If you’ve ever dreamed of backpacking through the wild but felt unsure about jumping straight into the backcountry, primitive camping in Virginia State Parks might be your perfect middle ground.
Ranger Amelia Hulth from Powhatan State Park describes how these minimalist campsites offer just enough amenities to keep things comfortable while giving you a true taste of the wild.
We review each primitive campground, including distance to hike in, terrain, difficulty level, and amenities. From Belle Isle’s easy 1.5-mile hike to scenic riverfront sites to the rugged 8-mile trek to False Cape that rewards you with remote beachside solitude, there’s something for every skill level and sense of adventure.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to build backpacking skills or a seasoned camper craving a quieter connection with nature, Virginia State Parks’ primitive camping experience is your gateway to a wilder Virginia. Let’s Go!
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Mentioned in this Episode:
Connect with Ranger Amelia Hulth:
Email Amelia.Hulth@dcr.virginia.gov I Powhatan State Park
Virginia State Parks Primitive Campgrounds
Let's Go Adventures - Backpacking (Camping) Schedule
Episode 56 - Let's Go Adventures
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Contact show host, Jessica Bowser:
jessica@virginiaoutdooradventures.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jessica Bowser (00:00):
Announcer, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the
Chesapeake Bay, Virginia is amecca for outdoor travel and
adventure. Virginia outdooradventures Podcast is your local
guide for hiking, camping,kayaking, travel and so much
more. Get the information andthe inspiration to plan your own
adventure right here inVirginia, I'm your host, Jessica
(00:23):
Bowser, if you've ever dreamedof backpacking through the wild
but felt unsure about jumpingstraight into the backcountry,
primitive camping in VirginiaState Parks might be your
perfect middle ground Ranger.
Amelia Hall from Powhatan StatePark describes how these
minimalist camp sites offer justenough amenities to keep things
comfortable while giving you atrue taste of the Wild. We
(00:46):
review each primitivecampground, including distance
to hike in terrain, difficultylevel and amenities, from Belle
Isles easy one and a half milehike to scenic riverfront sites
to the rugged, eight mile trekto falls cape that rewards you
with remote, beachside solitude.
(01:07):
There's something for everyskill level and sense of
adventure, whether you're abeginner looking to build
backpacking skills or a seasonedcamper craving a quieter
connection with nature. VirginiaState Park's primitive camping
experience is your gateway to awilder Virginia. Let's go. This
(01:27):
is part two of a two partepisode. Virginia State Parks is
offering visitors of all agesthe opportunity to explore the
natural and cultural wonders ofVirginia. Diverse programming is
designed to inspire curiosity,foster environmental stewardship
and provide enriching outdoorexperiences for families,
(01:48):
students and nature enthusiastsalike, join us at Virginia State
Parks for exciting, familyfriendly events and invite you
to explore the outdoors for afull schedule of events,
including park locations andprogram details. Click on
Virginia State Parks events inyour show notes, how much water
(02:08):
does a backpacker need to carryfor drinking and for meals, and
do they need it for washing likehow much water does someone need
to have? Generally,
Unknown (02:17):
one liter for every two hours of hiking is what you want
to pack for a backpack trip.
When we did our overnight tripto Belle Isle, I packed four
liters of water and I emptied myNalgene, you know, on our hike
out and we cooked two mealswhile we were out in the field.
I think you always want to packmore than what you think you're
(02:39):
going to need. And if you don'twant to take on that weight of
carrying all that water, youknow, check in advance and see
it's a primitive camp ground haspotable water access. You know,
if you've set up a base camp,you can hike out and load up on
water and take it back. Or ifyou're camping somewhere where
there's a street, you can purifyit with a water filter or with
(03:01):
treatment tablets, but generallyone liter of every two hours of
hiking is what you want to planfor another
Jessica Bowser (03:10):
reason why primitive campsites are like
backpacking light because youmay also have water there too.
Yeah, definitely. Do you haveany creature comfort items now I
know you do because I saw whatwas in your pack. So do you want
to share any of them?
Unknown (03:25):
Yeah, I do have some creature comforts. And as I'm,
like, getting older, I feel likeI need so many more creature
comforts. I'm just like, onestep away from hiking with a
down comforter. But yeah, one ofmy creature comforts is a small
fleece blanket. I tend to get alittle bit cold in the night, so
a small fleece blanket. I didalso camp at Belle Isle with
(03:48):
foot warmers, the little likedisposable foot pads that you
can attach to your sock, and Iuse them. I also brought battery
powered party lights to line upour campsite, but just make it
like, you know, it's so fun, sofun.
