James' Hiking Tips

I've been a hiker for many years and I've made this page to share my experiences with all you other hikers out there.

STRING
There's no reason not to bring some string, it weighs close to nothing and has a million uses.

FLASH LIGHT
Don't forget a good flash light or a head lamp. Many people say that you should always bring minimum 2 lamps but if your lamp is good just bring extra batteries and an extra light bulb.

COOKING POT
A light weight pot with a lid or some other type of similar water container is a quite important thing to bring to be able to boil water in case of an emergency.

FIRE TOOL
Fire is what will keep you alive in an emergency on a cold night. Use a regular disposable cigarette lighter and carry at least one extra with you in case of malfunction. Also carry a small magnesium block just in case.

MULTI PURPOSE TOOL
These tools come in a variety of models, generally Leatherman type tools or Swiss Army type knives. I myself have both a Leatherman Tool and a Swiss Army Knife.

TENT
I don't know why people are so obsessed with tents. If you are going during a cold time of the year then it's good to have one but in the summer time there's no need for one. Just bring a small tarp that you can suspend over yourself in case it rains.

STOVE
There's only one word you need to know when it comes to camp stoves and that is: "Trailstove" or is that two words? Either way the Stratus Trailstove is the best choice by far. It may sound weird these days but the Trailstove burns wood, not compressed gas or liquid fuel. It is quite light, about a pound (a little below I think), sells for 20 dollars (quite a bargain). The thing I like most about my Trailstove is its reliability, you will never have any trouble with this stove ever, and you never ever run out of fuel.

PICK A SPOT
You should build your igloo on a level surface where the snow is at least 3 feet deep. There should be enough hard snow for your igloo, if the surface snow is powdery there's probably hard packed snow a bit deeper. Large bumps on the surface of the snow it usually means that there is a large object below the snow such as a boulder or a large stomp, they can get in the way so it's better to pick as flat a spot as possible. Don't make your igloo bigger than it needs to be. Mark out in the snow where you plan to have the wall of your igloo.

CUT BLOCKS
Cut out blocks from the area which will be the inside of the igloo. The lower blocks should be about 1 foot thick, 3 feet long and 1.5 feet high, the higher blocks should be about 6 inches thick, 2 feet long, and 1 foot high. If you size the blocks as I have said above you will need approximately the following number of blocks:

Sleeping 1 person, 6 feet inner diameter: 30 blocks
Sleeping 2 people, 7 feet inner diameter: 40 blocks
Sleeping 3-4 people, 9 feet inner diameter: 60 blocks

Don't worry if you think you'll have trouble fitting, once the igloo is finished you can carve out a bit of space for your feet from the inner wall.
The hole resulting from your cutting will be the floor in the igloo so you want a sleeping area for each person as high up as possible, a general purpose area that should be a bit lower to allow for mobility, and a deep entrance hole that extends outside of the igloo. The entrance hole should be as narrow as possible while still allowing you to get in and out without too much discomfort. The deep entrance hole will absorb the cold air and release it to the outside while the warm air will rise and stay trapped inside the dome.

BUILD A SPIRAL CIRCLE
Place your largest and widest blocks in a circle around the hole where you have been cutting out your blocks, the blocks should be tilted in towards the center. Start with the block that goes on top of the entrance hole, the whole entrance hole must be traversed by one single block with plenty of support on both sides. Cut the blocks so they form a spiral, make sure that the block covering the entrance hole is the largest block.

BUILD WALL
Add blocks to the wall until you only have a small opening in the roof. Before you get to the point that it's hard to get in and out of the dome move any blocks not yet used to the inside of the dome so you can put them all up in one sweep from the inside.

TOP PIECE
When all the blocks are in place cut the final top piece to the right size. If you can wiggle it out from the inside and lower it down into position that's great, but if your hole is very circular this won't be possible, you'll have to put the block on top of the dome from the outside and then lower it down from the inside.

FINISHING
Fill any cracks with snow.
Make a little doorway over the entrance to keep snow out.
You have to make at least one air hole in the roof to ensure proper ventilation. Without good ventilation you could run out of oxygen, very dangerous.
Smoothen the inside of the dome to prevent water dripping.
Your igloo is now ready to be lived in, check your air hole periodically to make sure it's not blocked. If you've done everything right you will be quite comfortable.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile recreational motor road that connects Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks while protecting the cultural and natural features of the region. Designed as a "scenic drive", the Parkway provides both stunning scenery and close-up looks at the natural and cultural history of the mountains.

The "in depth" button to the right will access our expanded web site and allow you to explore the options available for visiting this time of year. The park information number at (828) 298 0398 is your best source for up-to-date gate closures and weather-related information.

Phone
Visitor Information Recorded Message - 828 298 0398
Headquarters - 828 271 4779

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Visitor Centers, campgrounds, and picnic areas are generally opened from May - October, with one campground in each state open year round. During extreme weather conditions, sections of the motor road may be closed for short or extended durations. The Peaks of Otter Lodge at Milepost 86 is open year-round and other concession facilities are seasonal.

