In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com
In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com
Hello and welcome to my paddling and canoeing site.
Bring all the following and you'll have a safe and fun paddling trip.
| FOOD | If you're going on a one night trip the best thing to bring is some rice and some frozen meat, the meat will stay cold until night if it's frozen in the morning, if the weather is hot you can rap it in some news paper t keep it cool. | |
| MULTI PURPOSE TOOL | Whatever brand you choose make sure it's of high quality. The stores are full of cheap junk, get a good one, it could mean the difference between life an death. | |
| CAMPSTOVE | As far as I know
there's not a single stove on the market that can compare to the Trailstove. The Trailstove weighs less than a
pound, it burns wood that you gather on site so you don't have to carry
any fuel, it has no moving parts. The design is extremely simple, it's a
stainless steel cone with some holes in all the right places for air to go
in and out and a screen for the wood, and a hose that you blow air into by
mouth when you start it up. I think the big guys that are selling us fancy
brand name stoves for big bucks would be embarrassed to make something as
simple as this, but the simple truth is that the Trailstove that sells for about 20 bucks is a much better choice than any $200 ultra-light stove in the world. | |
| FLASH LIGHT | Obviously you need some type of lamp when you go paddling overnight since it's overnight and it's dark at night. Bring a candle too in case modern technology fails you. | |
| STEEL WIRE | Steel wire is such a good thing to have handy, you never know when you'll need it but you know that you always will need it for something. | |
| TARP | As any paddler knows, a tarp is incredibly useful. You can make a simple shelter with it to sleep under. I normally don't bring a tent with me, I just sleep under the stars. But once in a while the weather turns ugly and then that tarp is real good to have around. | |
| DUCT TAPE | Don't forget to pack a roll of duct tape, you can fix anything with the stuff. |
How to make a quick snow shelter
Find a flat sheltered spot for your shelter. Don't go too close to trees or
big rocks since blowing snow tends to accumulate around them.
Dig a hole in
the snow, about a foot longer than your body and about 3 feet wide, use the snow
from the dig to build walls around the hole. Try to get one of the short sides
downwind.
Keep digging until the hole is 3 ft from floor to upper edge. Keep
in mind that the smaller your shelter is the warmer it will be.
Leave a
1.5x1.5 ft opening in the downwind upper short edge with a connecting corridor,
this will be your door.
If you plan to use a stove in the shelter you must
also make a vent opening in the side opposite to the door. This opening should
be about 6x6 inches.
If possible, try to make a block of hard snow
1.5x1.5x0.5 ft to use as a door block, place this block inside the hole when
you're done.
Cover half of the floor on the opposite side of the
opening with soft branches to provide extra insulation from the cold snow
beneath. This will be your sleeping area, you will later cover the branches with
your sleeping pad. If you don't have a sleeping pad with you, make a thicker
layer of branches. If it is snowing while you are building your shelter, you can
do this step later, after the roof has been put up so you won't get snow on your
branches.
Place a number of tree branches over the hole. Keep in
mind that these branches may have to carry some heavy snow loads. You can use
skis and ski poles for this purpose as well but keep in mind that you won't be
able to use them again without ruining the shelter.
Cover the hole
with your tarp. Attach edges and corners as well as possible with stakes made
from tree branches or string to a nearby tree. Don't rely on weights such as
rocks or big chunks of wood, they will start sliding. You want to make sure that
there's no way that the tarp will start sagging or slip down through the
openings in the ceiling.
Cover the tarp with a layer of snow for insulation.
If there is powder snow available try to get a coverage of at least 3 inches. If
there is no powder use wet snow or hard snow to make blocks 1.5" thick to form a
sheet on top of the tarp, try to rest the blocks on the support poles and not on
the tarp. If it is snowing heavily you can let nature take care of this step.
Move in to the shelter. Put your sleeping pad on the
branches and sleep with your head away from the door. You can block the door
opening to keep warm but you must have at least two small air vents on opposite
sides of the shelter to ensure an adequate air supply.
SOME THINGS
TO KEEP IN MIND
When you're using a stove in the shelter you must open both
the door opening and the vent opening. Make sure that the vent opening is kept
clear from falling snow on the outside, poke around with a stick periodically if
needed.
If you need to urinate during the
night, don't go outside in the cold. Just go on the floor inside the shelter.
The urine will seep down through the snow, there will be a stained crater left
but you can just cover that with some snow.
Harkers Island, NC
The seashore is a 56 mile long section of the Outer Banks of North Carolina running from Ocracoke Inlet on the northeast to Beaufort Inlet on the southeast. The three undeveloped barrier islands which make up the seashore - North Core Banks, South Core Banks and Shackleford Banks - may seem barren and isolated but they offer many natural and historical features that can make a visit very rewarding
CONTACTS
Email - CALO_Information@nps.gov
Fax- 252-728-2160
Write to
131 Charles St.
Harkers Island, NC 28531
Phone
Headquarters - (252) 728-2250
TRAVEL BASICS
Operating Hours,
Seasons
Visitor Center on Harkers Island is open daily from 8:00
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET (closed December 25 and January 1). Visitor Centers
in the Lighthouse Keepers Quarters and in Portsmouth Village are open from
April to November (hours vary).
