The AMAZING Backpacking North Carolina Challenge with Joe Miller

Do you like hiking?

Do you like contests?

Do you like contests where you’ll receive cool prizes just for hiking?

Cool prizes like the North Carolina Birding Trail 3-Volume Set? Orrrr a MSR PocketRocket Stove? Or how about a Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Self Infalting Sleeping Pad?

Yeah, we do, too!

That’s why we are extremely pleased to announce that Joe Miller, author of Backpacking North Carolina: The Definitive Guide to 43 Can’t-Miss Trips from Mountains to Sea, and Great Outdoor Provision Company have teamed up to bring you the Backpacking North Carolina Challenge! Cool prizes, great hiking–what more could you ask for?

So here’s the deal:

Backpacking North Carolina has 43 of the best hiking and backpacking trips that the state has to offer. Joe’s book is packed with valuable info–maps, elevation profiles, where to find water and campsites, estimated hike times and level of difficulty, gear and safety advice, several “best-of” lists for trips (including best for beginners, best for families, best for swimming, best for views), and way more great tips and advice.

If you do two, four or six trips from the book between now and October 31, 2011, you’ll win awesome (and valuable!) backpacking prizes from Great Outdoor Provision Co.

The Challenge is organized into 3 levels (Ridgeline, Prospector, and Mule) resulting from the accomplishments of the participants from April – October.

• RIDGELINE: Complete 2 backpacking trips that include an overnight in the wild. AWESOME Prize = Water Bottle & T-shirt
• PROSPECTOR: Complete 4 backpacking trips that include an overnight in the wild. AWESOME Prize = MSR PocketRocket Stove
• MULE: Complete 6 backpacking trips that include an overnight in the wild. AWESOME Prize = MSR PocketRocket Stove & a Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Self Infalting Sleeping Pad

In addition, all qualifiers receive a commemorative “Backpacking North Carolina Challege 2011″ patch to be awarded in October at the Mountains-To-Sea Trail Month Event (Date TBA). AND, each month a backpacker’s name will be randomly selected to receive the North Carolina Birding Trail Guide Series book set from UNC Press.

So we can keep track of your progress and give you proper credit, we ask all backpackers to simply post pictures from your trip (and a word or two about the experience) to Great Outdoor Provision Co.’s Facebook page. GOPC, Joe (at his two blogs, GetGoingNC and NC Hikes), & UNC Press will post the names of the qualifying participants on our websites.

If you use Twitter, be sure to tweet about your contest-related hikes with hashtag #bpnc!

Interested but don’t have equipment?
Great Outdoor Provision is working with a couple of gear makers to provide some of the basic (and most expensive) gear for rental.

Interested but don’t know anyone to go with?
Joe may lead a trip or two over the next few months–we’ll keep you posted on updates.

So there you have it! Now, get to backpacking!