ScrappyRaccoon
Trail Ready!
Ohio born and raised with a will travel attitude. I enjoy horseback riding, hiking and RZR ridin.
Posts: 12 
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Post by ScrappyRaccoon on Oct 18, 2016 12:05:16 GMT -8
Ive gathered a lot of good info and have quite a list, just curious if there are any other Ohio adventurers on this forum.
If you are semi-new to the overnight deal, and have decided to take a totally new friend with you on an overnighter with her young daughter......... what would be your best suggestion to ensure that they have a good time? Do you think doing Archer's Fork at Wayne National Forest to be too ambitious? Its listed at the shortest to be 9.5 miles, most folks say from there up to 12 miles in total. If i can walk 3 miles in under an hour on a lunch break, having all day to do 6 shouldnt be too bad, even if the terrain is "rough"?
My biggest concern right now is weather. I am trying to prepare for rain. Cold nights. All of the above. 80 degrees. 40 degrees. Its Ohio and fall, and seems very unpredictable. LOL
ANY advice would be much appreciated, especially if you have knowledge of said trail.
Happy Hikin,
Scrappy
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,685
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Post by rebeccad on Oct 18, 2016 17:59:18 GMT -8
Scrappy,
I don't know the area, but I'm thinking that if I were taking a newbie friend and a youngster (what age? That matters a LOT), I'd probably be thinking about a two mile walk to something scenic (with a lake or a stream), and two miles back the next day. Minimizing the walking and maximizing time in a pretty campsite with something to do (throw rocks in a lake) is the way to make sure they enjoy it, IMO.
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ScrappyRaccoon
Trail Ready!
Ohio born and raised with a will travel attitude. I enjoy horseback riding, hiking and RZR ridin.
Posts: 12
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Post by ScrappyRaccoon on Oct 19, 2016 16:49:23 GMT -8
Minimizing the walking and maximizing time in a pretty campsite with something to do (throw rocks in a lake) is the way to make sure they enjoy it, IMO. Hmmm good point........ good point. Shes under ten, but they frequently walk, run, kayak and ride horses, so shes a tough little bugger...ready for adventure. I may chit chat with them more, and see if they are REALLY wanting to do it, or just start small. Seems ready to dig in, so we shall see. either way, a good story is sure to follow........ |
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,685
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Post by rebeccad on Oct 19, 2016 19:26:31 GMT -8
Ten is tricky. Some kids are ready to take on a real pack and walk real miles, others find a couple of miles to be a lot. Sometimes the same kid shifts back and forth from day to day :D
At ages 10 & 11, I think we had our boys doing about 6-mile days, with an occasional 7 or 8 if needed (and we'd hear about that). Be sure you--and the girl's mom--read some of the threads in the hiking with kids section about packs and pack weights, etc.
I look forward to hearing how it goes! I'm trying to work my total city-girl best friend around to backpacking with me. She's only dipped very tentatively into camping, mostly for her kids' sake, so it's a bit of a stretch. I just think it would do her a world of good to hike in 3 or 4 miles and sit by a mountain lake and do nothing. Bet she hasn't spent a day doing nothing in her entire life. All of which is a digression from my intention to wish you well and hope for a good report!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2016 10:08:34 GMT -8
OK, I know this is late, but if you are still looking for overnight in Ohio for beginners, especially as you mentioned Archer's Fork. Also consider Zaleski State Forest trail. Near Logan, right on the Hocking/Vinton/AthensCounty border. Across the road from Lake Hope State Park. The trail has a couple loops, including a 10-mile loop that is a good first overnight or a great day-hike, or you can extend it to something around 24 miles for a long weekend with two overnights. Also, there are a couple overnight campsites in the hills around Stroud's Run State Park on some trails that connect to the Athens city recreation parks system. And, if you're willing to drive down to near Portsmouth, there are various overnight possibilities in Shawnee State FOrest, with a good trail system too.
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