Jessica Bowser (04:05):
I'm so glad you did that. It made for really
great pictures. Okay, it's allabout the gram, don't, you know,
Amelia. And
Unknown (04:14):
then I also like to bake like a cup of hot tea at
night before I go to bed. Andthen I also have a pocket size
board game called Fargo. It's alittle dice game. Didn't play it
on this trip, but I always takeit when I go backpacking,
because it actually fits, if youcan remember back to like, film
cameras, the little canisterthat the film comes in, that's
(04:34):
how big this board game is. Soall the things I packed aren't
super heavy or pick up a lot ofspace in my pack, and they, you
know, they just made me feelbetter to see up on my blanket
after a hot tea while watchingour party lights. Yeah, that's
Jessica Bowser (04:50):
right, girl, we had so much fun. I also had a
blanket with me. I had extraspace in my pack because I
didn't need to pack a bunch ofextra meals or a bunch of extra
water because we were just.
Doing one night. And I alsodidn't need to have a bear
canister, because it was BelleIsle. So there was no, you know,
no need for some of those otherthings. So it made a little bit
of space for some other stuff.
(05:11):
Hand warmers and foot warmers, Ifeel like, are a must,
especially in the spring,because it does still get cold
at night or in the fall, right?
Like, unless it's summer,chances are it's going to get
chilly at night and havingsomething to keep you warm.
Because I don't know about you,but I can't sleep if I'm cold,
like even if my entire body iscovered up, but just my face is
poking out of the sleeping bagand my nose is cold, I still
(05:33):
can't sleep. I don't know what'swrong with me. By having, you
know, those extra hand warmersand foot warmers make a really
big difference. And I had, like,double and triple layer
everything, even though it wasApril, I still had, like, fleece
leggings underneath my fleecepants, and like, two pairs of
socks and gloves and hats andlike everything I was bundled up
(05:57):
like an Eskimo to make sure Iwas warm enough, yeah,
Unknown (06:02):
and I mean, but we also hiked. We hiked a mile, a mile
and a half in with our gear, andthen we hiked like five or six
miles throughout the park on thetrails too. So you know, we were
still doing some rigorousoutdoor activity, and so we had
fatigue, which, you know, canmake it harder to regulate your
temperature. So I was happy tohave my foot warmers and my
extra blanket, no shame,absolutely.
Jessica Bowser (06:25):
And that also reminds me that having extra
sets of clothing can be reallycrucial, because we were hiking
during the day and it was hotand we were sweating, and we
were carrying all that gear intothe campsite, so all my clothes
were soaked through with sweat.
And if that had been the onlyset of clothes I had, then I
would have been in trouble,because, like, my clothing would
have been wet the rest of thenight and into the next day, and
(06:45):
in extreme temperatures, thatcan mean hypothermia. So like,
having extra sets of clothes arealso really important. Are there
any options for gear rental orconsignment for folks who are
needing to purchase gear orneeding to borrow gear, but
aren't ready to commit to ityet, depending
Unknown (07:06):
on your location and what your local outfitter is,
you know, there may be optionswhere you can visit, you can go
in, talk to somebody that worksthere, and they can help you try
on the gear. They may haveoptions where you can rent use
gear, depending on where youlive, there may be like a local
(07:26):
outdoor club where you can join,like a swap meet, or they'll
have, like an annual, like yardsale of outdoor gear. You can
also join, like a beginnerbackpacking program. We have
some of those in Virginia stateparks, and so will your local
outfitter. So I would recommend,like, trying different gear
before you get committed on acertain color or, like, a
(07:49):
certain leader of pack. Imentioned earlier, watching
YouTube is a great resource towatch people that are doing this
all the time and see what youlike about their gear. But yeah,
I think starting with your localoutfitter is a is a good way for
beginners to see what types ofgear out there and what they
like, yeah. And I
Jessica Bowser (08:10):
also think that if you start looking around, you
might be surprised at what youfind. River Rock outfitter in
Fredericksburg has an entireconsignment section to their
store. But then also, I recentlylearned that like, Harrisonburg
Public Library does a gearrental swap program, I think,
and so they've got all kinds ofbrand new outdoor gear that you
(08:31):
can go in and check out, justlike you would check out a
library book. So like, lookaround and you might find
something in your area that youdidn't even know was there that
is a really great option fortrying things out, and
especially when it comes to,like packs, right? Because I
feel like a pack is somethingthat you have to really it's a
real personal choice, and it'sgot to fit you just right,
(08:54):
because the last thing you needis an uncomfortable pack or
something that is rubbing orchafing in a weird place, or,
you know, is giving you pain,like you don't want to order a
pack online and then just takeit out for the first time, like
you need to go into the storeand actually have somebody who
works there help you try it onand get you fitted for it, and
to make sure that you understandhow to put it on, and you know
(09:16):
where to pull all the tabs andthe straps and the things like
that, and to be like, perfectlycomfortable in it, and to know
it's going to work for you, it'sfunny
Unknown (09:24):
you say that. So when I first started out on the
Appalachian Trail, I had abackpack where the internal
frame collapsed, like, gosh,like, like, four weeks into the
trip, and it was just like,digging into my spine in between
my shoulder blades. We went toDamascus for, like, their
Appalachian trails days, whichis like a big community festival
(09:45):
all about backpacking, and thecompany that I had in my pack
from had a table set up there,and I was like, Hey, here's my
pack. Like this happened, andthey swapped it out and fitted
me with a brand new pack rightthere that was like, so much
better for. My body and, like,I'm so grateful because I was
able to continue on, you know,like, an additional 600 miles
(10:06):
after that, but that digging inmy back, it was, like it was
always going to break
Jessica Bowser (10:11):
me, I'll bet, yeah, something like that that
makes or breaks your trip.