Private ferry service to the park offered mid-March to the first weekend in December. Park accessible by personal boat year round.
Primitive cabin rentals available from April 1st to the first weekend in December.
Getting There
CAR - Cape Lookout National Seashore's Visitor
Center is located on the eastern end of Harkers Island, approximately 20
mi (30 km) east of Beaufort, NC and 30 mi (50 km)south of the Cedar Island
terminus of the North Carolina State Ferry route from Ocracoke Island to
Cedar Island.
From Beaufort: Take U.S. 70 east to Harkers Island Road (SR 1332/SR 1335).
From Cedar Island: Take SR 12 south past the Atlantic turnoff to US 70 west. Continue on US 70 to Harkers Island Road (SR1332/SR 1335) .
Follow Harkers Island Road until it terminates. On the left is the two-story visitor center.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Cape Lookout National Seashore is accessible only through private ferries leaving from Harkers Island, Davis, Atlantic, Beaufort, Morehead City and Ocracoke or your personal boat.
Ferries leaving from the communities of Harkers Island, Beaufort, Morehead City and Ocracoke, NC carry passengers only. The ferries from Davis and Atlantic, NC can transport passengers and 4-wheel drive vehicles. For additional information call (252)728-2250, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM ET. After hours a recording will give you a list of the ferry operators.
Weather & Climate
Summers are warm, humid and buggy.
Winter temperatures can go below freezing. Fall and spring have low
humidity and are generally mild. Rainy periods occur throughout the year.
Wear comfortable sportswear in season with a hat for the sun and good
walking shoes that can take the sand and salt water.
Accessibility
Visitor Center on Harkers Island is accessible.
Access to and on the banks is limited. Ferries are partially accessible,
contact the individual ferry service for details. On the banks soft sand
may hinder walking or wheelchairs. Steps in the historic buildings at
Portsmouth Village and in the Keeper's Quarters may prevent easy access.
At the southern end of the park there is a wooden walkway from the ferry
dock to an observation platform at the beach and to the Keeper's Quarters
by the lighthouse. Ease of access to this walkway is dependent on the
phase of the tide. A standard wheelchair for boardwalk use and a beach
wheelchair are available for rent on a first-come first-served basis at
the Lighthouse Keepers Quarters.
Getting Around
Most people walk although personal 4-wheel
drive and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are allowed on North Core and South
Core Banks subject to State of North Carolina laws. All vehicle operators,
ATVs included, must have a valid drivers license in their possession while
driving a vehicle in the park. For those without a vehicle there are
limited privately operated beach shuttle services available during the
summer months.
FEES/PERMITS
Entrance Fee
PARK ENTRANCE
FEE
Free!
Activity Fee
BEACH SHUTTLE
(ROUNDTRIP)
The concession operation on North Core Banks offers 4
wheel drive shuttle service from their area of operation. Cost is $3.50
per person per mile (minimum 2 persons) round trip. Contact the concession
directly for more information.
PASSENGER FERRY RATE (ROUND
TRIP)
Rates vary with the seasons. Contact the ferry operator
directly for the current price. All rates quoted are for roundtrip fares.
VEHICLE FERRY RATE (ROUNDTRIP)
Passengers: $14.00 per
person; Vehicles: $75.00 per standard size (18 1/2 ft and under) vehicle.
Larger vehicles cost more. Vehicles are carried by concession operators.
Contact them directly for more information.
Permits
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING
Free!
Required for
both tent and vehicle camping. Available from the Harkers Island Visitor
Center, the Lighthouse Keepers Quarters or from any park ranger.
PARKING
$10.00 for 7 Days
This permit is required
for vehicles that will be left unattended on the banks for 24 hours or
longer. No permit is required for beach driving or vehicle camping.
CAMPING
Primitive Camping
Open All
Year
Campers should be aware that all camping is in the primitive
style. There is very little shade or shelter on the islands and no source
for supplies. Campers must bring everything they need with them, including
drinking water. Please pack out what you pack in. There is no trash pick
up on the islands and buried trash resurfaces quickly in the beach
environment creating a hazard for sea turtles and other wildlife.
LODGING
Alger Willis Fishing Camps
Inc.
Open from approximately April 1st through 1st week of
December.
There are twenty-one (21) individual, rustic cabins that vary
in age and condition. Cabins sleep from four to twelve person’s bunk-bed
style. Some cabins have screened porches. Most are wired for generator
use. Visitors supply their own generator. Each cabin has a hot water
heater, table, chairs, and a kitchen with cabinets, propane oven/stove
combination and a private bath. Visitors need to provide their own linens,
bedding and cookware.
For More Information on this lodging please
call (252) 729-2791
Morris Marina, Kabin Kamps and Ferry
Service, Inc.
Open from approximately April 1st through 1st week of
December.
There are twenty units with a sleeping capacity of six (6)
bunk-bed style. Each unit has a hot water heater, individual propane
heating system, lighting fixtures, a combination sleeping-eating area with
ceiling fans, table, chairs, a kitchen with cabinets, oven/stove
combination and a private bath. Each unit is approximately 500 sq. ft.
Visitors need to provide their own linens, bedding and cookware.
For More Information on this lodging please call (252)
225-4261
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