Slight Miscalculation on our Hiking Distance
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128832)
Gainesville, Florida
March 24, 2016 7:12am CST
So, in preparation for the great hiking and camping adventure my son and I recently went on, I spent several days prior to the trip planning out our hiking route along the Florida Scenic Trail. From our starting point, I calculated out the distances I wanted to cover each day, and the locations on the map that I thought would be great camping spots. Since this was my son's first backpacking adventure, and since were were carrying a lot of water in our packs, I wanted the first day to be a quick and easy hike.
Boy, was I wrong on that! I somehow miscalculated the total distance, and had estimated that the hike to our first camping spot would be about 2 miles (3.2 km). In reality, it was a little less than 8 miles (12.5 km), and it took us much longer than I thought.
I honestly didn't think my son would make it! At 13 years old, my son could only handle so much! At about the halfway point, he really started struggling. I was hurting too, but I had to keep pressing forward. I tried to lighten the load on my son's backpack, which helped him but added more weight to my pack. I felt bad for my son, he had to keep stopping like every 10-15 minutes to rest. Although hurting and tired, at no point did he ever want to stop! I told him that if he felt like he couldn't keep going, we would stop and set up camp for the night at whatever spot we were at. But he was determined to make it to our first designated camp spot.
I felt bad that I had grossly miscalculated our total distance, but the hike was totally worth it when we reached our camping spot. The location was magnificent, and the small pond I chose as our camping spot was spring-fed, providing us a source of clean water!
Once we got camp set up, we both went and jumped into the spring to cool off and ease our aching muscles. Just the chance to swim in the cold spring water made the grueling hike worth it!
10 people like this
10 responses
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Mar 16
Unfortunately, I am not in as good of shape as I needed to be! I mean, I'm in shape, but I'm not used to carrying around a 50-pound backpack for miles on end.
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Apr 16
After the first hour we realized we made an error, when we encountered some fellow hikers on the trail and they told us how much further we still had to go to get to the location we were camping at. It was depressing, but also gave us determination to get there before the sun went down. We made it in time to set up camp, gather firewood and get a fire going, and cook a nice dinner before the sun finally went down.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 16
@moffittjc I'm glad it all turned out well.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Apr 16
@JudyEv Despite all our obstacles, we had an amazing time and can't wait to do it again! I think my son and I will make this particular backpacking/hiking/camping trip an annual event!
1 person likes this


@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
25 Mar 16
@moffittjc No point in checking the weather because you cannot control it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Mar 16
A calculator and a mandatory check of the weather before we set out.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Mar 16
@Asylum But I could have been prepared for it. I took a windbreaker thinking I would experience typical Florida spring weather, and instead I experienced sub-freezing North Pole weather. Thank goodness my fire-building skills are excellent! lol
1 person likes this


@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
25 Mar 16
@moffittjc
He really enjoyed his experience and when will you go again? Great enthusiasm.
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Mar 16
@Marcyaz We're already trying to figure out our next weekend adventure!
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Mar 16
He is already talking about when we can plan our next backpacking adventure! I love his enthusiasm!
1 person likes this


@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Mar 16
We'll be much smarter next time in planning our camping trip!
1 person likes this

@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
6 May 16
You're seriously such a good dad! We all make mistakes but your son still acted like a trooper. I'm glad you both had a good time even though the walk was a bit tough.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 May 16
I feel bad because I injured my knee at work and will be in a knee brace for awhile. My son has been asking me if we could go hiking again soon, since the spring weather here has been absolutely beautiful! By the time my knee heals (do knee injuries ever really heal?), it will be summer and it will be hot and muggy and miserable, and nobody wants to be outside in that kind of weather!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 May 16
@VivaLaDani13 My knee is healing, it's just gonna take time. I have been going to therapy twice a week, and that's really helping, as the therapist has been giving me all kinds of muscle stretches to do to strengthen my knee.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
7 May 16
@moffittjc I hope that your knee gets better though! I wish I had some advice to help you.
I'm glad that your son still wants to go again though. That's a positive thing even after all the dramas from the last trip.
1 person likes this

@Blondie2222 (28610)
• United States
25 Mar 16
Well mistakes happen but glad you and your son made it thru the hike and to your camping spot. Enjoy your time camping and hoping the hike back will be a little easier for you
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Mar 16
The hike back was beautiful...our backpacks were much lighter (no food and water to haul back), the air temperature was cold, and the skies were crystal clear!
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
24 Mar 16
I think it is not the distance that you have wrongly computed.
You have not taken into account the terrain.
We had made the same mistake when I was young. I just looked at the map, and saw that point A to B was just a short distance away.
We had a very tough day!
Later on when we checked out the topo map, then we realized our mistake.
There were so many lines indicating steep slopes between point A and B.
We had to go round to avoid the steepest part.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Mar 16
There was no doubt that the terrain and layout of the scenic trail contributed to the distance. But, it was such a scenic view the entire way that it made the longer distance more tolerable.
@LeaPea2417 (40029)
• Toccoa, Georgia
24 Mar 16
Even though it took longer to get to your camp site, I am glad you and your son had a great time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Mar 16
I wouldn't have changed our experience for the world!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
24 Mar 16
Sometimes kids can surprise us. I bet he was pretty darn proud of himself as well he should be.
1 person likes this