Unknown (10:15):
And the same goes for things like shoes. You know, you
definitely don't want to go outon a backpack when you trip, or
a hiking, even just, you know,day hiking and a brand new pair
of boots.
Jessica Bowser (10:24):
Yeah, that's the fastest way to get blisters.
Yeah,
Unknown (10:27):
and, you know, I should have said this earlier, you
know, mentioning blisters andthings to pack. You also want to
take, like, a mini first aid kitwhen you go camping, just some
basic things, band aids,Benadryl, Sting treatment, burn
treatment, burn treatment, thosetypes of things, but you
definitely want to pack up oursafety
Jessica Bowser (10:44):
and yeah, that's one of the 10 essentials. And
actually, when you and I went toBelle Isle, I was wearing a well
worn pair of trail runners thatI've had for two years now that
have never, ever given me anyissues, and I ended up with the
blister on the top of one of mylittle toes, and that's never
happened before. I don't know ifit was the additional weight it
(11:05):
had open. It had been theadditional weight that I'm not
used to carrying, and it gave meblisters. So I didn't expect it,
but I did have band aids,because it's one of the 10
essentials to have in your pack.
So if I had not had band aids, Iwould have been in a world of
hurts, adventures. Seekers willfind endless opportunities in
Grayson County, where many ofVirginia's iconic trails and
(11:27):
landmarks excite hikers,cyclists, paddlers and happy
campers alike. Imagine this.
You're hiking on one of the mostscenic sections of the entire
Appalachian Trail through theGeorge Washington and Jefferson
National Forests, summitingmount Rogers or white top
mountain, the two highest peaksin Virginia, or strolling
(11:48):
through the valley of elkgarden, where the now extinct
Eastern elk once roamed. Ormaybe your perfect day is on the
water. Grayson County is home tothe New River, one of the oldest
and most scenic rivers in theworld, enjoy a leisurely class
one float with the family oradrenaline packed class three
rapids. Navigate the watersusing the New River float
(12:10):
calculator to plan your trip.
The App factors flow rate, waterlevels, weather conditions,
vessel type and more tocalculate float times from point
A to point B. Prefer two wheels.
You won't want to miss theGrayson gravel traverse, a 72
mile mixed surface gravel bikeroute that connects the Virginia
Creeper trail and new rivertrail over well maintained and
(12:33):
remote roads featuring a varietyof challenging climbs in the
foothills of Virginia's highestpeaks. This overlooked gem of
Virginia presents some of thebest gravel cycling in the
state, mostly unwritten andundiscovered after a day of
adventure, there's nothing likegathering around a campfire
under a sky filled with stars.
Grayson County offers plenty ofspots to pitch a tent like the
(12:56):
New River campground or cozy upin a rustic cabin at the Bucha
wild reserve. Discover whyVirginia is for outdoor lovers.
Start your Grayson Countyadventure at the historic 1908
courthouse and visitor center,or access the visitors guide
online by clicking on visitGrayson County in the show notes
of your podcast listening app.
(13:22):
If people are ready to make areservation at a primitive
campsite, where do they go? Whatdo they do?
Unknown (13:28):
So to make a reservation, you can go online
to reserveva parks.com or youcan call the reservation center
by phone at 1-800-933-7275 atand either of those options will
help you make a reservationyou're actually in a park. You
can also check with the parkoffice, with their staff, to see
(13:50):
what they have available.
