NatureBoost Episode 65:
Backpacking Part 1
June 2025
SMA
[Intro music ♫]
>> Hey there, it's Jill Pritchard with the Missouri Department of Conservation, and you're listening to NatureBoost, where we explore the outdoors in Missouri, one adventure at a time! It's the beginning of summer! Maybe you're itching to explore a new area, go on a hike, or even camp. Or, maybe all three? Then, this may be a good episode for you. I am preparing for my first backpacking trip. If you've been daydreaming about leaving the city behind, sleeping under the stars, and waking up to bird song instead of your alarm . . .? Then keep listening.
[Music ♪]
Hitting the trails and immersing yourself in nature can be truly magical. But, let's be real, backpacking is not just grabbing a bag and heading into the woods. There's quite a bit of planning involved, especially for the first time. And if you don't have the right gear like me, or even knowledge on locations to go, it can be even more of a challenge. So, that's why I'm attending a backpacking 101 program put on by the experts . . . my own coworkers at the Missouri Department of Conservation.
If you're not aware, MDC staff hold programs all across the state designed to help everyone connect with, and learn about nature. And, the best part is, all of these programs are free to attend. And a lot of times, equipment is provided. I've been curious about backpacking, but I don't have a tent, a sleeping bag . . . even the backpack itself. So, attending this program where the only things I need to bring with me are food, clothes and toiletries . . . was really the perfect fit.
[2:02.]
[Music ♪]
So, here's the details. I registered for the intro to backpacking program, April 26th and 27th, at Paddy Creek Wilderness Area, located within the Mark Twain National Forest. The weekend will consist of hiking about 11 miles in total, and camping overnight Saturday. About a month before the trip, all participants were required to attend a virtual check-in meeting to meet the instructors, and discuss preparation and logistics. Instructors Mary Beth Factor and Sam Stewart gave us a breakdown of how day 1 will look.
>> We're going to meet there at 8:00am, and we want to get started early, simply because we want to be able to get our gear together. We want to make sure we do those pack checks. That will be imperative, and going over the trip agenda to discuss any emergency protocols. Usually we get started around 10:30, 11:00 on the trail, and we'll be hiking the rest of the day. We'll have a short little lunch break, and then we'll have maybe a little water break in between. Then, our goal is to get to our campsite then. We'll be discussing the gear that we'll have available for you, but the unpack and repack, and doing that pack check, is imperative. We have suitcase/luggage scales, and we'll weigh everyone's backpack.
To give you a quick story, we had somebody who carried a 40 pound pack with them on this trail, and then there was immediate regrets about that. So, we like to do the backpack check. Just as a lovely full circle, learning experience . . . that same person came out and did another one of our backpacking trips, and she was one of the lightest then . . . I think her pack was around 28 pounds. She said "I am so happy that I did not pack 40 pounds with me!"
So, we'll do the check, and just be open and flexible to us giving you some advice on what to pack, and what you need, and maybe what you can leave behind.
[4:08.]
Then we'll go over the trip agenda, emergency protocols . . . Chris has already been in contact with the U.S. Forest Service. We are going through U.S. Forest Service land, and there's a forestry office. He's obtaining a permit for us. They're aware of our backpacking trip between Saturday and Sunday, and also when we're starting and when we're finishing. Nobody will be left behind! Wherever we start off, you guys are all leaving with us on Sunday, the next day. In terms of emergency protocols, I'll review this . . . I do have a GPS locator I'm going to have with me. Then we'll also make sure that we have somebody in front of us at all times as a staff person, and that we have somebody behind us at all times as a staff person. And then, if there's any emergency that's along the way, Chris will be in contact with folks from the U.S. Forest Service office, so everybody will be taken care of. Then, we're going to hit the trail. And that's our day 1.
>> That's the most exciting part. [Laughing.]
>> It is.
>> I really enjoy that, seeing everybody show up, getting everybody's pack situated, and eventually circling up and introducing ourselves. Yeah. It's cool.
