Although I saw many diggings from feral hogs, I was fortunate to have never come across any. I did meet a hunter in the woods whose hands and arms were covered in blood. She had just shot a wild hog and had cut out the “back straps” to eat. My first ozark trail backpack night out I heard coyotes howling just before I fell asleep, which half startled me but was also beautiful to hear. “The AT, PCT, and CDT have a higher profile, but not many people can take three to five months out of their lives to do a thru-hike.
Whether you’re getting ready to head out hiking, going shopping, or traveling, this backpack is up to the job! It features a front zippered pocket for your accessories and keys and a large open main compartment for everything else. A perk of hiking lesser-traveled trails are fewer (or non-existent) permits and parking fees. The Ozark Trail does not have permit, parking, or registration requirements for its trail sections.
Also a good choice for youngsters who are new to hiking, or who need a rugged pack for toting school items. Altra Lone Peak 3.5 trail runners were my shoe of choice, along with Darn Tough Merino Wool Hiker Boot socks. I brought water shoes to navigate streams with but only used them once; way too much trouble to switch at every crossing. I was fine hiking with wet Altras and mailed my water shoes home at Brushy Creek. My food cost me around $300, not counting what I ate on my town day in Van Buren. For breakfast, I had Starbucks Via instant coffee added to a liter of cold water and a ProBar Meal bar.
If you are using your phone for navigation, bring a paper copy of a map in case you lose signal or find yourself without battery. Trail maps are free to print at home or available for purchase at the online store. Choose free in-store pickup to avoid shipping costs when it’s available. Or shipping is free on orders over $35 (or sign up with Walmart+ to get free shipping on all orders, no minimum!). Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
Lunch was mostly another ProBar, Primal Strips vegan jerky, and Kitch Fix granola. Dinner was freeze-dried hiking food from Backpacker’s Pantry, Patagonia Provisions, and Food For The Sole. I mailed food resupply boxes to Bushy Creek Lodge and The Landing in Van Buren.