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Weekend Backpacking Trip
- Location
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Zaleski State Forest Headquarters
RR 278
Mc Arthur, OH 45651
740-596-5781How to find us
"Sign up. Let me know how early on Friday you're available to hit the road. We'll figure out what works the best for the most."
- Who attended?
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Estimated attendance: 3 people attended.
- Meeting fee
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$25.00 per person
Time for me to get in on a real hike. 
But I have to be back in town for an obligation on Sunday afternoon! However, my plan is to do the 23.5 mile Zaleski Backpacking Trail loop.
We'll arrive as early on Friday evening as possible and do as many miles as we can before dark. Then up with the sun on Saturday and hit the trail no later than 8:00. If we're not to the second cut-out by noonish, we'll take it when we get there so as to be able to finish up on Sunday and make the drive back by the afternoon. ( I have obligations that evening. 
)
There are two early cut-outs on the loop. The first loop is classified on the map as a day hike. It is 9.9 miles. It starts with a ~300 foot climb to the ridge-line. The trail undulates on the crest for a good ways (several miles) then does a U-turn and drops of the ridge into a ravine. The trial follows that down to the main valley. The trail then climbs ~ 240 feet to another ridge and follows that for over a mile then you cross the valley. Which means another ~200 foot climb to the ridge again. After a couple miles more of ridge walking you join the cut-off trail that is just under a mile. It takes you back to close to the starting point. This loop includes two water-hydrant water sources space pretty evenly on the route, so you won't have to carry much water and no water filter.
The second cut-off simply eliminates the connecting trail and upper loop reducing the total loop by about 8 miles.
The $25 per person fee for this trip is to cover the cost of gas and vehicle expenses. It may have to be adjusted depending on group size, number and type of vehicles.
I'm going to have to pack light as well as get in some practice trail miles between now and then!!! 
This will be a STRENUOUS HIKE. I do NOT recommend it for beginners unless an organizer steps up on purpose to lead one of the easy-out loops OR plans to drive back to Cincy LATER IN THE DAY.
More details as I work them out and have time to post them.
I changed the sign up to NOT allow an RSVP of "Maybe" so all those who were signed up that way will need to re-evaluate and RSVP again now that details have been posted. 
Sorry! Please re-up!
ZuperDave
Who attended?
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“ An excellent choice for a backpacking trip. The weather was outstanding - too bad more people didnt participate. ” -
“ Great location I'd never heard of. The rain was surprisingly minimal. Lots of fun! ” -
“ My first time in Zaleski State Forest. I don't know what I was expecting. At times it reminded me of the AT. But the orange "blazes" were a bit jarring. I'm used to a uniform rectangular white blaze. The markings in Zalenski look as if a drunken person with painting mits on were staggering from tree to tree. Way more trees were marked than necessary, and the hunter orange color was almost idenical to the color of the water in the creek which is leaching from iron-oxide soil and/or the abandoned Zalenski mines. There was more variety in the types of woods than I expected. The lower portions made me think of Appalachia, but the pine woods in the northern part made me think of north woods and/or parts of the RRG. Despite predictions of scattered thunderstorms, we only had one brief hard downpour in the night and we mainly slept right through. John hadn't planned on camping out, but we talked him into it and he shared my tarp. I didn't hear him snore. I'm sure he heard me! ” -
Lisa (+1 guest)
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Your organizer's refund policy for Weekend Backpacking Trip
Refunds offered if:
Payments you make go to the organizer, not to Meetup. You must make refund requests to the organizer.
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