>> You are going to hear a lot of "do you think you really need that?" You might hear that a lot! [Laughing.]
>> Yeah. Bear with us. Give us some grace. We've done it before. We know a lot of times, maybe it's something that we don't necessarily need.
>> At the end of day 1, we'll arrive at the campsite to set up tents and learn how to hang up our food in bear bags . . . because yes, we will be in bear country, and we need to be "bear wise." Texas County conservation agent Chris Ely, the third and final instructor, discussed things to keep in mind when setting up camp.
>> Of course, one of the big things that we'll have to pay attention to, any time we're backpacking and alone on this trip, is where do we place our tent, and where do we set up camp? One of the big things that we absolutely need to look for are "widowmakers", or say, a tree that can fall on you and basically end your backpacking career.
[6:06.]
You know, here in Missouri, we do have a fair number of snags that can blow down or come down on you, or rotten-limb trees. So, never set up camp underneath any of those trees. One of the things we do have here in Missouri that is a true problem, is flash flooding. In the Paddy Creek Wilderness, there's quite a watershed. It actually starts pretty much from where our trailhead is, and runs all the way south into the Big Piney River. If there was a lot of rain that went on, the creeks there could rise very quick. So, you always want to make sure, in any situation where you're setting up camp, that you set up out of any flood area. With that said, it's always nice to be close to your water source. If you had a nice little hill next to a stream to set up on, that would be an ideal location. Because, no one wants to pack water very far.
Dips and divots and ditches are all these areas, basically, that water can collect in. I really don't care how good your tent is, if you set up in a ditch, you're going to get wet if it does come flood. Of course, watching the weather is always helpful for that. A lot of it is common sense. Just to look around, and to take a really critical look at your campground. Do some critical thinking, and just look for those dangers that exist. It can be as simple as trying to find a falt piece of ground to set up that's safe. That's where we generally set up our camps.
>> On day 2, we'll wake up, have coffee and breakfast, break down camp, and hike the 2 and a half miles back to our original meeting spot. And I gotta admit, the biggest question I had going into this, is how do I pee and poop on this trip?
>> So, in terms of bathroom expectations, if you have to go number 2, please hop off the trail. We are going to have a trowel, and then you'll dig yourself what's called a "cat hole."
[8:04.]
A cat hole is going to be 6 inches deep, about the length of what that trowel shovel is going to be. Measure that out, do your business, and then you just simply scoop whatever it is that doesn't make it into there with a stick. Then, you'll cover it up like how a cat hole is. Just like a litter, right there. The other thing is, as we're going along hiking and within our procedures, we're always going to want an MDC person in the front, and an MDC person in the back. If you're going to the bathroom, please make sure you let that back person know, so we don't leave you behind. That way, we can go on ahead a little bit, but then we'll also wait for you. Then, we will also make sure that we have toilet paper with us. If you need that toilet paper, you'll deposit that toilet paper right into that hole, and you can cover everything back up.
>> Okay, so, that answers that. So, what equipment is provided? The back packs, tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads, water filters, stoves, ponchos, compasses, emergency blankets . . . all of that is provided. The only thing participants need to bring, are hiking boots, toilet paper, sunscreen, bug spray, optional hiking poles, their clothing, and food. Suggested attire includes quick drying hiking pants, a lightweight, moisture-wicking layer like a sun shirt, a mid layer, like a fleece, a rain jacket, and spare socks. I learned a big thing you want to avoid on these long hikes, is blisters. It's really important to keep things dry, so extra socks are recommended. Because this hike will occur in the spring, treating our clothing with permethrin was highly recommended to protect against ticks. The instructors also made food suggestions, like oatmeal packets, energy bars, beef jerky, tuna packets, dried fruit, and trail mix, and even freeze-dried meals.
[10:06.]
The kicker was that all of our food for the entire weekend had to fit in a one-gallon ziplock bag. So, as a chronic over-packer, I was starting to worry if the real challenge of this trip was going to be packing for it, instead of actually hiking it. But, at the end of the check in, Sam gave some great suggestions on how each of us could prepare in the coming weeks.