Jessica Bowser (13:51):
Perfect. I'll drop those in the show notes, so
that people will have thatinformation at their fingertips.
Do you have any tips for makinga reservation during peak
season, because I know some ofthese primitive campsites get
super busy.
Unknown (14:06):
Well, yeah, it's all about the experience. You want
to experience that backpackingtrip and post it on the gram. As
you said earlier, my advicewould be to plan ahead. You can
reserve a campsite up to 11months in advance if you're also
trying to camp during peakseason, which for us would be
like Memorial weekend to laborand Day weekend. I would look at
(14:26):
seeing if you have theflexibility to camp during the
week rather than on a weekend,planning ahead 11 months in
advance. That's when you canmake a campsite reservation. I
would also call and talk to thestaff at the park office. They
can make recommendations as wellabout which campsites they may
recommend or the best times tovisit their campsite.
Jessica Bowser (14:49):
Hey, adventure seekers, can you believe I
traveled 10,043 miles acrossVirginia last year? Yep, over
10,000 miles in search of thebest trail. Parks and base camps
to help you plan your nextadventure. If you've enjoyed
discovering these hidden gemsand want to hear more, consider
supporting the podcast throughmy buy me a coffee page. Your
(15:12):
contribution, whether it's a onetime tip or a monthly
membership, helps cover the costof creating these episodes and
keeps the adventure going. Everybit helps fuel the journey, plus
members get some awesome perks.
So head to my buy me a coffeepage by clicking on support the
show. In your show notes, shoutout to the newest members of
Virginia outdoor adventures.
(15:33):
Anne from Fredericksburg, Mattfrom Roanoke. Barb from
Chesterfield, Lori from Norfolk,Rafael from Falls Church, Kevin
from Richmond and Allison fromclear Brook. Thanks for helping
me share Virginia's wildest,most inspiring places one
adventure at a time. I wanted totake a moment to talk about
(15:54):
Virginia state parks. Let's goadventures program. I did an
episode on let's go adventureslast season, and I will link it
in the show notes, so foranybody who missed it, they can
listen. But Virginia State Parksoffers let's go adventures
programs, which are educationalprograms to teach people about
things like orienteering orarchery or camping or fly
(16:17):
fishing. And this year, they'veadded a brand new program to
let's go adventures, and that'sbackpacking. And this course
will teach people how tobackpack, and they will provide
you with all of the suppliesthat you need as part of the
course to use during the course,so that you can try things out
and get a feel for what you likeand what you need and how to use
(16:41):
the gear, and so I just wantedto give this a plug, because
this is a wonderful opportunityfor anybody who's thinking that
maybe they'd like to take aclass or a course on
backpacking. Virginia StateParks actually offers that now,
I did take a quick peek at thecalendar before we started
recording to see when theupcoming let's go adventures
(17:02):
backpacking courses are andright now, it looks like they
just have a few on the calendar,and they seem to be mostly at
macho comico State Park. But Italked to the staff, and they
told me that they are in theprocess of adding more. So if
this is something that interestspeople like keep an eye on the
let's go adventures page on theVirginia State Parks website for
upcoming programs. Amelia, doyou have any other advice for
(17:26):
first time backpackers?
Unknown (17:28):
My last advice would be just remember that when you're
taking trips like this, it's notabout the vials, it's all about
the smiles. So you tailor thisexperience to yourself, and for
me, when I'm backpacking orprimitive camping, it's because
I want to have a closerconnection with nature, and so I
(17:49):
hope when you're planning yourtrip, you'll do the same.
Jessica Bowser (17:52):
That is really great advice. Familia, how can
listeners connect with you?
Unknown (17:58):
So I'm the park manager at Powhatan State Park, and we
have a primitive campground, soI hope to see you there, or you
can send me an email or stop bythe Parker office anytime,
Jessica Bowser (18:10):
I will drop links to your parks website. All
of the parks that have primitivecampgrounds will be linked in
the show notes and social mediapages. Thank you so much, Ranger
Amelia, for joining us and forsharing your expertise on
backpacking. I encourageeveryone to plan their first or
their next backpacking trip in aVirginia State Park. Check the
(18:32):
show notes for links to thereservation system for let's go
backpacking and the recommendedparks. Ranger Amelia, it's been
fun. I had a very enjoyable timebackpacking with you at Belle
Isle State Park, and hopefully Iwill see you out in a Virginia
State Park really soon. Thank
Unknown (18:51):
you so much for having me adventure on
Jessica Bowser (18:56):
Virginia.
