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I did not take a lot on the John Muir Trail. In fact, I neglected most of the ten essentials. But, I knew that this would be the bare minimum to get me from Yosemite Valley to Whitney Portal. Overall, I did not take a tent, sleeping bag, or many of the traditional items that thru-hikers and backpackers will take on the JMT. My style was all functionality, efficiency, and the gear that would be useful. In addition to the items below, I took 15,210 calories and did not finish all the food I packed. I traveled southbound and unsupported on the successful FKT! Here is the gear I took. Scroll down for more analysis of why I took each item. John Muir Trail Unsupported FKT Gear List Gossamer Gear Kumo Superlight – Fastpack Version Prototype This was a prototype but very similar to the Kumo from Gossamer Gear. It had front pockets that worked well for carrying my water while running or snacks through the night. Coros Vertix 2 I tracked the whole JMT on this watch, ending with 51% battery. This is just an amazing tool, and how dependable the battery life is makes it even more mind-blowing and essential. Gossamer Gear LT5 Three Piece Carbon Trekking Poles These are the lightest trekking poles out there. They do break a bit more frequently than aluminum poles, but I haven’t had a problem even on technical trails in years. I stowed them about half the time and used them the other half. I specifically love the handles and the light straps on these poles. Salomon ULTRA GLIDE I have been wearing these on adventures 100+ miles. They work well, and I like the cambered style and the little extra cushion compared to other Salomon models. Patagonia Down Sweater Since I would only have one piece of insulating gear, I opted for a bit thicker than the others I was considering. The pockets also proved very useful throughout the cold nights. This down sweater was just good enough in the cold temperatures at altitude, and I only wore this Patagonia and shorts for the top of Mt. Whitney. Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket It did not rain on the John Muir Trail. But sometimes it was windy but not cold enough for a full-down jacket. This 5.4 oz layer worked perfectly in very specific situations. There are no pockets, but I wanted something stupid light for this layer. The Visp fits that bill. Janji Mercury Track Pants I wanted one layer that covered my full legs. It mainly was planning for Forester Pass and Mt. Whitney at night. I wanted it to be more comfortable than a wind layer and light. The 9.9-ounce mercury track pants worked perfectly. I did not use them much, but they provided the piece of mind while being light. I wear these a lot and find them a great wicking mid-layer. Tiger Face Sweatshirt These efforts are for fun, so an outfit should be fun. These tiger sweatshirts make me laugh, so I have gone overboard and owned several relevant animal face ones by now. I have modified mine by cutting the sleeves off it. But the hood works well to keep the sun off my neck, and the fabric is semi-wicking. Are you sold yet? Just buy one it will make you smile. Nitecore NU25 (2 of them) These are rechargeable, and I took two of them to rotate throughout the night. They are very light, recharge quickly, and are dependable. This system worked out great for me, and I think this should be the go-to backpacking headlamp. Appalachian Gear Company Beanie I needed something for warmth but also very light. Alpaca works really well for insulating even when sweaty or wet, and it is also comfortable. This went in the pocket of my down jacket and could be put on or taken off depending on the temperature. 5.0 XOTOES (Toe Sock) Quarter Crew (Two pairs) I got no blisters. I took two pairs of these socks and changed them once or twice a day. They worked great, and my feet were beat up and swollen at the end but blister-free overall. Goodr Tiger’s Eye Gazing I didn’t even intentionally pack these sunglasses, they were just the ones I grabbed. Did they match the theme perfectly? Yes! Buff Solar Glove Yes, my cold weather gloves were sun gloves. It was the lightest possible but also functional with the fingerless style. They worked great and were exactly what I wanted. Anker PowerCore 10000mAh Portable Charger (I took 2) I took two of these for charging up everything. They are a little heavier than I might go in the future. But between my phone, GPS, and two headlamps, I was a little worried about the lack of battery power ending an FKT attempt. These are very durable and lose very little power in the cold and inclement weather, so they had my complete confidence. Body Glide You have got to fight off that chaffe. I had a bit everywhere from the butt to crotch to armpits. The key is having this accessible and getting it on the problem spot before it becomes something that will bother you the entire adventure. Somewear GPS Communicator This worked ok for tracking. It is not the most reliable, and the battery dies pretty quickly, but it was good enough. It is durable and works well for communicating if that is what you want. It is also more affordable than the inReach options. Walmart Shorts Should I switch to more performance wear? Probably… but I’m cheap. These were good enough, and it is what I wore. Emergency Blanket With no tent or sleeping bag, I had to take the smallest precaution by packing an emergency blanket. Charged Crystal Bracelet (and earrings if you are really committed) Do I believe in crystals? I don’t not believe in crystals. You need some moon-charged power out there for the long nights.

