Well, I’m sitting around the house, and I start thinking (dreaming is more like it) about heading out for a weekender before too long. Its actually been awhile and would be nice to do so. Ok, you caught me, I was thinking about this at work today.

Thoughts of what gear I need vs. what I have and so forth came up. I’ve basically got everything, and I begin pondering the necessity of a stove. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the MSR Pocket Rocket, but do I “need” it? I pretty much decided, not really. Its nice to have, but hey, I can survive for a couple days on Jack Links, peanuts, and stuff like that. Come to think of it, I do that quite frequently anyhow. Why not save the weight and space in the pack? That might create enough room for an extra pair of dry socks.

Of course I bet you coffee lovers are cringing at the thought right now. I’ve been there myself. Somehow I got over the habit, but I’m not viceless. I do enjoy a Monster Energy Drink virtually everyday, however they’re a little heavy to take on the trail for a couple days. Fortunately there are caffeinated versions of Clif Shot energy gel out there.

Some of you may find you need a stove, and different situations may require one. In cold weather, you might like a hot cup of java, and/or a hot meal. The heat alone could be nice at times. There are a bunch to choose from, and I can certainly recommend the Pocket Rocket, but If you’re looking for really ultralight cookware; you should check out Backpackinglight.com. They have several incredibly lightweight stoves available. We’re talking titanium stoves weighing in at a whopping 13 grams. Maybe that’s for you, or maybe not.

I believe I’ll leave my backpacking stove at home on the next trip and see how things go.

New and improved and better than ever. The Blog (Best Little Outdoor Guide) will feature a number of outdoor related topics, as you may have noticed from the top of the page.

We’ll have things like trip reports, deals on gear to save you some cash, product announcements, and more. If you like the saving money part, I would definitely check back frequently for the latest promotions going on around the web. You’ll find these listed in the Big Deals category.

The picture in the upper right corner is one taken of Black Balsam Mountain in the Pisgah Ranger Distrcit of Pisgah National Forest.

Some of you may have seen other photos of the area in the Trail Tales section at hikerscorner.com. Most trip reports will be here from now on. The next trick will be to actually take a trip.