Greetings fellow primers, we finally made it to the Appalachian Trail. We took a lovely route on the edge of the NC/TN border from Sam's Gap (elevation 3600ft.) to Big Bald Mountain (elevation 5700ft.) We had a great time out on the trail and were reminded of the complexity of nature and beauty of untamed earth. The hike to our base camp was just under six miles and put us at the foot of Big Bald. Our 7.5 mile trek out took us along the ridge to the crest of the mountain which features some of the best views in all of the Blue Ridge. A clear sky and bright sun cleared the air for some wonderful scenes. The trail was a fun challenge too. There are plenty of places to set-up your camp, which is nice if you want to venture past Big Bald on into Spivey's Gap. The rolling terrain and varying landscape highlights the complexity and wonder that can be found in the Eastern US.
For us, we found the cool air and clear skies to be a perfect relief from our everyday hustle and bustle. The stars were very bright and the night sky was anything but dim. The temperature dropped quite a bit but our mummy bags kept us warm--sort of. We had a nice meal with potatoes, onions, sheep's milk cheese, olives, crusty bread and fruit. Unfortunately, our tent was on a bit of an incline. So we were continually sliding during the night. Other than the sliding sleeping bags, our trip was a great success and lots of fun. I have put together a short video and added some photos to show you a little bit of our adventure.
At-top Big Bald Mountain
Check back soon for more great stories from the crew at The First Campfire.
And remember, the best way to relive our stories is to create stories of your own!
With winter in full swing, we decided it was time to dust off our ice picks and hit the trails for some rugged, cold weather priming. That's right. Our first sub-freezing, snow packed climb of the year putting our moderate survival skills to the test. It doesn't get much better than icy rocks, frozen earth and that shred of fear about a wicked snow drift covering us during the night.
Now before I go on and on about our adventure, I must warn you of the real and immediate danger facing hikers and primers during the winter camping season. Preparation is always an important tool when priming, but during the winter, it is our most important tool and the only way to create an exciting and enjoyable experience. Location, gear and weather must all be considered at great length before you embark on a chilling journey on the trail.
We decided to head to Grandfather Mountain for our trip. We considered a few other locations but determined that Grandfather would give us a good hike and plenty of cold without us diving to deep into the Blue Ridge. In preparation, we re-fitted ourselves with sub-zero mummy bags, new thermals-polyester and wool--and some new ice tracks for walking on slick mountain ice. Our goal with the re-fitting was to minimize our carry-in weight and keep our layers warm yet light. We reduced our bag weight by about 7 pounds by switching to lighter sleeping bags and adjusting our supply numbers. Our rations consisted of black beans, apples, cheese, almonds, and bread.
The forecast for Boone and Grandfather Mountain could not have been better. Temperatures were just above 20F (-6C) at noon on our arrival day and expected to drop down to 5F(-15C) during the night. The wind was a brisk 15mph, which dropped the wind chill to around 12F. Snow was also blowing in during the day and night so it gave us a real wintry experience.
Well we left Greensboro and made a few stops along the way. We planned on arriving at Grandfather by 1:30pm, which would have given us plenty of trail time with enough daylight to set-up camp. The weather slowed us down and we did not arrive in Boone until 2:00pm. Unfortunately, we got turned around trying to find the trail head. Some of the entrances were closed and others were iced over. After about an hour of directional miscues, we finally landed on the right road. However, the shadows were beginning to stretch further and further across the car and the clouds seemed to be rushing in lower and lower as the day slowly passed. We had to decide if we wanted to risk losing the daylight before we reached our camp or admit we missed our window and come back another weekend.
After evaluating our situation and deciding to re-schedule, we made the most of our time around the mountain and took some pictures and climbed a few rocks. We have set a new date for our next cold weather priming adventure and hope to provide you with more than just a few photos. But until next time, enjoy the weather and keep priming.
Andy getting ready before we head into the mountains
The sign says it all
That winding road, Linn Cove Viaduct, is possibly the most scenic spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, glad we saw if from the unscenic side.
You may need gloves
Tuck it in!
Ice grips for the shoes
Down by the riverside
Almost an excellent adventure, almost.
Enjoy some classic mountain music by Grandpa Jones.
Comments and additional tips are greatly appreciated. Come back soon for more tips and advice.
This edition of The First Campfire is all about the most essential tool for any primer. Whether you need to keep yourself warm or fix a meal, fire plays an important part in any backpacking adventure. It reminds us of the simple joys in life yet the diligence and hard work it takes to succeed. Fires not only represent the dawn of modern man, but the cultures that make us who we are. It was around small camp fires that enemies became friends, friends became families and families became the villages and towns of our civilization. We should never take for granted the powerful bonding nature of firet. After all, it is something we all depend on.
Enjoy this week's post on the Joy of Creating Fire by Andy Busam.
The Joy of Creating Fire
Ah, there’s nothing sweeter than getting a fire going at the campsite. But it is a venture that comes with its fair share of challenges.
You know what I’m talking about. None of us, even the primers, are above the difficulties that come with turning a spark into a chorus of flames. From gathering the kindling and scrapping moss off the shaded old tree trunks to building that perfectly-shaped cone of twigs to house the birthing flame, primers take each step as serious as the next.
The stone strikes the flint and the spark hits the dried leaves. Smoke faintly rises out of the starter you set up. Carefully and quickly you carry the delicate spark of heat to your fire pit. And there you nourish it with dried twigs and a soft breeze. As the spark makes the jump to a flame, you can’t hold a smile back. You created fire. And now you can begin burning the dead limbs and branches scattered about the campsite.
The fire consumes each new piece of wood like a growing child. With pride, you give it more food and soak in the rays of heat it provides. Your eyes burn and you cough as the wind catches the smoke flow and pushes it into your body. But you don’t mind. You push your eyes tight until they water and relish in fiery moment.
The pile of wood dwindles and the ashes compound, and the darkness of night creeps in. You prod the smoldering remains left in the pit and watch the fluorescent red glisten. “Chirp chirp, chirp chirp,” you hear the crickets in a chorus singing. Beyond their sounds all you are left with is the crackling of the fire – the background noise of nature. And it is soothing, meditative, restorative. Out of this fire you created, this earthen matter devoured, this chorus of natural music.
From the vibrant colors rolling over the hills to the those chilly mornings when you need to remember your jacket, fall is the season of brilliant change. Festivals liven up small towns celebrating the life and bounty of mother earth. The days slowly begin to grow shorter as the sun, grows orange and slowly slips out of sight, leaving us with those last few 'perfect days.' We are reminded of those times as children, when after a long day of raking endless piles of soft, yellow leaves, our parents would let us jump in them only to create more work the next day. As primers, hikers and campers who believe and practice primitive camping, there is no better time to experience the great outdoors than Autumn. We love wiping the cobwebs off of our fall and winter gear in preparation for the best outdoor living of the year. We only hope we are so lucky as to catch that first, brief snow that sweetens the air and purifies our senses. Its when our campfires become the soul of our natural existence, even if only for a few short hours. We relish, no, we live for these moments of complete human silence when the world and all of its problems fade into the crisp evening air.
This edition of The First Campfire features a short time-lapse showing you how to properly set-up your tent in windy conditions. Our first hike of the season took us to one of our favorite spots, Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, NC. We had a short hike in where we set-up camp on the ridge line. The conditions were fair. Around 65F during the day and 45-50 at night. The wind was mild to moderate during the afternoon and fairly calm during the night.
Welcome to Stone Mountain State Park
Music: Haymaker's Hoedown
Dirk Powell, Ganey Arsement, Gary Burke, Jay Ungar, Kevin Wimmer & Molly Mason