Coming into 2022, I have not raced much. I have completed and achieved FKTs (Fastest Known Times) ranging from 26 miles to many thousands of miles. But, these efforts are unsupported and often much more unique than the thousands of Ultramarathons that happen yearly. I wanted to get this new experience of aid stations, commraderie, a defined course, and a scheduled start time. It would give structure and hopefully organizing experience that could improve other aspects of life too. When I attempted the Arizona Trail, I felt nervous and anxious the day I was expecting to start. I woke up with no confidence and this foreboding feeling that I was going to fail spectacularly. So, instead of starting that morning, I went into town, regrouped, and began my successful AZT record the next day. This is not an option in an ultramarathon, and that part intrigued me. The winner of a race is the best/fastest person on that day. So, I made racing the focus for 2022 I ran a last-person-standing event on January 1st, and beyond saving me from a New Years’ Eve of partying, it also was a great way to cover 120 miles systematically. It was a four mph pace until there was only one person left. And that person happened to be me. Then I ran Cocodona 250 after dealing with months of injury. I learned the meaning of feeling fresh and was able to separate the mental and physical sides of ultramarathons. One side is vastly more important than the other, and I couldn’t have learned this lesson any other way. This continued lining up for races eventually led to my first timed event: A 12 hour trail running even called “Moonlight on Mt. Ascension.” The 12 hour race What intrigued me the most about this even was the timing. It started at 8pm and ended at 8am in the morning. I really enjoy night running, but it is hard to separate it out from longer events to practice. I have run the Timberline Trail at night and the Bridger Ridge by where I live in Montana at night, but never an organized event. I was excited about this new style. The route was an 11.5-mile figure 8 loop with about 2,600 feet of vertical gain on the course. The goal was to complete as many of the figure eight loops as possible in the 12-hour window. I began with few goals or expectations but quickly adopted the mindset of at least tying the current course record, so that is the pace that I adopted. Here is how the race went. The Race We started off way too fast. This seems to happen in every single race. The adrenaline of a gun going off only spurs us runners on at an unsustainable pace. We charged up the hill and summited out very quickly, returning back to the middle of the figure 8, in about an hour and a half for the 7.7 mile portion. I hadn’t even had time to eat or drink enough to require stopping, so I continued onto the other section of the route. It proved a lot more runnable than I expected, and I was back at the aid station within another hour. This course was very runnable and had the elevation gain hidden throughout rather than lined up in a way that would fatigue me quickly. It was a quick transition into loop 2. I barely needed anything, and since it was not dark I wasn’t as worried about temperature regulation. I LOVE running at night, and the cold air helps me feel comfortable compared to a hot beating sun. My headlamp system worked perfectly, and I used the Petzl Nao+ in its reactive lighting mode with a spare battery in my pack. This system has worked well for me in races ranging from the Barkley Marathons to Cocodona 250. The miles ticked by, but I had no idea what place I was in. With the dark and only seeing the beam of other headlamps, it was difficult to discern where people were spread out and how many people (if any) were ahead of me. I was on perfect track to tie the course record, but that didn’t mean other people were not also on track for that. I put this out of my mind and focused on continued and relentless progress forward. Late in my third lap I began to feel nausea. This seems to happen in every race. I sat down on a rock and immediately committed out the orange I had just eaten. Spurred by adrenaline, I felt better for a few minutes before the further decline began. The chance of a new course record slowly disappeared as the sun began to come up. My legs were too tired, and my stomach was not cooperating. The stretch goal was out of reach, so it was time to focus on attaining my main goal: equaling the course record. I moved forward, much slower than previous laps. I was depleted and didn’t feel good at all. But I finished lap 4 and had time for one more loop around half of the course. With two hours remaining I could choose which side to run, but wouldn’t have time for a full loop. I naturally chose the longer side and dropped the intensity to simply enjoy the rising of the sun, the beautiful terrain, and the views from the top of Mt. Ascension and looking into Helena. I came into the finish area with about 20 minutes left in the twelve hour event, but was too late to get in any more miles. I had my cup of coffee and enjoyed the morning. Near the middle of lap 4 I was told that I was in second place. I was about two miles behind the eventual winner, but due to cutoffs and the timing, I didn’t have much chance of catching him. He set a new course record in an awesome evening of running. What made this event especially rewarding is the lack of knowledge of the field. I simply had to push forward toward my own goal and not worry about things I did not know. It was the personal experience I wanted and a reason to push myself only to my own goals and not following the competitiveness. Ultimately second place hurt a bit, but I was very happy with the overall ability to continue pushing forward. It was an awesome race and one I hope to go back to.

