Newbie from the heartland

My son and I are gearing up for a boyscout hike in a couple of months. We camp all the time but we have never been backpacking. We are stoked! We are both trying to get everything figured out before hand. This site is proving to be tons of help already.

Glad we can help, don't hesitate to ask questions. I have been all over the internet, on many different forums, and there is no place friendlier than here!

Welcome to our affliction, and Good for you two!

Where will you be hiking?

Last I heard, oceola. There is a 13 or so mile trail in, thru, or around Bartle scout reservation. We will get there on a friday evening and return on a sunday afternoon. It may sound lame by some standards but the boy(both young and old) are really looking forward to it.

You should have a great time!

Don't put down or underestimate your trip. I looked at the trail map and it looks great. There is a big reservoir nearby and a creek from what I could see at a quick glance. In a couple of months, the weather may be rainy (check with someone who knows the area), so take rain gear if needed.

Any questions, just ask. There are links to gear lists on the main part of this site-go to the home page-there is a link at the bottom left of the page.

Thanks for the input. We have a couple of other leads who have made the trek several times. I am like a kid waiting for Christmas.

If you haven't done a lot of hiking lately, I suggest getting out and getting some miles in, even if just in a local park or your neighborhood, with a small day pack for starters. 12 miles doesn't sound all that far until you put on your pack and start walking.

That looks like a great spot to go for a first trip, you're going to have a blast.

TomD's advice is good. That looks close to a typical "Ozarks" trail. That'd be one that heads uphill going both ways and gets steeper no matter which way you go. So, if you haven't walked much lately, you and your boy should both start getting a few miles in now, a few times a week, if you can. That will make a huge difference in how you do on the trail.

If the weather forecast for that area predicts even a slight chance of rain on the days you'll be there you are positively going to want rain gear. I trust the forecast for about 48 hours, and that's it. Be sure to check it the day you leave and adjust as necessary.

If you don't have anything now, those cheap plastic "Rain Ponchos" you can find in the Wal-Mart/K-Mart camping sections will work pretty darn good, and way better than nothing. Take a spare for each of you though, they tear pretty easy but, on the plus side, they are very lightweight.

For me, six miles a day on a trail like that is about all I'd want to do. That'll give you time to stop and rest and poke around a bit. You'll be hiking on the ridge tops where you should have some spectacular views and down into and along some creek beds where there is bound to be some great trees and rock formations.

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I know you'll be with a group, but here's something for just you and your son...

Bring a few coins (or any bit of treasure) with you. When you get to a good spot take him aside and give it to him. Ask him to find a spot for you both to hide it. Afterwards, tell him that if either of you ever return to that spot you will find it and add another coin or bit of treasure.

I did this with my children when we went hiking. It was my hope to create memories that would last them a lifetime.

My kids are all grown up now and it seems to have worked. They still go hiking, sometimes even with me, and now there are a few spots where we've got quite a nice little cache of treasure that we've been adding to, one bit at a time, for years.

Bill