>> If you can walk 2 to 4 miles a day, you'll enjoy this a whole lot more. It can be in any manner that you want. It can be on a trail, in a park . . . for me, it's a gravel road loop that I take my dog on. He enjoys it, I enjoy it. We try to get a couple of those in a day, and they're about a mile and a half a piece. Then, stretching daily, even if it's just for a couple of minutes in the morning. You'll definitely want to stretch on Sunday morning when you wake up. You'll probably be pretty stiff, so it's nice to get into a habit of doing that. Make sure, as I mentioned earlier when we talked about taking care of your feet and the importance of your shoes or boots . . . if they are traditional hiking boots, they need at least 20 miles on them to break them in. If you break them in on trail, it might not be as great of an experience. So, make sure that you understand that those traditional boots need broken in beforehand.
If you're like me and like to nerd out on gear, you can check out a free website. They don't have an app yet, hopefully one day they will . . . called "lighter pack." It has a place where you can create your own packing lists, it can weigh everything for you, you can input weights . . . it shows you all of that on a spreadsheet sort of thing. It's really cool. If you want to minimize your weight, or switch in different gear sets for different times of year . . . if you're interested in things like that, check out "lighter pack."
One week before we go on trail, make sure you discuss and purchase your food beforehand. A couple of days prior . . . this is my really important one.
[12:01.]
Us as instructors, we do this exact thing as well. Lay out all of the gear and the food on to your bed. That's why I like to have this "lighter pack" list. That is essentially my packing list for the trip. Some people make notes in their phone. I highly suggest making a packing list, and laying everything out beforehand on to the floor, or on to a bed if you can, so you can see everything all at once. On my front porch, I'm going to put out that little cord. I'm going to hang up all of the clothing, some of my gear, spray everything with permethrin, at least 24 hours before, if not more. Again, we don't want to put permethrin directly on to our bodies, especially when it's wet. So, we have to allow at least 24 hours to dry. It's not good for our bodies, and certainly not good for our pets. That's your 1 to 2 days prior.
One that Chris had brought up originally to us that was really important, in the same thread as taking care of your feet, is to cut your toenails beforehand. You don't want one toenail rubbing another toe. Your feet will be moving around, possibly in ways that they don't typically. So, make sure that everything is manicured to the point that it's not going to cause an issue with one toenail kind of bumping into another toe. We don't want anything like that.
[Music ♪]
>> Okay, so I'm going to try out a weighted hike today. I've said in the past, I think, my dog Moose and I, we go hiking a lot together. So, I'm pretty used to getting in a lot of steps. But, I've never gone on a weighted hike before. And, I don't want to spend money on buying a weighted vest, or any type of fitness equipment . . . [laughing.] So, what I did, was . . . I don't know if this is recommended or not, but I made my own makeshift, weighted backpack. I stuffed some dumbbells in an old backpack that I have.
[14:04.]
They said, if I remember correctly, your backpack should weigh 20% of your current weight. So, if you're 150 pounds, your backpack should weigh about 30 pounds. I don't know my current weight, because I know that will just make me mad . . . [laughing.] So, I'm just kind of guessing. The dumbbells that I have in here . . . 10 pounds, 5 pounds, 15 . . . 8 pounds. So, this is what, like 23 pounds? So, that's what I'm going to try today.
[Nature sounds, birds chirping.]
[Heavy weighted sounds.]
Oh, that's heavy. Yeah, this is heavy! Get your arm through . . . there we go! Okay.
Once you have it on your back, it's a lot more manageable. And of course, I am just using a regular backpack. This is not an actual hiking backpack. So, I know the weight will be distributed differently too, because . . . [laughing.] This is just 23 pounds of dumbbells. And, the weight on the actual trip is going to be your food, and your clothes, and your tent, and your sleeping bag . . . your water bottle, and all of that. And also, if I remember correctly from the virtual check in . . . I think the backpacking backpacks have some type of strap so it doesn't put all of the strain on your back. It kind of distributes that weight to your hips as well. So, the way that I'm quote unquote "training" using my weighted backpack is not exactly how the real thing is going to feel.