My knee was covered in KT Tape, but I let go of all the anxiety and stress of a potential DNF (Did Not Finish). It was the start line of the Cocodona 250, and I had never been calmer. The race would simply unfold before me, and I would do the best I could. Two hundred fifty miles is too far to conceptualize, and moving forward for three days is too difficult to imagine, so I simply planted myself in the present and heard the count down to zero. Then we were off. Cocodona 250 had begun. For three miles, the pace was gentle, but it slowly picked up. It took all my patience to hold myself back, which meant I was quickly being passed. Less than an hour into a multi-day race, runners ran up the hills and flew down them. It differed drastically from my strategy, but it started to impact my morale. I was not used to being passed so frequently. But the success of my race depended on being consistent. I put in headphones and tried to enter my own world, paying less attention to the 50-plus runners that ran by me. I trotted on at my own pace. The start of Cocodona 250 The miles ticked by. The weather was hot, but seeing my crew at mile 20 completely reframed my view of the upcoming days. It was amazing to have my Aunt, our friend Ginny, and multiple other friends that would pace me later on in the adventure at the aid station. Cocodona 2022 would be a completely different experience than 2021. The route was different, and the pace was faster. Day one went perfectly according to plan. Well, except my feet suffered in the heat. I was used to the stubborn cold of Montana and not the 80-degree temperatures of Prescott. But, after a couple of sock changes, my feet felt more at home. Darkness came, and I arrived at mile 60 to pick up my first pacer. Josh is a thru-hiker with the trail name Aladin. Actually, all my pacers were thru-hikers, and it turned out to be a fantastic strategy. Josh and I had never met before, but he came right to pace me after trading Instagram DMs when he finished the Arizona Trail. He turned out to be an excellent pacer, and he always had something to talk about and kept me sharp. Josh took care of the navigating while I worked on running as much of the downhills and flats as I could. We quickly shot up into the top 5; all the people who ran so hard for the first few hours had fallen back. Night one was perfect, especially because Josh brought a small disco ball to pump up the nighttime energy. My pacers traded out about 1 am, and I began running with Ari. She was also just off an Arizona Trail thru-hike and training for a marathon PR. I met Ari on the John Muir Trail while she was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and I knew her demeanor would be perfect for pacing a 250-mile race. She has the background as a Division 1 college runner and the experience of a thru-hiker. We charged through the night and navigated a complicated cross-country section full of literal bushwhacking, but we were soon in third place. Running with Ari at Cocodona 250 I had a great few minutes with my crew at Mingus Mountain and then trudged toward Jerome. I covered the first 100 miles of Cocodona in 23 hours and still felt fresh. Had I gone too fast? I was a little worried about the pace I was setting. On a three-mile descent into the historic town cut into the mountainside, I stretched out my legs for a couple of six-minute miles. Things were feeling great, but 250 miles is a long way. Sydney was my pacer from Jerome to Dead Horse State Park. Once again, she was just off a section hike of the Arizona Trail, and we had met in Bozeman. Serendipity brought together my fantastic crew and pacers. I am not a planner and fighting a small quad tear, and IT Band issues meant that I had done substantially less planning than I had even hoped. I crossed the knee-deep Verde River with Sydney and began to feel tired. I had been awake and running for about 36 hours, and my mind started to feel sluggish. It was also getting hot, and my feet hurt. At Dead Horse State Park, I took off my shoes to soak and rest my feet. Kristen and Ginny already had an Epsom salt tub and a few minutes in the cold water completely revitalized my energy. I took it even further with a cold shower and then continued through the heat with Josh. The energy my pacers brought was unmatched. We all wore eccentric clothing and outfits and focused on having fun rather than treating the three-day event as a competition. Efficiency was the key, but fun was the goal. The results would take care of themselves. Josh ran with me through the rolling hills of the desert in a full dress. Every time I saw his tiger print dress flap in the wind, it brought a smile to my face. It helped spur me on at a good pace. We crossed the halfway point, but I began to crave sleep. I tried to lay down for ten minutes at the next aid station, but another runner’s hysterically screaming children ruined any rest I hoped to get. So, I trekked on toward Sedona with Sydney. Cocodona 250 running into Sedona We ran across striking ridges just as the sun was setting. But, as it dipped in the sky, I became exhausted. I quickly turned into a zombie and decided to lay in the dirt for a couple of minutes. I fell right asleep, and two minutes later, I was back on my feet, moving forward. At about 150 miles into Cocodona, my body was hurting. My hip had a sharp pain from an overused hip flexor. I could dull the throbbing hurt with a little massaging, but it would be a part of my race the rest of the way. We jogged into Sedona at 10 pm, and I needed sleep. My Aunt Kristen and Ginny have a van, and they set it up for me to sleep in for an hour. Initially, it was tough to fall asleep, and right when Kristen woke me up, I walked outside and threw up. I am a puker, and it is normal but never fun. I quickly put my shoes back on, tried to eat some food, and then moved off down the course with Ari by my side. Everything was straightforward until I opened a Red Bull from my pack, and it immediately made me want to vomit again. Then we had to cross Oak Creek. The flowing water would have been an easy ford in the daylight, but it was tough in my tired state and with only headlamps lighting our way. I slipped and slid across the slick bottom before exiting without a fall. My feet were soaked, and I was getting cold fast. I needed to push hard up the Casner Canyon climb, but my stomach started to rebel. I emptied the contents all over the rocks and then began dry heaving. Some combination of the cold, exhaustion, and extreme exertion for two days caught me. It was my most challenging section. It took forever, and I moved at a snail’s pace. I was passed multiple times through that night and fell back into 6th. As the sun rose, it became a battle. I needed calories, but my IT Band and hip flexor were flaring up. Even when I couldn’t run, I walked. Munds Park and my crew wouldn’t get closer if I rested. The hellacious section finally ended, and as the day warmed up, so did my body. I trotted into the aid station with my crew waiting. I had very little mental energy left, and they took care of it all. I soaked my feet while they filled my pack with electrolytes and calories. They even had two smoothies and BLTs waiting for me. Their energy completely revitalized me, and I ran out of the aid station with Josh. It was a 16-mile out and back, mainly on roads. The out portion went well, but I craved sleep. Even in the middle of the day, I laid down in some pine needles and got five minutes of sleep. Then I was ready to go! We flew back