North Core Banks...?

I'm 4 weeks from doing 5 days / 4 nights on the beach at the North Core Banks, NC with 2 other trucks and 3 other guys.

Any frequent beach campers have any experience with "I wish I had known..." or pro-tips that might make our first beach camp better?

Any and all ideas welcome.

Thanks!

 

That's going to be an awesome trip. I'm actually heading out to the South Core Banks next week for 5 days. Going to do some beach camping. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

 

I'm excited for you! Wish my trip was next week, not next month. Is this your first foray into remote beach/island camping?

 

Thanks. Yeah it is. I'll post some pics when I get back.

 

I've only kayaked and gone backpacking out there since I have a Prerunner , but my tips are:

1. Bring bug spray. If the wind dies, the mosquito's will carry you away.
2. Cell service does reach from the mainland in some areas, but don't rely on it for your only form of communications.
3. Watch the weather!

Have fun, it's awesome getting away out there!

 

I did North Core Banks twice last year and will be there again Memorial Day Weekend this year. This place is amazing and has become one of my favorite spots on earth. Here are some brief notes from my trips.

-Stop at the NPS shack and ask about areas of beach that are closed. During this part of the season they should have very little closed for turtle hatchings but just know that at times they will close off entire sections.
-Bug Spray...the mosquitos are everywhere and the green headed flies bite HARD.
-There are raccoons on the island, surprise! - I learned the hard way when one tried to steal my dog's food after dark. Keep food and trash secured in your truck if possible.
-If you have a dog, keep it on a leash. The NPS patrols the beach fairly regularly and will jump all over you and/or give you an expensive ticket if the dog is off leash.
-Buy good sand stakes for your guy-lines on any tents or shelters - depending on the weather you will have a steady breeze that can take down your shelters. At least 10" stakes is my recommendation.
-Ice is readily available at the NPS camp at surprisingly good prices, as well as showers and restrooms. This is just a good FYI - I try to plan to be self sufficient out there.
-If you haven't already, read up on sand driving. Definitely air down the tires to <20psi either before getting on the Donza or immediately after getting off the ferry. Some of the deepest loose sand there is that first turn off the ferry in the middle of camp. I watched a Honda get stuck there because they were impatient.

 

Good info Ryan, thanks!

From what I've seen, to get to Portsmouth Village there's a long, but not deep, water crossing across some tidal flats... does that sound right?

We're taking the 3p ferry across and figured we'd motor all the way north to get a feel for the island, note what we wanted to take a longer look at, then slowly move back down the island over the following 3 or 4 days.

This NPS shack you mentioned, is it at the ferry drop off, or somewhere else on the island?

 

Yes, the shack is right at the ferry drop off.

There are definitely some tidal flats between the south end and the north. I haven't crossed the tidal flats myself because I haven't been with another vehicle and didn't want to risk getting stuck.

 

@ryane26vt : talk to me about surf fishing there...

 

World class. The majority of the rigs you see there will be old f250 long beds with slide in campers, 30 rods and a couple huge coolers mounted on the front.

The red drum are the prize fish everyone goes for there but you can catch all sorts of game.

I think I may also bring my kayak this year and walk it over to the sound side (Or I think there's a double track to a sound side dock around mile marker 9) for some fishing with a lighter rod.

 

Cool. I'm not a fisher, but a buddy from the Massachusetts shore is letting me borrow his shore fishing gear. We'll see how it goes.

 

I'm in the same boat, not a fisherman myself but I now own a surf rod specifically for trips like this.

 

Pictures from my recent trip.

 

Oh man. I've been itching for your pics to come up! Did you have to deal with heavy weather midweek?

 

Weather was good. 80s during the day and 70s at night with a slight breeze that kept the horse flies off. Beautiful place. Would love to go back again better equipped for fishing.

 

When does your trip start?

 

Start the drive a week from this Wednesday, ferry on Thursday afternoon.

 

Just got back Monday evening. Heads up, the greenheads were really bad this time...something to do with wind direction.

Weather was absolutely perfect, though.

 

Awesome. We have a bunch of no-see-um nets, a couple thermacell repellents and spray. Hopefully we're not eaten alive. 10 day forecasts look promising so far. Did you have pop up thunderstorms to deal with?

 

We had some light weather come through one night, t-storms passed by north and south of us pretty far off. Other than that, nothing but blue skies.