Outdoor Adventures is inspiredby and supported by listeners
like you, which is why yourmessages and feedback mean so
much to me. You can text medirectly by clicking on Send
Jessica a text message in yourshow notes. I answer questions,
respond to comments and shareyour feedback on the show. Never
miss a new episode. Sign up formy email newsletter and receive
(19:19):
my listener resource guide withthe top podcast episodes, a
Virginia outdoor bucket list andexclusive brand discounts for my
listeners. Click on newsletter,sign up in your show notes or
visit virginiaoutdooradventures.com thanks for
listening until next time.
Adventure on you.
Announcer, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the
Chesapeake Bay, Virginia is amecca for outdoor travel and
adventure. Virginia outdooradventures Podcast is your local
guide for hiking, camping,kayaking, travel and so much
more. Get the information andthe inspiration to plan your own
adventure right here inVirginia, I'm your host, Jessica
(00:23):
Bowser, if you've ever dreamedof backpacking through the wild
but felt unsure about jumpingstraight into the backcountry,
primitive camping in VirginiaState Parks might be your
perfect middle ground Ranger.
Amelia Hall from Powhatan StatePark describes how these
minimalist camp sites offer justenough amenities to keep things
comfortable while giving you atrue taste of the Wild. We
(00:46):
review each primitivecampground, including distance
to hike in terrain, difficultylevel and amenities, from Belle
Isles easy one and a half milehike to scenic riverfront sites
to the rugged, eight mile trekto falls cape that rewards you
with remote, beachside solitude.
(01:07):
There's something for everyskill level and sense of
adventure, whether you're abeginner looking to build
backpacking skills or a seasonedcamper craving a quieter
connection with nature. VirginiaState Park's primitive camping
experience is your gateway to awilder Virginia. Let's go. This
(01:27):
is part two of a two partepisode. Virginia State Parks is
offering visitors of all agesthe opportunity to explore the
natural and cultural wonders ofVirginia. Diverse programming is
designed to inspire curiosity,foster environmental stewardship
and provide enriching outdoorexperiences for families,
(01:48):
students and nature enthusiastsalike, join us at Virginia State
Parks for exciting, familyfriendly events and invite you
to explore the outdoors for afull schedule of events,
including park locations andprogram details. Click on
Virginia State Parks events inyour show notes, how much water
(02:08):
does a backpacker need to carryfor drinking and for meals, and
do they need it for washing likehow much water does someone need
to have? Generally,
Unknown (02:17):
one liter for every two hours of hiking is what you want
to pack for a backpack trip.
When we did our overnight tripto Belle Isle, I packed four
liters of water and I emptied myNalgene, you know, on our hike
out and we cooked two mealswhile we were out in the field.
I think you always want to packmore than what you think you're
(02:39):
going to need. And if you don'twant to take on that weight of
carrying all that water, youknow, check in advance and see
it's a primitive camp ground haspotable water access. You know,
if you've set up a base camp,you can hike out and load up on
water and take it back. Or ifyou're camping somewhere where
there's a street, you can purifyit with a water filter or with
(03:01):
treatment tablets, but generallyone liter of every two hours of
hiking is what you want to planfor another
Jessica Bowser (03:10):
reason why primitive campsites are like
backpacking light because youmay also have water there too.
Yeah, definitely. Do you haveany creature comfort items now I
know you do because I saw whatwas in your pack. So do you want
to share any of them?
Unknown (03:25):
Yeah, I do have some creature comforts. And as I'm,
like, getting older, I feel likeI need so many more creature
comforts. I'm just like, onestep away from hiking with a
down comforter. But yeah, one ofmy creature comforts is a small
fleece blanket. I tend to get alittle bit cold in the night, so
a small fleece blanket. I didalso camp at Belle Isle with
(03:48):
foot warmers, the little likedisposable foot pads that you
can attach to your sock, and Iuse them. I also brought battery
powered party lights to line upour campsite, but just make it
like, you know, it's so fun, sofun.
Jessica Bowser (04:05):
I'm so glad you did that. It made for really
great pictures. Okay, it's allabout the gram, don't, you know,
Amelia. And
Unknown (04:14):
then I also like to bake like a cup of hot tea at
night before I go to bed. Andthen I also have a pocket size
board game called Fargo. It's alittle dice game. Didn't play it
on this trip, but I always takeit when I go backpacking,
because it actually fits, if youcan remember back to like, film
cameras, the little canisterthat the film comes in, that's
(04:34):
how big this board game is. Soall the things I packed aren't
super heavy or pick up a lot ofspace in my pack, and they, you
know, they just made me feelbetter to see up on my blanket
after a hot tea while watchingour party lights. Yeah, that's
Jessica Bowser (04:50):
right, girl, we had so much fun. I also had a
blanket with me. I had extraspace in my pack because I
didn't need to pack a bunch ofextra meals or a bunch of extra
water because we were just.