down the hill and back to the crew. That is when the next long section began. A Cocodona 250 Cat nap Sydney jogged off with me through a 26-mile stretch. The section was broken up by an aid station 18 miles in that did not allow crew. We quickly covered the first 18 miles, but then things fell apart. As we entered the outskirts of Flagstaff, the temperature plummeted. My hip screamed in pain, and I became delirious. We did not pack enough clothing, and I began to shiver. I put on light sweatpants, and Sydney wrapped herself up in two space blankets. It would have to do. We were so slow, and I was stumbling. I laid down for a 4-minute nap and woke up in a panic. My mind was gone, and I couldn’t figure out where I was. When things came back slowly, flashing lights appeared behind us. The cops had pulled us over. It was 3 am, and I couldn’t form complete sentences. Luckily, Sydney convinced the Sheriff that we were running an ultramarathon and not causing trouble. Freshly awakened by the interaction with law enforcement, I was energized enough to make it into Fort Tuthill. Walking into Fort Tuthill with Sydney in two space blankets I ate, tried to stay awake, and prepared for twenty more miles through Walnut Canyon. A friend Bryce had shown up to pace me, and I was excited to try to run through the section. There were less than 40 miles left, and it was time for the final push, but after one more nap. I slept on the trail for ten minutes and then told Bryce to set an uncomfortably fast pace. Last year, he was my only pacer and led me through this section, so we knew how to do it. Feeling revitalized by the rising sun, we ran most of the way, and I texted my crew precisely what I wanted at the next aid station. It would be my last aid station, and I wanted to try to catch at least one of the runners ahead. With the efficiency of Nascar, my crew did everything for me while I simply sat in a chair. Spoonfuls of soup were thrust in front of my face, and I simply had to eat them. Water was handed to me while my arms were sprayed with sunscreen, and my shoes were tied for me. It was amazing to have such great help from friends and family. Then I was off. It would be a push to the finish line, and Ari was pacing me through it. Rolling hills led up to a massive ascent to Cocodona’s high point. At mile 235, we began climbing Mt. Elden. From somewhere deep inside, a reserve of energy boiled up. I knew there was a runner just ahead of me that I could catch. I ran up the hill, not at a shuffle, but at a running pace. Ari fell back, expecting to see me puking around each corner, but I held it together. I grabbed a handful of lingering snow on the last ridge and stuffed it into my hat. I was burning up from the exertion. I quickly grabbed water at the last aid station and began flying downhill. There were only eight miles to the finish of Cocodona. I passed another runner and moved into fifth place with six miles left. Ari had caught me, and we trotted down to Buffalo Park. My crew joined me throughout that last mile, and we all ran into the finish together. It was emotional, but I was drained. Immediately upon crossing the finish line, I cracked a beer and fell to the ground. I had used it all. The most fun three days of my life were over. Cocodona 250 is in the books and I became the first two-time finisher. The finish of Cocodona 250 The finish of Cocodona 250 with my crew

Targeted Training For two months I battled quad and IT band issues. After a last-person standing event win and two good months of training, my weekly mileage plummeted. I spent two months spending most of my disposable income at a chiropractor and physical therapist. My only goal was to arrive able to complete the Cocodona 250. I tried to walk daily, only on level ground, and did a number of bodyweight exercises and prescribed movements by the series of doctors I visited. It really wasn’t a confidence-building training block leading into one of my favorite races. But, I do have a large volume in my background. At 31 years old I have over 30k miles under my belt, with most of them being on trail, and at a pace that would at the very least help me complete Cocodona under the cutoff… if I didn’t sleep. Two weeks before the race, I made the final decision to move ahead and show up at the start line. Nothing felt healthy, and I had not done many of the little things I like to practice before an FKT or an Ultra… So I did them the week of the race. Practicing the Basics Night Running I left Bozeman to the astonishment of many friends. I was actually attempting to run a 250-mile race with a long run of 7 miles leading up to the event. It was a bit crazy, and I was nervous, but I had made my decision and now I had to sharpen a few of the tools that would get me to the finish line. I drove about 10 hours from Bozeman down to Moab and parked on a dispersed road I have camped on before. It was midnight and time to sharpen the first of my tools: Night Running. I always like to have night miles, with a headlamp under my belt before a race, and this was my one chance. I ran for over an hour, guided by the weakest headlamp I could see myself using for the race. It was just the practice of placing each foot, adjusting my eyes to running with artificial light, and becoming used to the feel of darkness. I really enjoy the night hours, but during a multiday race, this is when the weirdness really comes out. For me, that could mean just about anything. I planned to sleep very little, so nighttime comfort had to be supreme to overcome sleep deprivation and keep moving forward. I wrapped up my run and went to sleep. Stage one was done. Heat Training The next day I drove to northern Arizona and found ninety-degree weather in the afternoon. Here I set out on another hour run. It was not a fast run, but I needed to get my body used to the shock of heat. Montana winter was barely ending when I headed south and the exposure to a dry heat was paramount. In two days I did a couple more hour-long spurts to adjust to the different climate. The dry heat has manifested in bloody noses, sun rash, and headaches in the past, and my goal was to get these out of the way before the race. A few extra days in the climate I would be racing would only help me on the long run. On these heat runs I would take no water and let my body slowly adjust to the dry air and biting heat itself. They were an hour-long, and in the race, I would have water the entire time and be able to quench my thirst a lot more readily. Nutrition Training The last major factor I wanted to practice before race day was nutrition. Having done only short runs to preserve fitness heading into