Be prepared to adjust plans based on the conditions you encounter. Have backup plans in case of gear and equipment failures. “Park services all but abandoned trail maintenance because of COVID. Ticks were unavoidable given the amount of growth encroaching on the trail,” she said. Tents, hammocks or open-air camping — you can do it all according to your comfort level. Just be prepared to face changing weather conditions out in the wilderness.
With the seasonal overgrowth fading quickly, wildlife is easier to spot. The trail is likely to be in better condition this time of year because a lot of trail work begins in the fall,” he said. “Some nights were a little too cool, and I found I needed warmer gear. Another big downside of this season is the shorter daylight hours available for hiking. It was the perfect size bag to hold water bottles and a few other important things in it. They didn’t hurt my shoulders as I carried the bag around with me.
Similar to many of the other thru-hikers, I downloaded the OTA’s excellent GPS maps, but I loaded them into the Gaia GPS app on my iPhone. I used this mostly to make sure I was on the trail when blazes were hard to find, and I logged my campsites and where I filtered water. My Suunto Baro 9 GPS watch has a battery that would last a whole day, and I brought the Anker ozark trail backpack PowerCore power bank that weighs a whooping 20 ounces. I needed to charge my headlamp, watch, and iPhone, which I used often for GPS, photos, video, and journal entries. Make sure to let a friend or family member know what you’re doing and where you’re going. Tell someone how many days you’ll be gone and approximately where you think you’ll stay each night.
She enjoyed many “zero days,” visiting local attractions with her brother, who followed her in a support vehicle. I can’t think of a reason not to give it 5 stars. I priced other internal frame daypacks before my trip and this was by far the cheapest. I took this pack on a 5-day mountain bike ride from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Washington, D.C., and it performed very well. I’ve had this pack for 2 years and I’ve beaten the living daylights out of it and it still performs just as well as the day I bought it.
Includes Trekking pole attachment points, compression straps and a sleeping bag compartment. Drinking water is a serious consideration for any thru-hike. Even at the driest part of the year, there are many water sources ozark trail outdoor equipment on the OT, but it shouldn’t be taken for granted. Filtering or chemically treating water is overwhelmingly recommended. I used a Katadyn BeFree 1-liter filter and only needed to clean it once in my 16 days.
Physically check in by filling out a backpacking card at dedicated trailheads. Also, learn the seven principles of “Leave No Trace” to keep the backcountry beautiful. One of the best parts of backpacking is settling around a campfire and enjoying a hot dinner after a long day of hiking. You may find it helpful to make a list of meals for each day you are out on the trail to ensure that you are not over- or under-packing for your trip. There are circumstances that are out of control (natural disasters, holidays, weather, etc) that may cause shipping postponements.
Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. If you need a large pack, or are heading on a days-long adventure, this pack won’t work for you. On the small side, so it won’t work for hikers who need a spacious pack. He suggests carrying paper copies of the Ozark Trail maps, which can be purchased through the Ozark Trail Association, Alpine Shop, or printed free from the website — as well as a GPS device.