#187278 - 10/06/1410:24 AMIt's Official - First Overnight On the Calendar!
4evrplan
member
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Well, it's official, I've finally set a date for my first overnight backpacking trip of Nov. 22-24 in Caney Creek Wilderness, AR (I'll be wearing blaze orange - it's hunting season)! I don't know if I'll be ready even then, a lot of my equipment is heavy or in some other way not ideal, but I'll make it work somehow. I'm eager to just get out there! I've been researching this and gathering/building supplies for, I think, a couple years now. Everyone here has been very patient with me and my frequent posts, in spite of my lack of experience. You don't even know what the support and sense of community has meant.
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#187280 - 10/06/1412:14 PMRe: It's Official - First Overnight On the Calendar!
[Re: 4evrplan]
billstephenson Moderator
Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Good for you!!!
The weather up here has been just perfect the past week, and the ticks and chiggers have already died down to just a slight menace. Caney Creek should be amazing for you.
#187281 - 10/06/1412:38 PMRe: It's Official - First Overnight On the Calendar!
[Re: billstephenson]
4evrplan
member
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
I'm not sure how many photos I'll get, as my phone battery won't last long if I leave it on. My dedicated camera might be a bit more than I want to carry, though I'm sure a photographer would laugh at me. I am considering it. You can expect a written TR for sure.
As of this moment, my nine year old is planning to go with me, but if he changes his mind, I may hammock camp instead of bringing the tent. That would definitely save some precious pack space and probably a bit of weight too. There's one model in particular that's a surprisingly good value, so I bought one and put together suspension for it. I've got to test it out overnight. We'll see.
I'm really looking forward to this trip, and not just because it'll be my first backpacking trip. The times I've spent in Ouachita NF have never disappointed. It's a beautiful area for sure, and the trees ought to have turned by then, if there's any leaves left. There's lots of interesting rock formations and ridges to walk up and down, creeks, even some waterfalls. I can hardly wait.
Edited by 4evrplan (10/06/1412:39 PM)
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#187301 - 10/08/1403:10 PMI'm Rethinking It
[Re: 4evrplan]
4evrplan
member
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Well, turns out my wife doesn't want me to take my nine YO, because she's worried about the hunters. I may end up doing this hike without him (just me and a friend), but does anyone know of an equally awesome hiking location within reach that doesn't allow hunting? I'm thinking of moving this party to the Texas hill country, though that's a bit further to drive.
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#187307 - 10/08/1403:48 PMRe: I'm Rethinking It
[Re: Pika]
4evrplan
member
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
I would love to visit Big Bend, but I feel that's a bit far for a weekend trip. Someday.
I was thinking about Lost Maples SP, but even that's a bit further than I hoped (373mi - 6h 51m), and I'd have to call and confirm there's no hunting there that weekend.
ETA: Confirmed - they aren't hosting any hunts this year.
Edited by 4evrplan (10/09/1412:38 PM)
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#187314 - 10/08/1404:43 PMRe: It's Official - First Overnight On the Calendar!
[Re: 4evrplan]
Mama
member
Registered: 09/21/14
Posts: 16
Loc: Wisconsin
Have a great time! I did some solo backpacking in Arkansas when I lived there back in the 1990s. I bought a book called Arkansas Hiking Trails: A Guide to 78 Selected Trails in "The Natural State" by Tim Ernst and day-hiked &/or backpacked about half the trails in the book before life moved me to a different area of the country. A great guidebook for everything from short nature walks to long backpacking trails. Please post pics of the hike after!
#187321 - 10/09/1409:30 AMRe: I'm Rethinking It
[Re: 4evrplan]
finallyME
member
Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
One option for a quick overnighter that might be closer is Enchanted Rock SP. It is too small for a long trip, but it will get you going for an overnighter and help test your gear.
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#187323 - 10/09/1401:22 PMRe: I'm Rethinking It
[Re: finallyME]
4evrplan
member
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Originally Posted By finallyME
It is too small for a long trip...
Just for the fun of it, I asked a mathematician friend of mine how to efficiently hike every segment of every trail over two days. We'll see if we can turn it into a longer hike and a two night stay.
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#187351 - 10/10/1402:46 PMRe: I'm Rethinking It
[Re: 4evrplan]
billstephenson Moderator
Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Originally Posted By 4evrplan
Well, turns out my wife doesn't want me to take my nine YO, because she's worried about the hunters.
Yeah, that's a tough one, but I wouldn't push my point with a mom about that.
I'd check to see if there are any roads in that Wilderness area. I don't recall seeing any along the creek on the map I looked at. Check to see if ATVs are allowed. Since it's a wilderness area I doubt they are. If that's the case, It's pretty unlikely that you'll see anyone hunting once you get a mile or so from the trail head.
