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“I hiked the trail in 9.5 days, so my average miles per day was 23-plus. I’ve carried out many extraordinary “adventures” in my 53 years, but hiking the entire 230-mile OT through the Mark Twain National Forest in southeast Missouri was one of the more fulfilling. I’ll forever cherish the memories made and accomplishments achieved — and my own cherishing quickly turned to wondering about other OT thru-hikers’ experiences.
The 26-mile route follows Blair Creek south as it carves down a valley through oak-hickory-pine forest before merging with the emerald waters of the Current River. Here the 30-mile Current River section picks up, following the river for two miles before veering south toward Stegall Mountain. Enjoy views of the Ozark landscape as you gain 500 feet of elevation up 2.5 miles to the top of Stegall Mountain.
Not one time did I build a campfire while alone. Those times I had a fire and company added much the enjoyment of an evening in the woods,” he said. The river crossings were thus easier overall, but the trail [was] more covered in leaves, making a sprained ankle more probable,” he said. So, I reached out on the private Facebook group “Ozark Trail Section Hikers and Backpackers” and eventually talked to seven other successful OT thru-hikers.
His base equipment consisted of a Zpacks Arc Haul backpack, a Zpacks Duplex tent, and a Zpacks 20F quilt with a Therm-a-rest Neoair Xlite sleeping pad. “I was cautioned by members in the OT Facebook group that a July thru-hike would be brutal. “Extreme heat increased water intake, and the summer storms were fierce. Lightning struck just ozark trail backpack 350 feet from me, and the winds destroyed my shelter system…so I had to spend an unexpected $150 for a new Hennesy hammock system. “I was surprised that Missouri could have a wilderness that still gives a feeling of solitude. I was also surprised by the amount of trail maintenance on such a ‘less talked about’ trail,” Tils said.
What’s more, the OT offers many things to see and experience for both seasoned and first-time backpackers. The Ozark Trail had its beginnings in the 1970s when a group of public land managers, land owners, and trail users met to discuss the concept of a long-distance hiking trail. A comprehensive state outdoor recreation ozark trail outdoor equipment plan prepared by the state of Missouri in 1975 showed a need for an addition of 500 to 900 miles (805 to 1,448 km) of hiking trails. A first meeting in 1976 at Meramec State Park lead to the first draft of the trails proposal in February 1977 and in 1981 the first sections of the trail were under construction.
Backpacking stoves are a convenient way to boil water for dehydrated meals and instant coffee without adding a lot of weight to your pack. The Ozark Trail (OT) is one of America’s premier distance hiking trails. Mostly divided into linked sections, the trail winds through 390 miles of rolling hills, stone bluffs and cool streams in central and southern Missouri. We like to go on day hikes around our area and my other backpacks are much bulkier and heavier than this one. We live close to Zion National Park and it gets very hot during the day, so you want to make sure to always have water with you. Wetlands give way to ridgelines at the start of the Blair Creek section.