Cocodona 250, I had no real experience in months of eating and running. During a three-day event, I would need to eat real food at aid stations and consume calories while moving. So three days before the event I had a two-hour run/power hike planned where I ate dinner immediately before leaving. I snacked and drank water during the workout and jostled my stomach enough to feel out the feeling. It was foreign. So, the next day I did the same thing for a few hours. It was condensed training, but it sharped the skill and brought back the comfort of eating and running/hiking. At the event: I felt comfortable at night, and despite some stomach issues, I was able to consume calories and drink water for the entirety. I had one bloody nose, but it was short-lived. The last-minute training may have added very little to the actual success in the race, but it gave me the most important factor of all: Confidence. The Takeaways Practice the little things. If you are going to use poles in a race, use them in training. If the race is at night, run some at night. Run tired, and with a failing headlamp. Practice embracing these small things that can play a huge role in the success of a race, thru-hike, or an FKT. All points of adversity can be mitigated by attacking them head-on. Race recap coming out next #trailrunning #ultrarunning #howtocompleteandfkt #shouldyoutaperforarace #ultrarunningtips #runninga250milerace #ultrmarathon #howtorunanultramarathon #cocodona250

The Ozark Highlands Trail is notoriously full of water. Creeks, streams, rivers, waterfalls, and the occasional pond frequently cross the trail. It is also in the Ozarks of northern Arkansas and rarely climbs much above 2,000’ in elevation. So, I figured that mild backpacking gear and layers would suffice for this thru-hike. The real trick was having gear that would work for both backpacking and then setting an FKT. My original plan was to thru-hike the trail in one direction and then take a shot at the record on the OHT on the way back. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible with both rain, snow, and flash flooding, so I scraped the FKT plan. But, I still needed to stay warm on my thru-hike and the gear I took ended up being just barely enough. Here is what I took. Kumo Superlight Gossamer Gear Backpack I have used the Kumo on a number of trips over the past three years and like the simplicity, lightness, and limitations on overpacking. With my ever-evolving adventure in the Ozarks, I do wish I had brought a 40-liter pack that was more waterproof instead of something more conducive to an FKT. But, when I left for the trip, I fully expected to go for an FKT. Buy from Gossamer Gear The One Gossamer Gear Tent The One by Gossamer Gear made it through the entire Great Western Loop with me and I set the Arizona Trail Record with the shelter. I like that it is fully enclosed, and a single wall tent that only requires six stakes. Mine is 3 years old but it still handled the insane storms of Arkansas. The weight is great and it is very packable and dries out quickly. Buy from Gossamer Gear LT5 Trekking Poles The LT5 Trekking poles are simply the lightest out there. I have used them on a number of adventures and have had a lot fewer problems with them breaking than others. I hike with trekking poles about 50% of the time, so having something light and easy to store in my pack makes it nice to transition from using them to not. Buy From Gossamer Gear Flex 22 Katabatic Quilt Do I have a favorite piece of gear? I am not sure… but if I did this would be it. I love the versatility, functionality, and quality of Katabatic quilts and I recommend them to everyone. The down holds up. I have 12k miles on one of my Katabatic quilts. They are a great gear investment and are much lighter than traditional bags. Buy on Garage Grown Gear Coros Vertix 2 Watch The Coros watch has the best battery life, great app, and perfect integration features. Because of multi-day efforts, FKTs, and thru-hikes I have the Vertix 2 which has about a million years of battery life, but I think the Apex is the best and most useful watch on the market for most. Buy from REI Sawyer Squeeze Filter Simple, lightweight, and reliable. I have been using a Sawyer filter for 11 years and it once again worked well in the field. During the heaviest of rainstorms, when the muddy water and sediment flowed into all the streams this filter worked to turn it into satisfying, clear, thirst-quenching liquid. Buy From REI Tifosi Sunglasses These are new sunglasses and worked great. I have used a number of sunglasses over the last year and I would rank the value of these Tifosi near the top. Also, I like the wide array of styles. The affordability and value simply make them a great addition to a backpacking trip where a scratch or two isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Buy from Tifosi AirFlo Sit Light Camp Seat Gossamer Gear I made the stupid mistake of not taking a traditional sleeping pad with me. But, I had planned to FKT the trail and wanting to cut my weight led me to using this as both a back pad while hiking and a sleeping bag to add a little cushion to my shoulder and hip. Would recommend a more robust pad. Buy from Gossamer Gear Mammut Rain Jacket This rain jacket isn’t among the most popular for thru-hikers, but I have found it is one of the most reliable in the downpours, and this thru-hike certainly put it to the test. It held up well and I would recommend it. Buy from REI Homemade Rain Skirt This thing is awesome! It is lightweight, a simple strip of cloth and it wraps around my body and secures with velcro. It can double as added protection around camp too. I linked Ripstop by the Roll for all your fabric needs. Buy fabric from Ripstop by the Roll Appalachian Gear Company Sweatshirt This is the best mid layer. I wore it nearly every second of the time I was in Arkansas. The best thing about my Appalachian Gear Company sweatshirt is that when it is wet or sweaty it still maintains its insulative properties. I would highly recommend adding one to your kit. Buy from App Gear Co Swiftwick Socks Not only are these socks comfortable, and I don’t seem to get blisters with them, BUT they also have a spectacular national parks-themed line. If you know anything about my fashion sense, you know it is loud, and these help me be loud! Buy From Swiftwick Hoka Speedgoat Shoes I wear these for my of my hiking now, and they work great. The cushion is perfect for variable terrains and they are wide enough that I rarely have any foot discomfort or blisters. My favorite thing about the Hoka Speedgoat line is that I don’t have the same uncomfortable break-in period