[16:07.]
But, I'm trying to prepare in the best way I can.
[Exertion, nature sounds.]
Alright. So, I've got an Apple watch. That was a hike, about 48 minutes. I don't know how accurate these smart watches are, but it says it was over 2 miles, 2.19 miles. I will admit with carrying that weight, my shoulders are kind of sore. And the dumbbells at one point, especially towards the end, were really digging into my back. [Laughing.] But, overall I think that was a successful first try with the extra weight.
[Music ♪]
About a week before the trip, I still had some questions. So, I asked my friend and colleague Larry Archer to meet me for a day hike at Painted Rock Conservation Area.
[Nature sounds, birds chirping.]
First off, I just want to say how excited I am to finally have you on NatureBoost, because I have said your name and referenced the famous Larry Archer several times in the past! And now, I finally get to have you on an episode.
>> It's funny you should say that, because I was just thinking, what do I gotta do to get on NatureBoost? I've mentioned this show in standup, I've promoted it on Facebook. . . it's like, how am I ever going to . . .?
[18:00.]
If I get eaten by a bear, maybe you'll come to my hospital room. How in the world otherwise do I get on the award-winning podcast, NatureBoost? Here we are!
>> Well, you've always been . . . my hype man, too! Like, NatureBoost's biggest fan. Because everywhere I go, if you're there, you're always giving . . . commending me and the podcast, and I know! It's long overdue.
>> Well, it's no small part envy! I've never won any awards. This is a multi award-winning podcast!
>> There it is. Thank you! It is a multi award-winning podcast. Okay, so, I'm going on this backpacking trip. This was actually your idea.
>> It was!
>> For an episode! Because, you are a writer for the Missouri Conservationist magazine.
>> Yes.
>> You attended a previous backpacking program that you're going to write an article on, and it's going to be featured in the magazine.
>> Exactly. This same program, different location, but same program that they put on . . . I went to last October, down at the Current River. So, that will be in the October issue of Missouri Conservationist.
>> Okay, it'll be in the October issue. Funny story, as we just pause here for a second . . . whenever you suggested I do this episode, I was under the impression that you were going to attend the backpacking trip with me, which I was just thinking, "oh my gosh, that will be so much fun! Me and Larry on this trip." And you were "no, no, no . . . I've already done one! You're going to do this on your own . . ." which is totally fine too, but I was really looking forward to having you. So you did the fall one, and I'm going to do the spring.
>> Yes. So, between our two mediums, our two media, we will give folks a complete feel for what this program has to offer.
[20:00.]
>> Yeah, absolutely. Very well rounded.
>> Yes.
>> Okay, so . . . tell me a little bit . . . yours included a float?
>> Yes, it did.
>> So, this one is different? Mine isn't going to include a float, but something else that's really funny . . . is that during the virtual . . . you have to do the virtual check-in, right? Before you go on these trips. They said that this is actually kind of the harder one of our two backpacking programs. I just thought "thanks, Larry!" [Laughing.] I think it's a lot of elevation, like ups and downs, going uphill.
>> Well, as it's been described to me, not only is it elevation . . . the one down at Current River is also a lot of up and down. The Ozarks, it's the Ozarks. Our overnight spot was adjacent or part of Echo Bluff State Park.
>> Mhmm.
>> So, we had flushable toilets available to us after we got to our camping destination the first day. Which, my understanding is you will not have flushable toilets.
>> No . . . this is, in addition to being the harder program . . . this is also much more primitive. [Laughing.] Because that was something else I was going to ask you. How did you like going to the bathroom in the woods? But, I can't ask you that.
>> You can . . . I'm a guy, so . . . [laughing.]
>> That's true. So, tell me how the weekend went for you?
>> It went really well. It's kind of . . . you have to understand the difference between going for a walk, going for a hike, and going backpacking.
>> Yeah.
