Heading for the Great Outdoors

Fall is North Carolina is such a great time for camping and backpacking. Here are three ideas on what to take. Photo courtesy of Getty Images Plus.

1 Memorable meals
If there are no grills where you are going, bring a portable grate to cook burgers, veggies and other barbecue favorites or wrap foods in aluminum foil and bake them in a campfire. Bring your favorite herbs, spices and hot sauces, too.

2 Trek with tech
Whether you plan to hike, rock climb or canoe, there are many innovative devices on the market to record your achievements. For example, Casio Pro Trek watches have a PRTB50 Series with Bluetooth capabilities that enable data communication with a smartphone running the Pro Trek Connected app.

3 Sleep comfortably
Place a good, thick pad, or better yet, an air mattress under your sleeping bag to cushion hard ground. Many models have built-in pumps for quick setup. As for sleeping bags, check their temperature rating against your trip’s weather forecast.