as other shoes. Buy from REI Tiger Tights Just look at this picture. Look at it really hard… these scream my name. That is the main reason I own them and continue to use tights with a tiger on them. These improve both my demeanor and my performance. Buy From Amazon Arc’teryx Down Jacket This was my first time taking the Arc’teryx down jacket on an adventure. I didn’t think I would use it much because the weather was supposed to be more temperate in Arkansas. BUT, it got into the teens a few nights and the few degrees Arkansas had to offer led me to hiking with this jacket on a lot. Buy from REI Nitecore NU 25 Headlamp This is simply the lightest, best, and most reliable headlamp. The Nitecore NU 20 is also a cheaper option but it does not have the red light functionality that is essential in group settings. This rechargeable headlamp is quickly becoming the most popular among hikers. Buy From Hyperlite Iphone 11 pro I don’t love my phone. I wish I had an iPhone 12 with 5G capability. But, this phone works better than my last one and it takes some good low light photos. Buy on Amazon Tripod To be an influencer, you must create content. A tripod makes content creation easier. There are a number of cheap options and they all work equally averagely. Buy on Amazon #bestgearforbackpackinginarkansas #OzarkHighlandsTrail #Arkansas #backpackinggearlist #arkansasthruhikinggearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailgearlist #gearlist #backpackingarkansas #thruhikingtheOzarkHighlandsTrail #backpackingtheozarkhighlandstrail #thruhikingtheOHT #geartohiketheouachitatrail

I woke up in Mountain Home… I wanted to get to at least Harrison, 70 miles away, but it was going to be quite the commitment. After too much coffee I walked out of the hotel and stuck my thumb up. It was 2.5 miles to get out of town and I figured I would have to walk at least that far to have any prospects of a ride, but somehow I got picked up right away! Not only was I trying to hitchhike across most of Arkansas, but it was supposed to start heavily snowing my mid day. It was almost like a race and all I had to combat the weather was my hiking layers. It would be an adventurous day of hitching. Ride 1: Aaron He was a former marine who had traveled all over the world, including teaching English in Taiwan. He had some incredible stories and opted to spend his day off taking me to Yelville. 30 miles and some good conversation down before I was back on the side of the road with my thumb up. It was getting cold, with the winter storm moving in. Ride 2: John An older gentleman picked me and decided to drive me a few miles. We ended up going about 15 miles because the conversation was so good. We connected over him owning a condo in Colorado, how underrated Arkansas is, and how I like to experience new places by backpacking through them and meeting the local people outside of the big cities. It was a shorter ride, but a much appreciated one. I had about 30 miles to Harrison, but with my good luck so far I was going to try to keep moving across the state! Ride 3: Stephanie I was standing outside of a Dollar General. It was not the classiest place, nor did I look too inviting with a three week beard and my unkempt hiking look after 250 miles, but a car pulled over pretty quickly and asked how far I was going. When I mentioned all the way across the state, she said “Me too!” So I hopped in and this began a strange hitching experience. My driver was borrowing a friends car to visit her sick mother across the state. The check engine light was on, the car was badly dented, and she wasn’t in the perfect frame of mind for the drive, but I went with it. We had good conversation because she had lived just about everywhere, but then the weather came in and it became especially scary. The windshield had a small crack but then all of a sudden cracked all the way across it. I shuddered. Then the seal on one of the back doors ripped off and the sounds of the highway grew loud. We still had an hour left! The snow fell fast, soon covering the road and we struggled for traction. I grew extremely anxious and would have paid any amount for another ride the last 20 miles, but together we stuck it out in the rickety car and she dropped me off in Fayetteville. I will give credit, because she said she was trying to stop smoking cigarettes, and even with how stressful the driving was, she didn’t smoke a single one on our 130 mile drive! She dropped me off, I sat down with a coffee to decompress and then got an Uber to a hotel! What a wild day of crossing Arkansas by hitching! It was very stressful! #bestgearforbackpackinginarkansas #OzarkHighlandsTrail #trailresportfortheozarkhighlandstrail #howlongistheozarkhighlandstrail #Arkansas #backpackinggearlist #arkansasthruhikinggearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailgearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailjournal #gearlist #backpackingarkansas #thruhikingtheOzarkHighlandsTrail #backpackingtheozarkhighlandstrail #thruhikingtheOHT #geartohiketheouachitatrail

A biblical storm came through last night! Thunder crashed and lightning flashed. It was miserable. There quickly was a stream of water running under my tent, and the sheets of rain that came down were unavoidable for the walls too. It was simply miserable. So, in a specifically violent cascade of rain that came down on my tent, I made the decision to pack up in the next break in the storm. Of course, that didn’t happen for a while, so I laid there shivering, waiting, and feeling the ground shake with every crash overhead. Each time, the walls of my tent flashed and I became acutely aware that only a few millimeters of fabric was protecting me from the violent storm, and even then it was doing a poor job. No single wall tent could take on the ferocity of this storm! About 430am the weather subsided a bit and I quickly crawled out of bed and packed my sopping wet clothing. I only had 16 miles to the terminus, and I had on every layer I could get on. I packed my pockets with snacks to eat along the way, and I kept the legs churning. Multiple wet crossings dotted the path, but eventually I made it to a series of dirt roads (full of puddles from the heavy rains) and they led high above the banks of the White River. And, because I got up so early, I was able to wrap up the thru hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail at 11am. I cannot say it was a magnificent ending, but the rain let up a little bit at the ending for me to snap a quick photo at the terminus after 250 miles. This thru hike had some of the wildest weather of any I have previously done. I walked out to the road, hitched to Mountain Home, got myself a hotel room and went to see a movie at night. It was casual, but I did treat myself to a massive bowl of popcorn! Ozark Highlands Trail Terminus #bestgearforbackpackinginarkansas #OzarkHighlandsTrail #trailresportfortheozarkhighlandstrail #howlongistheozarkhighlandstrail #Arkansas #backpackinggearlist #arkansasthruhikinggearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailgearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailjournal #gearlist #backpackingarkansas #thruhikingtheOzarkHighlandsTrail #backpackingtheozarkhighlandstrail #thruhikingtheOHT #geartohiketheouachitatrail