>> We all go . . . we go for a walk in the neighborhood, or a walk in our local parks, and that's good. You go for a hike out in nature, that's also good. Then all of a sudden, you're not on sidewalks anymore, you're on things where terrain changes and what not. It's just you, and maybe your water bottles, and a day pack.
Backpacking, you're carrying what you need to stay overnight, or . . . depending on how enthusiastic you are about it, multiple nights.
[22:06.]
You're carrying everything you need on your back. Maybe up to a certain percentage of your body weight is added to you, because of your backpack.
>> And, let me ask you real quick before I forget, have you ever gone backpacking before?
>> Yes! I've done something similar to this. It was in 1979.
>> Oh gosh!
>> I was a 16-year old boy scout hiking the hills of northwestern Missouri. So it's been a while, given that I'm now 62 . . .
>> That still counts! [Laughing.]
>> Yeah . . .
>> I'm going to count that!
>> Yes I've done it, the gear has changed a bit . . . and what not. Certainly, my knees have changed considerably. Otherwise, you know, the concepts are still pretty constant.
>> Well, and I would imagine your backpack weighed a lot less back then, too.
>> Yes. The one I had last fall was considerably lighter than the aluminium-framed, canvas boyscout backpack that I had in 1979.
>> [Laughing.] I didn't even think that the gear obviously had to have been different back then, too. Yeah. Technology is really the introduction of the lighter equipment. I'm sure it was a welcome change.
So, is there anything that you weren't prepared for?
>> No . . . I felt pretty prepared. The funny thing is, the one thing I didn't bring . . . literally, depending again on how deep you go into this sport, or how deep you get into the activity . . . ounces count when it comes to weight and whatnot. One of our staff members on the group, he had brought a tiny little foldable chair. At first, I thought "that's a silly-looking thing." But when we got to our camp, and I really didn't have any place to sit down other than the ground, I was thinking "boy, I sure wish that I had a small foldable chair."
[24:03.]
But, we're not talking camp chairs like you take to your kid's soccer game. We're talking, fold up and nearly stick in your pocket. That's how small it is, but it's just enough to get your read end up off the ground.
If I had to do it over again, that'd be one piece of equipment that I'd choose to go out and find, and buy myself.
>> See? I'm glad I'm talking to you about this, because I didn't even think about a place to sit, especially . . . how long was your hike?
>> Ours . . . we started on a Saturday morning.
>> Right.
>> We hiked most of the day. I believe . . . I hate to even tell you how many miles, because now I don't remember. We hiked, we had lunch on the trail. We got to our camp oversight at Echo Bluff State Park. Set up all the tents, refilled the water bottles and just had dinner . . . that sort of thing. That's the first day, relaxing . . . then get up the next morning, hike another . . . I think it was only 3 or 4 miles.
>> For the second day?
>> Yeah. But, it was an "Ozark 3 or 4 miles", which is, you know . . . a lot of hills, a lot of up and down, and very uneven. Right now, we're on a fairly smooth path with the exception of maybe a root or two.
>> Yeah.
>> Every step is unlike the previous one. Everything is . . . you have to kind of keep an eye on where your feet are going. So, it seemed like you were on the trail a lot longer than you really were, to get to where you're going. You know? At some point, we'd stop and then we'd say "oh, we've gone a mile." Really? "It wasn't 12 miles?"
>> [Laughing.] I can imagine, after hiking the majority of the route the first day, you were wanting to have a place to sit . . .?
>> [unclear.]
>> Okay, so you wish you had brought a chair. Is there anything you wished you didn't bring along, that maybe you found you didn't need?
>> No . . . I don't think so.
>> Okay.
>> They did . . . the staff do an excellent job of giving you an idea of the type of equipment that A, they will provide . . .
>> Mhmm.
[26:05.]
>> Or B, that you should make sure to bring on your own.
>> Okay, alright.
>> Now, I did not bring much in the way of food to cook. Although, they did have available jet stoves, so you could warm water, and that sort of thing. I didn't. I essentially . . .
>> Yeah, tell me . . .?