Doing one night. And I alsodidn't need to have a bear
canister, because it was BelleIsle. So there was no, you know,
no need for some of those otherthings. So it made a little bit
of space for some other stuff.
(05:11):
Hand warmers and foot warmers, Ifeel like, are a must,
especially in the spring,because it does still get cold
at night or in the fall, right?
Like, unless it's summer,chances are it's going to get
chilly at night and havingsomething to keep you warm.
Because I don't know about you,but I can't sleep if I'm cold,
like even if my entire body iscovered up, but just my face is
poking out of the sleeping bagand my nose is cold, I still
(05:33):
can't sleep. I don't know what'swrong with me. By having, you
know, those extra hand warmersand foot warmers make a really
big difference. And I had, like,double and triple layer
everything, even though it wasApril, I still had, like, fleece
leggings underneath my fleecepants, and like, two pairs of
socks and gloves and hats andlike everything I was bundled up
(05:57):
like an Eskimo to make sure Iwas warm enough, yeah,
Unknown (06:02):
and I mean, but we also hiked. We hiked a mile, a mile
and a half in with our gear, andthen we hiked like five or six
miles throughout the park on thetrails too. So you know, we were
still doing some rigorousoutdoor activity, and so we had
fatigue, which, you know, canmake it harder to regulate your
temperature. So I was happy tohave my foot warmers and my
extra blanket, no shame,absolutely.
Jessica Bowser (06:25):
And that also reminds me that having extra
sets of clothing can be reallycrucial, because we were hiking
during the day and it was hotand we were sweating, and we
were carrying all that gear intothe campsite, so all my clothes
were soaked through with sweat.
And if that had been the onlyset of clothes I had, then I
would have been in trouble,because, like, my clothing would
have been wet the rest of thenight and into the next day, and
(06:45):
in extreme temperatures, thatcan mean hypothermia. So like,
having extra sets of clothes arealso really important. Are there
any options for gear rental orconsignment for folks who are
needing to purchase gear orneeding to borrow gear, but
aren't ready to commit to ityet, depending
Unknown (07:06):
on your location and what your local outfitter is,
you know, there may be optionswhere you can visit, you can go
in, talk to somebody that worksthere, and they can help you try
on the gear. They may haveoptions where you can rent use
gear, depending on where youlive, there may be like a local
(07:26):
outdoor club where you can join,like a swap meet, or they'll
have, like an annual, like yardsale of outdoor gear. You can
also join, like a beginnerbackpacking program. We have
some of those in Virginia stateparks, and so will your local
outfitter. So I would recommend,like, trying different gear
before you get committed on acertain color or, like, a
(07:49):
certain leader of pack. Imentioned earlier, watching
YouTube is a great resource towatch people that are doing this
all the time and see what youlike about their gear. But yeah,
I think starting with your localoutfitter is a is a good way for
beginners to see what types ofgear out there and what they
like, yeah. And I
Jessica Bowser (08:10):
also think that if you start looking around, you
might be surprised at what youfind. River Rock outfitter in
Fredericksburg has an entireconsignment section to their
store. But then also, I recentlylearned that like, Harrisonburg
Public Library does a gearrental swap program, I think,
and so they've got all kinds ofbrand new outdoor gear that you
(08:31):
can go in and check out, justlike you would check out a
library book. So like, lookaround and you might find
something in your area that youdidn't even know was there that
is a really great option fortrying things out, and
especially when it comes to,like packs, right? Because I
feel like a pack is somethingthat you have to really it's a
real personal choice, and it'sgot to fit you just right,
(08:54):
because the last thing you needis an uncomfortable pack or
something that is rubbing orchafing in a weird place, or,
you know, is giving you pain,like you don't want to order a
pack online and then just takeit out for the first time, like
you need to go into the storeand actually have somebody who
works there help you try it onand get you fitted for it, and
to make sure that you understandhow to put it on, and you know
(09:16):
where to pull all the tabs andthe straps and the things like
that, and to be like, perfectlycomfortable in it, and to know
it's going to work for you, it'sfunny
Unknown (09:24):
you say that. So when I first started out on the
Appalachian Trail, I had abackpack where the internal
frame collapsed, like, gosh,like, like, four weeks into the
trip, and it was just like,digging into my spine in between
my shoulder blades. We went toDamascus for, like, their
Appalachian trails days, whichis like a big community festival
(09:45):
all about backpacking, and thecompany that I had in my pack
from had a table set up there,and I was like, Hey, here's my
pack. Like this happened, andthey swapped it out and fitted
me with a brand new pack rightthere that was like, so much
better for. My body and, like,I'm so grateful because I was
able to continue on, you know,like, an additional 600 miles
(10:06):
after that, but that digging inmy back, it was, like it was
always going to break
Jessica Bowser (10:11):
me, I'll bet, yeah, something like that that
makes or breaks your trip.
