10 years ago, I went on my very first solo backpacking trip at Burr Oak State Park.

I originally planned to come back later this year for the official 10-year anniversary, but with a small window of time, cold weather, and muddy fields keeping me off the farm, I decided to return now for a quick overnight trip.

This hike became a chance to revisit where backpacking started for me and look at how much has changed over the last decade — my gear, my experience, and the way I see the trail now.

I’ve been back to Burr Oak since that first trip, but this was the first time I returned with the goal of slowing down, spending the night, and experiencing the trail again as a backpacking trip.

This trip is also the start of a new series revisiting the Ohio trails where I first got started in backpacking and YouTube.

What once felt huge and unfamiliar now feels completely different.

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