Best camping in North Carolina?

Real camping in North Carolina?

• I'm a 20 year old male. I want to go camping where I would actually be camping. What I mean by that is: no electricity, no RVs, no tables, no bathrooms, no already made campsite, ...show more

• Answer:

  As a beginner, you should start out by bringing all your supplies and food with you until you are comfortable and confident in your backcountry abilities. Obtaining your own food in the wilderness is problematic on many levels. There are good reasons why destruction of animals and plants is restricted in these areas -- wilderness is fragile and suffers many pressures from developed lands around it, especially in the heavily populated regions of the eastern US. The principles of responsible outdoor recreation are "leave no trace". The Smoky mountains of the Carolinas are the heaviest used wilderness areas in the country and could not sustain people gathering plants and randomly hunting wildlife -- this is why there are restrictions and permits required. Food gathering is also far more difficult than most newbies realize -- it surprises me that people don't understand this better in the age of TV shows like "Survivorman". Even the expert outdoorsmen who are shown in these programs struggle with hunger and scarcity of edible resources. Bringing your own supplies will enable you to relax and enjoy your surroundings. These supplies should include a water filter or iodine purification system. Many eastern waterways are contaminated with giardia, a nasty parasitic intestinal infection spread by beaver and other wildlife. Drinking untreated or unfiltered water can be really dangerous to your health. I appreciate your desire to retreat to the peace and simplicity of camping in the woods. It will be simpler and more peaceful if you carry everything you need with you. You don't need to spend a lot of money -- a basic tent, sleeping bag and pad, backpack and compact camp stove can be found used through Craigslist or yard sales. For a few days outing, a jar of peanut butter, a bag of flatbread or tortillas, some dried eggs, nuts and dried fruits and packs of ramen noodles will be enough to sustain you.