Getting There
CAR - The motor road is marked every mile by concrete mileposts beginning at MP 0 near Shenandoah NP and ending at MP 469 at Great Smoky Mountain NP. The winding nature of the road may make it difficult for large recreational vehicles, but all personal vehicles, motorcycles, tour buses and bicycles are allowed. No commercial traffic is permitted!

Weather & Climate
The Parkway ranges from 650 feet above sea level to over 6,000 feet, so expect rapidly changing weather conditions. The weather is generally mild, but summertime temperatures can reach the 90's and winter can produce extended periods with single digit temperatures, ice, wind, and snow.

Accessibility
Some park facilities are completely accessible and others have minimal accessibility standards. Call ahead for specific information on the Parkway spots you plan to visit.

CAMPING

Linville Falls
Open All Year
Located at Milepost 316.4 near the Linville River and with easy access to the Linville Gorge and Linville Gorge Trail System.
For More Information on this campground please call (828) 765 7818

Crabtree Meadows
Located at Milepost 339.5 near the Crabtree Meadows Restaurant and within fifteen miles of Mt. Mitchell State Park.
For More Information on this campground please call (828) 675 5444

Doughton Park
Located at Milepost 241.1 near Basin Cove, Bluffs Lodge, and an extensive trail system.
For More Information on this campground please call (336) 372 8877

Mt. Pisgah
Located at Milepost 408, Pisgah is the highest campground at almost 5,000 feet elevation. Formerly part of the Vanderbilt Estate and near the US Forest Service's Cradle of Forestry site.
For More Information on this campground please call (828) 235 9109

Otter Creek
Open All Year
Located on the James River at the Parkway's lowest elevation.
For More Information on this campground please call (804) 299 5125

Peaks of Otter
Located at Milepost 86 and near the Peaks of Otter Lodge, Abbott Lake, the restored 1930s Johnson Farm, and a magnificent trail system.
For More Information on this campground please call (540) 586 4357

Price Park
Located at Milepost 297.1 near Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina and close to the Moses Cone Estate. This is the Parkway's largest campground.
For More Information on this campground please call (828) 963 5911

Roanoke Mountain
Located at Milepost 120.4 with easy access to Virginia's Explore Park and the largest city along the Parkway corridor.
For More Information on this campground please call (540) 982 9242

Rocky Knob
Located at Milepost 167 with easy access to Rockcastle Gorge and just nine miles from Mabry Mill.
For More Information on this campground please call (540) 745 9664

LODGING

Bluffs Lodge
Bluffs Lodge is located at Milepost 240 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina at Doughton Park, one of the largest developed areas on the Parkway. The lodge is open from early May through October.
For More Information on this lodging please call (336) 372 4499

Peaks of Otter Lodge
The Peaks of Otter Lodge is located twenty miles north of Roanoke, VA on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 86. It is the only year-round lodging on the Parkway. Lodging, dining, trails, fishing and seasonal interpretive programs at the park amphitheatre. The web site is http://www.peaksotter.com.
For More Information on this lodging please call (540) 586 1081

Pisgah Inn
Located south of Asheville, NC at Milepost 408.6, Pisgah Inn is the highest elevation lodging on the Blue Ridge Parkway at over 5,000 feet. The lodge is open from early May through the fall leaf season. Their web site is http://www.pisgahinn.com.
For More Information on this lodging please call (828) 235 8228

Rocky Knob Cabins
The Rocky Knob Cabins, at Milepost 174 near Meadows of Dan, Va, are small, rustic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the early days of Parkway construction.
For More Information on this lodging please call (540) 593 3903

STRING		There's no reason not to bring some string, it weighs close to nothing and has a million uses.
FLASH LIGHT		Don't forget a good flash light or a head lamp. Many people say that you should always bring minimum 2 lamps but if your lamp is good just bring extra batteries and an extra light bulb.
COOKING POT		A light weight pot with a lid or some other type of similar water container is a quite important thing to bring to be able to boil water in case of an emergency.
FIRE TOOL		Fire is what will keep you alive in an emergency on a cold night. Use a regular disposable cigarette lighter and carry at least one extra with you in case of malfunction. Also carry a small magnesium block just in case.
MULTI PURPOSE TOOL		These tools come in a variety of models, generally Leatherman type tools or Swiss Army type knives. I myself have both a Leatherman Tool and a Swiss Army Knife.
TENT		I don't know why people are so obsessed with tents. If you are going during a cold time of the year then it's good to have one but in the summer time there's no need for one. Just bring a small tarp that you can suspend over yourself in case it rains.
STOVE		There's only one word you need to know when it comes to camp stoves and that is: "Trailstove" or is that two words? Either way the Stratus Trailstove is the best choice by far. It may sound weird these days but the Trailstove burns wood, not compressed gas or liquid fuel. It is quite light, about a pound (a little below I think), sells for 20 dollars (quite a bargain). The thing I like most about my Trailstove is its reliability, you will never have any trouble with this stove ever, and you never ever run out of fuel.