>> I essentially brought the adult version of Lunchables. You know? A lot of turkey, jerky, trail mix . . . I guess they call it trail mix for a reason, because we ate a lot of it on the trail.
>> Now you don't feel like such a poser eating your trail mix!
>> Yes!
>> [Laughing.]
>> You know, a person can . . . feel a little fraudulent when they're eating trail mix on the couch, you know? Watching reruns of New Girl or whatever.
>> I love New Girl.
>> We just discovered it . . . we've fallen in for it.
>> What a treat! We'll have to talk about that later.
>> [Laughing.]
>> Okay, what about for breakfast? What were you having? Were you having turkey jerky for breakfast?
>> More or less, yes. As you've seen, going through the primer, through the introduction . . . all your food needs to be fairly compact, and fit in one gallon-sized ziplock.
>> Right.
>> Each one of my meals was individually packed within that ziplock. So, it would, say . . . "Saturday snack, Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner . . ." you know, they were all marked. But had they not been, I could have reached in and grabbed any of them. It would have been pretty much the same as the last one.
>> Yeah.
>> This was not a culinary . . . yeah, event for me.
>> [Laughing.]
>> It was a, "let's consume enough calories to make up for the calories that we're burning . . . then I'll maybe get a nice sandwich on the way home", or something.
>> "This is fuel."
>> Yeah. It is not culinary school. Gordon Ramsay was not there.
[28:06.]
>> [Laughing.] Okay, so that covers food. That's good to know. See, this is going to be difficult for me, because I am the epitome of the over-packer. I could just be going somewhere, you know, overnight . . . and I pass like I'm going to be gone for a week. So, this is going to be a test, on a number of different levels.
>> [unclear.] [Away from mic.]
>> So, tell me about the camping. You have to set up . . . they give you your own tent?
>> They're pretty . . . tents anymore are a lot of bendable poles and shock cord, you know? They put together pretty easy. There's usually room for 2 or 3. I was by myself, because I wasn't necessarily there with anyone.
>> How did you sleep?
>> I slept alright for a middle-aged man who's sleeping on a pad on the ground.
>> Okay, so did you . . .?
>> So, I generally . . .
>> Were you restless?
>> Yeah. I generally don't sleep on my back. It's kind of hard when you're on the ground to sleep any way other than on your back. So. . . .
>> Was your tent really close to the other backpackers' tents?
>> Yeah. We were all in a fairly, relatively small . . . we weren't side by side, but if someone were to wake up with night terrors, everybody would have known it.
>> That's what really happened, isn't it?
>> [Laughing.]
>> You're not giving me the full story! [Laughing.]
>> I promise you . . . nobody woke up with night terrors!
>> [Laughing.] Okay. That's something else I thought about. "How am I going to sleep, how much privacy is there if you're close to the other campers . . . " And then, you wake up early, hopefully to the sounds of birds and . . .?
>> Yes. Birds, and . . . you know?
[30:01.]
You'll hear the owls at night. You'll hear the night time creatures, and whatnot. That's kind of one of the things that differentiates it from just going for a hike. Day time nature is really cool. Night time nature is also very cool. But, about the only way you're going to hear night time nature is to be out there at night, and not flashlighting around, and mucking around . . . just being still, and listening to what's going on out there at night. It's a different woods.
>> Well, and different for both of us too, because yours was in the fall, and mine is in the spring. So, we'll cover the whole year there.
[Nature sounds, squawking.]
>> You know what kind of bird that is?
>> Those bands on the back, I think it's a harrier. Like, a northern harrier. But, I could be wrong. I get really messed up with the raptors and whatnot, especially in the spring. You've got a lot of juveniles, and they all look alike to me . . . so, I usually just take pictures and send them to people I trust, and say "what is this?" Even after I've looked it up in a guidebook . . .
>> I would do the same thing.
So, what time did you end up going to bed? Do you remember?
>> [Laughing.] It wasn't too late. I think I was in bed maybe earlier than some. We had a lot of young people on our trip. Everywhere from mid to late teens, to me.