Unknown (10:15):
And the same goes for things like shoes. You know, you
definitely don't want to go outon a backpack when you trip, or
a hiking, even just, you know,day hiking and a brand new pair
of boots.
Jessica Bowser (10:24):
Yeah, that's the fastest way to get blisters.
Yeah,
Unknown (10:27):
and, you know, I should have said this earlier, you
know, mentioning blisters andthings to pack. You also want to
take, like, a mini first aid kitwhen you go camping, just some
basic things, band aids,Benadryl, Sting treatment, burn
treatment, burn treatment, thosetypes of things, but you
definitely want to pack up oursafety
Jessica Bowser (10:44):
and yeah, that's one of the 10 essentials. And
actually, when you and I went toBelle Isle, I was wearing a well
worn pair of trail runners thatI've had for two years now that
have never, ever given me anyissues, and I ended up with the
blister on the top of one of mylittle toes, and that's never
happened before. I don't know ifit was the additional weight it
(11:05):
had open. It had been theadditional weight that I'm not
used to carrying, and it gave meblisters. So I didn't expect it,
but I did have band aids,because it's one of the 10
essentials to have in your pack.
So if I had not had band aids, Iwould have been in a world of
hurts, adventures. Seekers willfind endless opportunities in
Grayson County, where many ofVirginia's iconic trails and
(11:27):
landmarks excite hikers,cyclists, paddlers and happy
campers alike. Imagine this.
You're hiking on one of the mostscenic sections of the entire
Appalachian Trail through theGeorge Washington and Jefferson
National Forests, summitingmount Rogers or white top
mountain, the two highest peaksin Virginia, or strolling
(11:48):
through the valley of elkgarden, where the now extinct
Eastern elk once roamed. Ormaybe your perfect day is on the
water. Grayson County is home tothe New River, one of the oldest
and most scenic rivers in theworld, enjoy a leisurely class
one float with the family oradrenaline packed class three
rapids. Navigate the watersusing the New River float
(12:10):
calculator to plan your trip.
The App factors flow rate, waterlevels, weather conditions,
vessel type and more tocalculate float times from point
A to point B. Prefer two wheels.
You won't want to miss theGrayson gravel traverse, a 72
mile mixed surface gravel bikeroute that connects the Virginia
Creeper trail and new rivertrail over well maintained and
(12:33):
remote roads featuring a varietyof challenging climbs in the
foothills of Virginia's highestpeaks. This overlooked gem of
Virginia presents some of thebest gravel cycling in the
state, mostly unwritten andundiscovered after a day of
adventure, there's nothing likegathering around a campfire
under a sky filled with stars.
Grayson County offers plenty ofspots to pitch a tent like the
(12:56):
New River campground or cozy upin a rustic cabin at the Bucha
wild reserve. Discover whyVirginia is for outdoor lovers.
Start your Grayson Countyadventure at the historic 1908
courthouse and visitor center,or access the visitors guide
online by clicking on visitGrayson County in the show notes
of your podcast listening app.
(13:22):
If people are ready to make areservation at a primitive
campsite, where do they go? Whatdo they do?
Unknown (13:28):
So to make a reservation, you can go online
to reserveva parks.com or youcan call the reservation center
by phone at 1-800-933-7275 atand either of those options will
help you make a reservationyou're actually in a park. You
can also check with the parkoffice, with their staff, to see
(13:50):
what they have available.
Jessica Bowser (13:51):
Perfect. I'll drop those in the show notes, so
that people will have thatinformation at their fingertips.
Do you have any tips for makinga reservation during peak
season, because I know some ofthese primitive campsites get
super busy.
