hiking in the Southeast.

What: GetBackpacking! Weekend Escape: Doughton Park

When: Friday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 4.

Where: Doughton Park, Blue Ridge Parkway

Cost: $105

Includes: Zoom planning trip, eguide (including custom maps and route descriptions), camping.

Learn more and sign up here.

Don’t look back. Get a jump on 2023 with these year-end adventures.

The post Jump-start 2023 with a year-end 2022 adventure appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

I didn’t need to read on to know what happened. But I did.

A bear wandered into the Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park early Sunday, entered a tent where a family of five slept, scratched a 3-year-old and her mom in the ensuing scuffle. (Both sustained superficial lacerations to their heads.) The father shooed the bear away, the authorities were notified, the bear was caught. 

Why did the bear enter the tent? Because, of course, it smelled food inside, in this case, dog food.

The 350-pound bear was determined to be “food-conditioned” — meaning it had become accustomed to eating human food — was deemed a threat and was euthanized. (You can read the entire story here.)

Black bears, the type of bear we have in the East, are not aggressive by nature. Unless you get between a mom and her cubs, a bear’s first reaction when it gets wind of you is to hightail it, cartoon style, and head the opposite direction. Every one of the seven bear encounters I’ve had have ended this way.

All it takes to live in harmony with our bruin buddies is a little common sense. And the best place to score some when it comes to bears is at bearwise.org, which offers tips for coexisting with bears, whether you’re a farmer, a homeowner in bear country, a dog walker or a camper. Today, we share their tips for camping in a bear’s domain.

• Keep a clean camp. Even the smallest scrap, from actual food to cooking gear to a used tea bag, can attract attention. Once at a backcountry campsite in South Mountains State Park I lazily left a new insulated mug out overnight. Next morning the cup’s shredded insulation was scattered about, the handiwork of a raccoon. 
• Don’t burn food scraps or trash in your fire ring or grill. Been guilty of this, under the assumption that it’s better to burn it than have it wind up in a landfill. Apparently, the heat doesn’t eliminate all food aromas.
• Do not store food, trash, clothes worn when cooking, or toiletries in your tent. Store in approved bear-resistant containers OR out of sight in a locked vehicle OR suspended at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet from any part of the tree. Local storage regulations vary. If you’re backpacking, you likely know how to do a bear hang, or are using a bear canister or ursack. If you’re car camping, there’s no excuse for not taking advantage of your mobile bear locker. As for clothing, that’s a tough one: it makes sense, but having separate clothes for cooking is a tough sell to backpackers trying to keep their pack weight down.
• Cook downwind and as far from your tent as possible. Again, makes sense. But in every campground I’ve been in, the fire ring and picnic table are right next to the tent pad. Mixed message there, but point taken.
• Set up backcountry camps away from dense cover and natural food sources. Hmm. Sounds like the first directive was penned by someone who camps out West, where you have the option to camp away from dense cover. The best we can hope for around here is less-dense cover. As for camping away from natural food sources, bears are big berry eaters. They also like grubs and ants. Don’t camp with either.

Avoiding a bear encounter isn’t that hard. It boils down to this: if they think you don’t have food, they want nothing to do with you. Be bear wise, and save a life.

The bear’s.

* * *

More info

For more information on coexisting with bears, check out bearwise.org.

Explore with Us!

Hike and camp with us and let us worry about the bears. Our first GetHiking! Weekend Escape on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail of the summer was this past weekend at Doughton Park, and it was a blast. (Catch our slide show here.) We have two more coming up. Learn more and sign up to join us below:

• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Mount Pisgah, July 22-24, go here.
• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Price Lake, Sept. 9-11, go here.

The post Be wise when it comes to camping with bears appeared first on GetGoing NC!.