In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com

Tommy's Tips About Hiking Gear

Here are some great tips about hiking and backpacking gear based on my many years of experience as a backcountry hiker.

Backcountry hiking requires these things.

LIGHTWEIGHT STOVE
The Trailstove is the best camp stove in the world period. It has the lowest pack weight and it burns wood. Wood stoves are generally very heavy, far too heavy for backpacking but the Trailstove doesn't even weigh a pound.

FOOD
Bring plenty of high energy food. Don't waste your money on fancy energy bars though. Chocolate bars and granola bars are just as good and they taste better too.

CAMP SAW
A camp saw is very good to have if you are going to a really wild area. If you are camping in a developed camp area by a trail you probably won't need one but it could still be useful.

FLASH LIGHT
If you don't have a dependable light source you could get into very big trouble if you start running late and the sun starts going down. It's a good idea to bring an extra flash light with you too. Make sure that both flash lights have good batteries and that they both use the same type of batteries.

STEEL WIRE
Steel wire is an excellent substitute for screws, bolts, or any other type of fastener.

MULTI PURPOSE TOOL
Back in the old days I used to carry a Swiss army knife where ever I went, then the Leatherman tools came, now I carry one of each. If I had to pick one I would probably pick the Leatherman tool just for the pliers, but there are lots of tasks where the Swiss army knife still has the upper hand.

TENT
If I'm pretty sure the weather is going to be all right I don't bring a tent, it's much nicer to sleep under the stars. Just bring a tarp to make a shelter with just in case.

Kill animals with a deadfall trap.

This is the most simple type of trap you can make but it's very deadly, it will kill or cripple an animal easily. Don't do this unless it's a life and death situation.

Find a heavy log that can be lifted up on one side.

Put a round rock on the ground under one edge of the log.

Find a good strong stick that can support the log.

Find a smaller stick to hold the bait.

Put one edge of the bait stick on the round rock, lift the log up and support it with the strong stick. The bait stick should be wedged between the strong stick and the round rock and with the other end suspended in the air under the log.

Carefully put the bait on the bait stick and walk away.

Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail

Atlanta, GA

The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT) follows the Revolutionary War route of Patriot militia men from Virginia, today's eastern Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to the battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, site of the Kings Mountain National Military Park.

The OVNHT is part of the National Trails System.

While there are hiking segments, the primary public access is by car over the commemorative motor route.

CONTACTS

Email - OVVI_Interpretation@nps.gov

Fax- 404-562-3257

Write to
Atlanta Federl Center, 1924 Building Center
100 Alabama St, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone
Visitor Information - 404-562-3124

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
The commemorative motor route is over public highways. The route may be closed locally for repair or by weather conditions.

Accessibility
Access varies along the trail corridor. Many public facilities re equipped for wheel chair access. Smaller facilities may not be.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
ENTRANCE & USE FEES

There is no fee for driving the commemorative motor route. Fees may be charged by facilities along the route.

Some content donated by Hikercentral.com and the National Park Service

LIGHTWEIGHT STOVE		The Trailstove is the best camp stove in the world period. It has the lowest pack weight and it burns wood. Wood stoves are generally very heavy, far too heavy for backpacking but the Trailstove doesn't even weigh a pound.
FOOD		Bring plenty of high energy food. Don't waste your money on fancy energy bars though. Chocolate bars and granola bars are just as good and they taste better too.
CAMP SAW		A camp saw is very good to have if you are going to a really wild area. If you are camping in a developed camp area by a trail you probably won't need one but it could still be useful.
FLASH LIGHT		If you don't have a dependable light source you could get into very big trouble if you start running late and the sun starts going down. It's a good idea to bring an extra flash light with you too. Make sure that both flash lights have good batteries and that they both use the same type of batteries.
STEEL WIRE		Steel wire is an excellent substitute for screws, bolts, or any other type of fastener.
MULTI PURPOSE TOOL		Back in the old days I used to carry a Swiss army knife where ever I went, then the Leatherman tools came, now I carry one of each. If I had to pick one I would probably pick the Leatherman tool just for the pliers, but there are lots of tasks where the Swiss army knife still has the upper hand.
TENT		If I'm pretty sure the weather is going to be all right I don't bring a tent, it's much nicer to sleep under the stars. Just bring a tarp to make a shelter with just in case.