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Get your backpacking feet wet with this low-intensity 2 day/1 night backpacking trip! This adventure is a great next step for someone who has completed the Valiant Outfitters Intro to Backpacking Adventure or has some one-night backpacking experience or even just a few 5+mile day hikes under their belt. During this 20 mile hike along flat, sandy trails you’ll learn and put into practice “Leave No Trace” principles, backpacking skills, camp set-up, and backcountry cooking. You’ll finish knowing that you’re ready for your next backpacking adventure.

Cost: $359

This adventure requires a minimum of 2 pre-paid registrations. The group maximum is 5 persons. (If you have a group of more than 5 individuals, please contact us at info@valiantoutfitters.com for information on one of our Premium Private Backpacking Adventures.

Paid registration includes an hour-long virtual (Zoom) Personal Outfitting Session ($99 value), enrollment in a two-hour Intro to Backpacking Class conducted at the trailhead ($49 value), trail and/or park permits, shuttle between trailheads, and your guide.

A tip for your guide is not included in the cost.

Itinerary

Day 1: At 8:30 AM we’ll meet at the Juniper Springs Recreational Area of the Ocala National Forest. Once everyone has arrived your guide will distribute any rental gear and then review information from our Intro to Backpacking course. We’ll discuss the basics of loading your pack, setting up camp, and Leave No Trace principles. After a “no-cook” lunch we’ll discuss safety, weather, and logistics before we “shakedown” our gear, load our packs, and hit the trail through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. After hiking 4-5 miles we’ll set up camp near Crooked Sapling Pond, cook, and eat supper before settling down for a good night’s rest.

Day 2: Rise-and-shine is between 7:00 and 7:30 am. After breakfast, we’ll break camp and hike to the sinkhole at Hopkins Prairie for a refreshing swim and lunch. Then we’ll hike out of the forest along Hopkins Praire Road to meet the shuttle to pick up our cars.

Guide

This adventure is guided by our founding outfitter Joe Bassett. Joe has personally scouted this trail and planned this hike specifically for beginner and novice backpackers. He’ll draw on more than 40 years of outdoor, nature, and wilderness survival experience to make sure that you enjoy your new skills and the wonder of the trail. Papa Epic, as his grandkids call him, believes that it’s impossible to be in the wilderness and in a bad mood at the same time. He founded Valiant Outfitters specifically to share that philosophy with young and old, novice and expert alike.

Gear

You’ll need to bring the following gear. Items designated with * are available for rent (see below). Remember a Personal Virtual Outfitting Session is included with each adventure, so we’ll guide you through any purchases or rentals that you might need. We’ll also send you a printable detailed gear list.

This may seem like a lot of stuff, but the lightweight gear has been specifically recommended so that each person will carry a base weight of 30-35 lbs, but no more than 30% of their body weight.

• Backpack 40-50 liter (Osprey Talon/Kyte 44 or similar)*
• Tent 2 person with footprint (REI Halfdome+ or Sierra Designs Tabernash 2 or similar)*
• Sleeping bag or quilt 40 or lower degree (Kelty Cosmic 20 or similar)*
• Sleeping pad (Klymit Static V2 or REI Flash 3-season or similar)*
• Trekking poles (REI Trailbreak or similar)*
• Water filter (Sawyer Mini or Sqeeze)
• Backpacking stove (SOTO WindMaster or MSR Pocketrocket or similar)*
• Freeze dried backpacking meals – 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners (Mountain House, Backpackers Panty, or similar)
• Spork (Sea to Summit Alpha Light or similar)*
• Cook kit (MSR Alpine 2 or similar)*
• Butane 2 – 4oz canisters (MSR, JetBoil, or similar)
• One set of outer clothing for hiking (quick dry, wicking, or merino wool; athletic clothing is a good option; avoid cotton)
• One sleeping outfit (cotton is OK for sleeping and relaxing around camp)
• Underwear and merino wool socks for each day
• Footwear (Light weight boots like Merrill Moabs or trail runners are best)
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Lightweight jacket or fleece
• Headlamp (Petzl Tikkina or similar; adjustable brightness and/or red filter option is best)*
• Sunglasses
• Commercial water bottle (Smart Water, Dasani, are compatible with Sawyer water filters)
• Bug spray (Deet or Picaridin is best)
• Sunscreen
• Tooth paste and toothbrush
• Hat
• Medications (Your guide is wilderness first-aid certified and will have a full first-aid kit, but over the counter medications in that list are reserved for emergencies only.)

Rentals (all rental gear meets or exceeds the recommendations made above)

• A la Carte
  • Backpack – $50
  • 2 person tent & footprint – $50
  • Sleeping bag – $30
  • Trekking poles – $18
• Packages
  • Basic – $165
    • Backpack, tent & footprint, sleeping bag & pad, trekking poles
  • Basic for 2 persons – $210
    • 2 backpacks, 1 tent & footprint, 2 sleeping bags & pads, 2 sets of trekking poles
  • Premium – $215
    • Backpack, tent & footprint, sleeping bag & pad, stove, cook kit, spork, headlamp, trekking poles
  • Premium for 2 persons – $270
    • 2 backpacks, 1 tent & footprint, 2 sleeping bags & pads, 1 stove, 1 cook kit, 2 sporks, 2 headlamps, 2 sets of trekking poles

Rentals must be prepaid and reserved at least 2 weeks prior to the adventure.

COVID Safety Information

For the health and assurance of everyone involved, hikers are expected to provide proof of vaccination or negative test result within 48 hours of the adventure. Masks will be required during the shuttle ride, only.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@valiantoutfitters.com to ask specific questions about our procedures and protocols.

Cancellations

Full payment is required at the time of registration. Valiant Outfitters Adventures are pre-paid and include a non-refundable 20% admin fee. Cancellations made within 7-14 days of an adventure or course are eligible for a 50% refund. Refunds are not issued for cancellations made within one week of an adventure or course.

The adventure takes place rain or shine, but if Valiant Outfitters cancels an adventure or course due to severe weather (lightning, excessive winds, etc.) then a full refund will be issued.

[*Different cancellation policies apply to beta adventures and courses.]

One More Thing

Time spent in the wilderness is rewarding and challenging, however, sometimes it’s downright uncomfortable. But learning to rejoice in spite of the circumstance is part of the point, right? So keeping a positive mindset is important to get the most from the experience. When things go “sideways” we encourage each other to “embrace the suck.”