ARCHERS FORK TRAIL

AN OCTOBER EXPERIENCE

Preparation

I began preparing for this trip not long after finishing my last one. As usual, life happened, and I ended up pushing this adventure back about three weeks. During that time, the biggest change was the weather—night temperatures dropped from the mid-50s to the 30s. That meant adjusting some gear to handle the colder conditions. The two main changes were swapping out my blanket for a sleeping bag with thermal lining and adding warmer layers to my clothing setup. When everything was packed, my load ended up weighing 9 pounds more (44.4 pounds).

With the extra weight, I had to rethink my packing strategy. I shifted some items around to keep the heavier ones closer to my back for better balance. Despite these adjustments, I wasn’t happy about the added weight, especially knowing how tough it would be on climbs. It made me question my packing choices a few times. As always, I sent out an itinerary to close family before leaving. This time, in addition to emailing a file, I printed a physical copy so they’d have it on hand. It was fun to put together and practical as well. I didn’t double-check the weather again before sending it out, but I wasn’t about to update it after the fact.

Once the itinerary was set, I turned my attention to navigation. I made my own topographic maps for this trip, using my home printer and laminating them for durability. It took some time, but it was worth it. The maps provided a clear view of the terrain, which gave me confidence for navigation, especially since I planned to explore some off-trail sections.

Given the delay and the colder weather, I had to mentally reset for this trip. I was looking forward to experiencing the solitude of the Archers Fork Trail and seeing its unique features, like the Great Cave and the natural rock bridge. I knew the cold would make it a different challenge altogether, but that’s just part of what made these trips memorable.

I chose this trail because of the unique landmarks and its remoteness. It is considered one of the most remote locations in the Wayne National Forest. It offered a chance to see some awesome animals like black bears and bobcats—something the last trail did not.

As I got ready to set off, there were a few things I was looking forward to testing out: my small table for cooking and strap padding for my backpack. I believed both would improve my experience in a positive way.

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