Get me going...

Very informative folks. I appreciate all of the insight. I'll definitely ease in and I'll be sure and post with more questions as they come up.
 
I agree with spooky pistolero 100%.
If somewhere down the line you find you arent happy with a certain piece of gear, replace it. It's a dynamic process, people rarely keep the same gear in their entire hiking career. And thats the beauty of having cheap gear, you don't feel guilty about giving away a cheap piece of gear, or selling it at a loss.
 
Very informative folks. I appreciate all of the insight. I'll definitely ease in and I'll be sure and post with more questions as they come up.
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Perhaps someone would recommend some beginner-friendly hiking destinations if you can say where you're from.

-Bob
 
Almost all of Louisiana's state parks have some kind of nature trail. Some may be a board walk above water, mud, muck, etc... Great place to test the feel of your gear. I would imagine other state parks are similar.

Off-topic: 39 degrees is NOT too cold for a 9 yr old to go camping. Freaking wife!
 
My first hiking gear was a WWII pistol belt and canteen and a K-Bar. Next I found if I brought some lunch I could stay out longer so I got a small surplus back pack and raided Moms fridge. After that the pack started filling up and slowly became what I have today. This was back in the '70s and I was a kid so hi-end was not an option and a lot of it did not exist yet.

I guess what I'm saying is the woods and time will tell you what you do or don't have/need. Reading this and similar forms and books as well as talking with folk on the trail will give you things to think about.
 
Spring and the Fall are the best times to visit Arkansas. I lived in the Ozarks and worked in the Ouachita Mountains for several years. Arkansas is "The Natural State" after all.

I recommend the book, Arkansas Hiking Trails by Tim Ernst. Maps, directions, and information on over 70 hiking trails, most of which are very short, easily accessible, and very scenic. Plus, the beginning of the book is a section on what to carry, what weather conditions to expect, and how to deal with potential hazards.

Check the atlas for state parks that are near your destinations. Most have easy-to-follow hiking trails. Devil's Den in Northwest Arkansas was a favorite of mine.

And check the Ouchita National Forest and Ozark National Forest website for information. The National Forests build and maintain a wide variety of trails, everything from handicap-accessible nature trails to multi-week backpacking trails. (I solo-backpacked the western half of the Ozark Trail - took a week, saw four people the entire time, and had a blast!!) You can pick up maps and get directions at the district ranger stations.

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I'm not familiar with the Memphis area, but looking at the map I see some state parks and National Wildlife Refuge areas nearby. Also, you're just down the road from Land Between the Lakes. I spent a week there in college and they have a wide variety of hiking opportunities - short nature trails, walks to historic locations, and multi-day packpacking.

Have fun,
-Bob
 
I have to go along with the 3 knife rule

1 Hacker to build a shelter, chop & split wood, shave and strike flint.
1 Clean sharp blade for skinning, and cleaning game and fish.
1 Every day cary for all odd jobs.

A sharp knife and a sharp mind will keep you alive. You must know how to keep them both honed when your camping.
 
Thanks for the info Bob W. My parents just built a home in Hot Springs Village, so I'm real close to Ouachita. I'll definitely check into that book you mentioned.
 
Here's the website for the Ouachita National Forest:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/

On the right side of this page is a list of trails. I think you should start with the "Short Walking and Enterpretive Trails," move up step-by step as you build confidence and skills to the "One to Five Miles Hikes," off-trail exploring, and perhaps through-hiking the 190-mile Ouachita Trail eventually.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/recreation/trails.shtml

Forget the axes, "hacking" tools, and hunting knives (unless you're hunting, of course) for hiking and backpacking in Arkansas. You'll just need a simple pocketknife as described in the Ten Essentials list, perhaps a multi-tool, SAK, or whatever you already own.
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Keep in mind that the Ouachita National Forest is public land, owned by all Americans equally. Keep it clean for the next person by following a no-trace ethic. Here's the best summary I've seen, combined into a simple common-sense list:
http://www.lnt.org/programs/lnt7/index.html

I dissagree about their item, "pack out toilet paper" though. At least in Arkansas it's not necessary. Just bury it with the turds and it should be fine. There's a good reference book, How to Shit in the Woods that gives more details and why packing out TP is necessary in some environments.
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Here are some hazards you might encounter in Arkansas. It would be in your best interest to read a bit about managing the risks and what to do in any of these events:
1) flash floods - it seems someone dies each year in Ark trying to cross swollen creeks.
2) insects and deseases - ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, flies, scorpions
3) poisonous snakes - rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths
4) bears - more for their protection than your's, "A fed bear is a dead bear"
5) poisonous and irritating plants - nettle, poison ivy, briars
6) two-legged irritants - camp far enough away that you aren't visible from trails or roads
7) seasonal weather extremes - dry periods, floods, extreme heat, winter storms, etc.

-Bob
 
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