I was tired again this morning but I decided not to make coffee. I was packed up and moving by seven. The trail was ever elusive as I look to join up with it after not finding it before I set up camp last night. I went straight down a mountain through the thorns and loose leaves only to find the creek I was supposed to cross but no trail. This section seems to be very overgrown and hard to follow. In about 10 miles begins the sycamore section of the trail which I’m sure is pretty established Trail. But, to get there it is going to be a long slog through the uneven terrain and unmarked and unseen trail. I continued slowly throughout the day and around noon finally made it to the more established trail where they were blazes on the trees I need to find for a path for me to follow. I was so glad to be off the bushwhacking path that I laid out all my stuff to let the condensation of the night before dry off for a while and then I packed up and moved on after eating a lunch. The sycamore section of the trail is quite defined although right when the trail becomes nice, I had to cross a big stream (below) and the weather turns. It looks like rain is coming in the afternoon which is going to be a further pain because I didn’t bring gear that is suitable for the winter weather I’ve been getting along the OHT. As the time went by and the miles added up I was able to make decent time. For feeling tired and lethargic, the trail became a lot more easy to follow along the Sycamore Section and I began to have a good time. The clouds rolled in, covering the sky with a depressing gray look, but the rain was no more than a mist through the evening. I set up camp on top of a knob, but under a tree with no hopes of finding something better. I staked the tent out the best I could, knowing it could be a blustery night! Ozark Highlands Trail #bestgearforbackpackinginarkansas #OzarkHighlandsTrail #trailresportfortheozarkhighlandstrail #howlongistheozarkhighlandstrail #Arkansas #backpackinggearlist #arkansasthruhikinggearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailgearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailjournal #gearlist #backpackingarkansas #thruhikingtheOzarkHighlandsTrail #backpackingtheozarkhighlandstrail #thruhikingtheOHT #geartohiketheouachitatrail

I woke up tired. I slept fine, but diving into 30 miles days slowly begins to wear on a body over a week. I laid in my tent and stared at the ceiling, just putting off the decision to get up and commit to the day. Finally, closer to 8 than 7am I crawled out of the tent and slowly got up off the ground. I packed up with efficiency and moved eastward. The trail was easy to follow but I couldn’t as sluggish. A couple miles into the day, I came to Bear Creek. I would have to get my feet wet and I was not excited about it. The stream was wide, and deep. The cold water was not enticing but I got in. I slowly waded across, with the water coming to my mid thigh. Finally on the other side I crawled out freshly soaked. Once I crawled up the bank, I saw about ten tents and backpackers. They were astonished I had crossed the creek and asked where. “Just right where the trail crossed seems to be fine,” I responded to them. This was more of an inconvenient crossing for me than anything. Many of the crossings of the last 185 miles of the Ozark Highlands Trail had been much more difficult and dangerous. I said goodbye and hiked on. I was slow all day. I took many breaks and tried to eat enough to diminish the freshly resupplies food weight I had to carry on my back. I saw a couple more hikers throughout the day but it was fairly quiet. By the end of the day, I finally arrived at Highway 14 at Dillard’s Ferry. I hoped to continue on but the trail immediately disappeared. I fought my way through brush and rocky terrain to where I finally thought I could set up a tent. I passed out with no idea where the trail was and decided to resume looking in the morning light. Ozark Highlands Trail #bestgearforbackpackinginarkansas #OzarkHighlandsTrail #trailresportfortheozarkhighlandstrail #howlongistheozarkhighlandstrail #Arkansas #backpackinggearlist #arkansasthruhikinggearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailgearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailjournal #gearlist #backpackingarkansas #thruhikingtheOzarkHighlandsTrail #backpackingtheozarkhighlandstrail #thruhikingtheOHT #geartohiketheouachitatrail

It has now been 2 days since it rained 3 inches in 24 hours. But the creeks are still so swollen with muddy water that they’re nearly impassable. Some of them are downright scary and they have pushed me to revise my plans. The Ozark Highlands Trail is anywhere from 165 to 254 miles in length. It is a trail in progress, with more trail being finished and moved off the roads along it’s route. I had originally planned on going for the speed record on the trail after hiking the trail’s entire length first. BUT, after some of these treacherous water crossings I have revised my plan. I feel comfortable with the deepest of crossings during the days, but the thought of managing some of these Fords at night seems reckless. So, I am simply going to enjoy backpacking out here and maybe tack in a few more miles at the end of the trip. It was a comfortable night but a brisk morning and I didn’t dally making coffee before starting forward I planned to spend the day contemplating if going for the FKT/Speed record of the Ozark Highlands Trail felt possible and safe. But, 8 miles into the day when I arrived at the Buffalo River and Richland Creek it was pretty obvious that I should not charge through 50 mile days with many miles in the dark. I met Craig, a fellow backpacker I have corresponded with and he has actually sent me gear, right before the crossing and he said he had gotten a ride across with a canoe. When I got there I realized I did/should not want to swim across. So I waited. The water was fierce deep and cold, so I waited. Two hours later a boat finally gave me a ride and I was on my way further East, at a casual and enjoyable pace! Today I saw an elk herd in the Richland Valley by the Buffalo River and was surprised that the massive animals were in this area. Buddha had left me a bucket with a resupply in it at Highway 7, and at the end of the Day, I arrived at it. It had more food than I could carry, so for 30 minutes, I feasted on the contents. Finally, as dark was coming I packed up the food and hiked onward, further toward the eastern terminus of the Ozark Highlands Trail. #bestgearforbackpackinginarkansas #OzarkHighlandsTrail #trailresportfortheozarkhighlandstrail #howlongistheozarkhighlandstrail #Arkansas #backpackinggearlist #arkansasthruhikinggearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailgearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailjournal #gearlist #backpackingarkansas #thruhikingtheOzarkHighlandsTrail #backpackingtheozarkhighlandstrail #thruhikingtheOHT #geartohiketheouachitatrail