Unknown (14:06):
Well, yeah, it's all about the experience. You want
to experience that backpackingtrip and post it on the gram. As
you said earlier, my advicewould be to plan ahead. You can
reserve a campsite up to 11months in advance if you're also
trying to camp during peakseason, which for us would be
like Memorial weekend to laborand Day weekend. I would look at
(14:26):
seeing if you have theflexibility to camp during the
week rather than on a weekend,planning ahead 11 months in
advance. That's when you canmake a campsite reservation. I
would also call and talk to thestaff at the park office. They
can make recommendations as wellabout which campsites they may
recommend or the best times tovisit their campsite.
Jessica Bowser (14:49):
Hey, adventure seekers, can you believe I
traveled 10,043 miles acrossVirginia last year? Yep, over
10,000 miles in search of thebest trail. Parks and base camps
to help you plan your nextadventure. If you've enjoyed
discovering these hidden gemsand want to hear more, consider
supporting the podcast throughmy buy me a coffee page. Your
(15:12):
contribution, whether it's a onetime tip or a monthly
membership, helps cover the costof creating these episodes and
keeps the adventure going. Everybit helps fuel the journey, plus
members get some awesome perks.
So head to my buy me a coffeepage by clicking on support the
show. In your show notes, shoutout to the newest members of
Virginia outdoor adventures.
(15:33):
Anne from Fredericksburg, Mattfrom Roanoke. Barb from
Chesterfield, Lori from Norfolk,Rafael from Falls Church, Kevin
from Richmond and Allison fromclear Brook. Thanks for helping
me share Virginia's wildest,most inspiring places one
adventure at a time. I wanted totake a moment to talk about
(15:54):
Virginia state parks. Let's goadventures program. I did an
episode on let's go adventureslast season, and I will link it
in the show notes, so foranybody who missed it, they can
listen. But Virginia State Parksoffers let's go adventures
programs, which are educationalprograms to teach people about
things like orienteering orarchery or camping or fly
(16:17):
fishing. And this year, they'veadded a brand new program to
let's go adventures, and that'sbackpacking. And this course
will teach people how tobackpack, and they will provide
you with all of the suppliesthat you need as part of the
course to use during the course,so that you can try things out
and get a feel for what you likeand what you need and how to use
(16:41):
the gear, and so I just wantedto give this a plug, because
this is a wonderful opportunityfor anybody who's thinking that
maybe they'd like to take aclass or a course on
backpacking. Virginia StateParks actually offers that now,
I did take a quick peek at thecalendar before we started
recording to see when theupcoming let's go adventures
(17:02):
backpacking courses are andright now, it looks like they
just have a few on the calendar,and they seem to be mostly at
macho comico State Park. But Italked to the staff, and they
told me that they are in theprocess of adding more. So if
this is something that interestspeople like keep an eye on the
let's go adventures page on theVirginia State Parks website for
upcoming programs. Amelia, doyou have any other advice for
(17:26):
first time backpackers?
Unknown (17:28):
My last advice would be just remember that when you're
taking trips like this, it's notabout the vials, it's all about
the smiles. So you tailor thisexperience to yourself, and for
me, when I'm backpacking orprimitive camping, it's because
I want to have a closerconnection with nature, and so I
(17:49):
hope when you're planning yourtrip, you'll do the same.
Jessica Bowser (17:52):
That is really great advice. Familia, how can
listeners connect with you?
Unknown (17:58):
So I'm the park manager at Powhatan State Park, and we
have a primitive campground, soI hope to see you there, or you
can send me an email or stop bythe Parker office anytime,
Jessica Bowser (18:10):
I will drop links to your parks website. All
of the parks that have primitivecampgrounds will be linked in
the show notes and social mediapages. Thank you so much, Ranger
Amelia, for joining us and forsharing your expertise on
backpacking. I encourageeveryone to plan their first or
their next backpacking trip in aVirginia State Park. Check the
(18:32):
show notes for links to thereservation system for let's go
backpacking and the recommendedparks. Ranger Amelia, it's been
fun. I had a very enjoyable timebackpacking with you at Belle
Isle State Park, and hopefully Iwill see you out in a Virginia
State Park really soon. Thank
Unknown (18:51):
you so much for having me adventure on
Jessica Bowser (18:56):
Virginia.
Outdoor Adventures is inspiredby and supported by listeners
like you, which is why yourmessages and feedback mean so
much to me. You can text medirectly by clicking on Send
Jessica a text message in yourshow notes. I answer questions,
respond to comments and shareyour feedback on the show. Never
miss a new episode. Sign up formy email newsletter and receive
(19:19):
my listener resource guide withthe top podcast episodes, a
Virginia outdoor bucket list andexclusive brand discounts for my
listeners. Click on newsletter,sign up in your show notes or
visit virginiaoutdooradventures.com thanks for
listening until next time.
Adventure on you.
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