new in north carolina

“My Wife and are planning our first backpacking trip. Now I've read just about everything on here that is even remotely associated with beginners and I was just wondering if anyone else had advice on what gear to bring. We will be going to Linville Gorge on july 22-23 (our anniversary and my birthday).I was also wondering about a cook stove. Are they that important? What's up with not cookin over the fire? Hope everyone is doing good and look forward to reading about everyone's General Backpacking/Outdoors/fun”

“A cook stove is fail safe - fires are no good in the rain, plus leaves a large (larger) impact on the environment, and out here in teh west at least generally are banned.

Never been there, but I hear good things about linville gorge.

Hope you and the wife have fun - one tip - be conservative on your mileage you plan to cover - esp the first few times out. You might be suprised - thats fairly tough terrain from what I read.”

“Not cooking is an option.
I like my hot coffee in the mornings so I allways bring a stove, a little homemade 'pepsi can' alcohol burner.”

“Geographically you're out of my area but I have a tips/gear page on my website. This might help:

http://midatlantichikes.com/gear.htm”

“Hey jstadler, Did you just recently move to NC or just first time visiting. Just curious, I live in Eastern, NC and don't know of a lot of people from this area that backpack.

Cloudwalker's Basecamp”

“I will be in Western, NC (Hot Springs) for the weekend.

IMHO, a stove is a necessity.”

“cloud walker I live in nc. Around greensboro, nc Never been backpacking for fun just with the army which if anyone has done that knows it's not fun.”

“Hey jstadler, i lived in Greensboro (oak ridge actually) for about 3 years or so - left in 2002.”

“Take your stove to the gorge. About all the undergrowth burned up a few years ago (A fire caused by a campfire, I think at Babel Towers). The trails are not blazed. Watch out for Timber Rattlers and the heat! The gorge will likely be crowded, especially around river at Babel Tower and Spence Ridge. Don't take a heavy load, its steep back up to the road.”