I woke up in the hotel refreshed and ready to get back on the trail. After making quick work of the continental Breakfast I was on Highway 7 hitching back to the trail. It was 37 miles away and would be a tough task. But, all my gear was dry, I got some good rest, and I avoided the cold temperatures of the Ozarks. With forecasts in the teens and ultimately going to be forced to camp high above where those forecasts applied, the hotel was my best option. At first I couldn’t get a ride from anyone. The only interest I got was from a policeman. But, after nearly an hour I got my first ride from an older man with such a thick accent that it was hard to converse. He got me about 15 miles up the road and by the time he dropped me off we were having good talks, although it was tough to decipher his words. He dropped me off past Dover and I started walking further up the road, hoping to find a good spot to continue the hitching process. I walked past manufactured homes full of barking dogs and didn’t feel completely safe. But within a dozen sporadically spaced cars passing, I received a ride. From the hotel to the trail took about 2 hours. Micah, a local college student drove me the rest of the way. It is always a relief to get out of town and back to the trail from town. Hitching is such an unknown and for an unplanned stop such as Russellville, it was even more complicated. But, the hiking was still very cold. The streams had ice on their banks. The creeks were still swollen with the rain and my feet were quickly wet. I keep my light sweatshirt on all day as it never got out of the 40s. But the sun is out and the rolling hills are beautiful. Hopefully the nights aren’t too cold as I contemplate attempting an FKT. Ozark Highlands Trail #bestgearforbackpackinginarkansas #OzarkHighlandsTrail #trailresportfortheozarkhighlandstrail #howlongistheozarkhighlandstrail #Arkansas #backpackinggearlist #arkansasthruhikinggearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailgearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailjournal #gearlist #backpackingarkansas #thruhikingtheOzarkHighlandsTrail #backpackingtheozarkhighlandstrail #thruhikingtheOHT #geartohiketheouachitatrail

It poured all night. And when I mean poured, I mean like the end of the world style downpour. I tried to close my eyes, sleeping and ignoring it, but eventually enough water had fallen from the sky that I woke up in a puddle. A three inches deep puddle covered the floor of my tent and it was an ominous sign for the day. At 5am I couldn’t take it anymore and carried my drenched pack and food bag over to the outhouse. I worked under the covered outer porch portion to make myself some coffee to feel my hands a bit before committing to hitting the trail again. By 5:30 I was packing up the drenched tent and the only other camper at the campground came over to say hi. Sebastian was exactly what you would expect from someone saying they are from the Arkansas hills. He was nice, offered the edge of his blue tarp for me to pack up, and had some very local knowledge to impart. Then I was off. It rained hard all morning. I didn’t know what was going to play out with the day and then I arrived at Hurricane Creek. The first crossing of it was precarious. It was deep, but I just plowed my way through the water and used some standing on large boulders just beneath the water. The rain was coming down hard. Buckets of rain drenched me and my gear. Then I got to the second crossing and my jaw dropped. It was swollen and had swollowed up large trees on the banks. I walked to where the river bank usually was, and it was past my knees. It was going to be a dangerous crossing. I didn’t like the look of where the trail was… it was muddle with the flash flooding, and moving swiftly. Knowing I would have to swim, I was looking for a place where it was deep and gentle. I knew I could kick across the forty degree water, I just needed the safe place to do it. I walked up stream about half a mile and found my spot. I walked to the edge of the large creek and wrapped my arms around a tree. Then I lowered my body into the water. All my stuff was stowed to manage the crossing. Immediately upon lowering myself over the edge I was waist deep. I edged along the bottom, controlling my breathing to block out the cold. I had to maintain perfect control of my body to get through the 60 feet of swimming. Then my feet stopped hitting the bottom. I pulled my chin up and started stroking with my arms and kicking with my arms. It felt endless, but it was smooth. Currently slowly pulled me down, but I had picked a good spot. A few strokes later and I felt the rocks of the other bank. I was sooo cold. I quickly put on some layers and started quickly hiking. Within a few miles it started to snow. The day was just falling apart. Hurricane Creek Water Data Then I came to Highway 7. I was 22 miles into the day and the forcast predicted a low in the low teens for the temperature. I stuck out my thumb. A nice couple grabbed me in their minivan and told me the history of the area on the drive into Russellville. They had been in the area for generations and dropped me right at my hotel. I ventured to the all you can eat buffet and then spent the rest of the night drying my gear in the hotel. Ozark Highlands Trail Hurricane Creek #bestgearforbackpackinginarkansas #OzarkHighlandsTrail #trailresportfortheozarkhighlandstrail #howlongistheozarkhighlandstrail #Arkansas #backpackinggearlist #arkansasthruhikinggearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailgearlist #ozarkhighlandstrailjournal #gearlist #backpackingarkansas #thruhikingtheOzarkHighlandsTrail #backpackingtheozarkhighlandstrail #thruhikingtheOHT #geartohiketheouachitatrail