>> Yeah.
>> And that was the span.
>> You think you were the oldest?
>> I'm pretty sure I was. If nothing else, my knees were the oldest, if not the entire body. But no . . . I was the oldest. There were a lot of young people. It was a wonderful mix of ages and genders and all sorts of backgrounds, the whole nine yards.
>> That's great!
>> It was a really good group. Some who had done it before, some who had been out to Paddy Creek, like where you're going.
>> Mhmm.
>> The previous spring . . .
[32:02.]
Hmm . . . a couple of women who were friends, who had done Paddy Creek. One of them brought her husband this time, so it was the two friends, the husband, and they had a good time. So, these ladies that had already been to one or two previous, and just . . . you know? They just keep coming back. I think there's a number of repeat participants.
>> Yeah.
>> Even though it's technically an introduction to backpacking, you get enough people who come back because . . . the program makes it easier to do this. Not literally easier to carry a backpack, but the logistics are taken care of. Quite frankly, that's the hardest part for a lot of people.
>> Absolutely!
>> Because, the equipment and the logistics . . . are just, for a lot of folks, overwhelming to get started. That's why this is really . . . like I said. I brought my clothes and food, and my toothbrush. Literally, personal care, clothes, and food . . . and they provided the rest. So, that made it so easy to be able to try this. And then, if it's something like "oh my gosh, this was the coolest experience of my life, I'm going to go out and do that . . ." you can do it. You can work your way into it. Like any hobby, you can really go full bore, or you can gradually work your way into it. So . . . yeah.
>> Do you have any tips for me as I prepare, or anything that you want me to keep in mind on the trip itself?
>> Well, you know . . . I know that you're physically fit, because I think everybody, all the NatureBoost fans . . . I don't know, do we call ourselves "boosters"?
>> [Laughing.] We could! Yeah!
>> "NaBoos", whatever we call ourselves . . . we all know who Moose is, and we know that Moose gets walked regularly, which means you get walked regularly, so we know that you're fit. And that's kind of, you know . . . to be reasonably fit, you don't have to be an endurance sport athlete or anything . . .
[34:06.]
Just to be able to put one foot in front of the other for several miles in a row, over uneven terrain . . . as I said, that just happens. You just get in a groove, and you start walking. And they talk about how at first it seems horrible, and then . . . all of a sudden, you just realize you haven't been thinking about it. And voilà, you're there!
So, it's a lot . . . you know, it's not a walk in the park. It's a walk in the woods. So, it's a little harder than a walk in the park, but it's a lot . . . a lot more people can do it, than realize they can do it.
>> Mhmm. Do you think overall, you enjoyed it?
>> Oh yeah! I loved it . . . it was a real . . . I don't know. It was kind of a throwback to childhood in some regards. 20, 30, 40, 50 years since I'd done something like that. So, it was nice to get out there and do it again. I enjoy . . . my wife and I, we camp, but we car camp.
>> Yeah.
>> We're not going to be backpacking . . . but we have started getting more into you know, state park camping and whatnot . . . to be out in nature. It really has been a boost!
>> Get out! [Laughing.]
[Music ♪]
Okay, so it is one day before the hike. I've sprayed all of my clothes with permethrin. I've packed my ziplock bag with jerky and trail mix, protein bars, fruit, and one freeze-dried meal. I've got a brimmed hat to keep the sun off my face, I've got my roll of toilet paper . . . and since I won't be able to take a shower, I have a pack of wet wipes to hopefully make me feel like I did take a shower.
[36:04.]
Do I have everything I need? I honestly think that I do. Like I said, it was helpful to have that virtual check-in meeting with the instructors a month ago, to really start preparing not only packing, but also preparing my body and stretching . . . just to be able to do this physically. But to see how I did on my first backpacking trip, you will have to tune in to next month's episode, and find out!
So, wish me luck! I'm Jill Pritchard with the Missouri Department of Conservation encouraging you to try something new this summer, and to get your daily dose of the outdoors!
[Outro music ♫]
[End of podcast.]