If you start your hike a couple hours after sunrise, set up camp a couple hours before sunset, and get off the trail a couple hours before sunset, you'll likely be fine.
I'm basing that on my general experience with places I've been in Arkansas. I've been by there, but never hiked it during hunting season so I could be wrong.
It also depends on when opening day for firearms is. Those first few days you'll see a lot of hunters out there. Generally, like I said, not far from the nearest road or trailhead, but the NF roads will have cars parked all along them and their owners will usually be just a short walk away in the forests.
In the middle of the week, or after the 2nd weekend past opening day, you won't see many hunters out there. Generally none once you get a mile from the trail heads.
And... It's pretty much always hunting season for something around here. I always tie blaze orange flagging tape to my pack, and wear a hunter's orange vest when I'm out there. During hunting season I tie a orange plastic hunter orange vest to the outside of my pack.
4evrplan
member
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Originally Posted By billstephenson
Yeah, that's a tough one, but I wouldn't push my point with a mom about that.
I'd check to see if there are any roads in that Wilderness area. I don't recall seeing any along the creek on the map I looked at. Check to see if ATVs are allowed. Since it's a wilderness area I doubt they are. If that's the case, It's pretty unlikely that you'll see anyone hunting once you get a mile or so from the trail head.
If you start your hike a couple hours after sunrise, set up camp a couple hours before sunset, and get off the trail a couple hours before sunset, you'll likely be fine.
I'm basing that on my general experience with places I've been in Arkansas. I've been by there, but never hiked it during hunting season so I could be wrong.
It also depends on when opening day for firearms is. Those first few days you'll see a lot of hunters out there. Generally, like I said, not far from the nearest road or trailhead, but the NF roads will have cars parked all along them and their owners will usually be just a short walk away in the forests.
In the middle of the week, or after the 2nd weekend past opening day, you won't see many hunters out there. Generally none once you get a mile from the trail heads.
And... It's pretty much always hunting season for something around here. I always tie blaze orange flagging tape to my pack, and wear a hunter's orange vest when I'm out there. During hunting season I tie a orange plastic hunter orange vest to the outside of my pack.
There's not any roads in the area, and I'm pretty sure ATVs aren't allowed (but I couldn't swear to it). Also, gun season starts Nov. 8th.
But, it's all a moot point anyway. I've already agreed to go somewhere else, it's just going to cost me a lot more money . At first, I thought my wife was being overly worried, but then I talked to a friend who actually hunts, and has his entire life, and from his response, I'm thinking maybe my wife made the right call.
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#187360 - 10/10/1410:58 PMRe: I'm Rethinking It
[Re: 4evrplan]
billstephenson Moderator
Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Yeah, I won't argue with you. I don't go out on opening weekend. Not even in my own backyard, and I don't know that area well enough to say for sure what you can expect. Definitely a case of better safe than sorry...
#187376 - 10/14/1408:46 AMRe: I'm Rethinking It
[Re: 4evrplan]
Dryer Moderator
Registered: 12/05/02
Posts: 3591
Loc: Texas
All Texas State parks have nice little back country camping trails that make for good practice hikes, and some serious ones. Cedar Hill SP near me has 14 miles of bike and equestrian trails where you can also camp. Hunting season in Arkansas is "zoned" and they probably have more hunting zones than any other state. Blaze orange is smart, and the state parks make good sense for your 9 year old as there are good bail out points to roads in case you have to get back quick. Hunters are few. Hunting is allowed in some of our parks. Big Bend is an amazing place, been there many many times. It's not "friendly" in the sense that water is always a concern and it can be very rugged, hot/cold. I did take my girls hiking there and they loved it.
#188097 - 12/17/1411:36 AMRe: It's Official - First Overnight On the Calendar!
[Re: Mama]
4evrplan
member
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Due to budget concerns (story of my life), my hiking buddy and I agreed to move the trip to mid January. The hunters will be gone, so we can go somewhere closer and free.
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The journey is more important than the destination.
#188585 - 01/15/1512:24 PMHad to Cancel Again!
[Re: 4evrplan]
4evrplan
member
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
You guys aren't going to believe this, but I had to cancel again. My hiking buddy for this weekend had to cancel on me last minute (a friend of his passed away). I'm not really comfortable doing my first overnight trip solo in winter, so I'm calling it off for now.
This is why my user name is 4evrplan: forever planning.
Maybe I'll take the ten year old car camping this weekend.
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. At first, I thought my wife was being overly worried, but then I talked to a friend who actually hunts, and has his entire life, and from his response, I'm thinking maybe my wife made the right call.
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