Hikers can order everything they need from the Backpackers Shop website, whether they’re planning a simple day trip or a week-long camping adventure.  There is, of course, a variety of backpacks from established brands like Osprey, North Face, Kelty, and Arc’Teryx for campers and Mountainsmith packs for day hikers.  There are even Ruffwear dog packs if you plan on taking along man’s best friend.  Besides that, you’ll find all the sleeping bags, tents, and cooking equipment you can carrybut considering the prices, you’ll probably walk away with more.

During the summer, the Backpackers Shop hosted a number of regular outdoor events.  At the end of May, the shop held its annual Kayak Demo Day at Lakeview Park, showing visitors the proper paddling techniques and the best lakes in the area.  The shop also held beginner fly-fishing classes throughout the summer for only $125.00 a person.  These all-day events begin with techniques and other informative sessions, include lunch, and then conclude with three to four hours of actual fly-fishing.  There’s no news on any hiking-related events coming up, but you can sign up for the Backpackers Shop E-news to keep informed about any new announcements.

If you’re a Cleveland hiker who wants to be prepared for anything, check out the Backpackers Shop and see what you’ve been missing.

1. Always start out more slowly and build up speed.  Just as in a cross-country race, you should try to never slow down on a hike.  Start at a speed you can easily handle and increase it, so that as it gets later in the day you are covering more distance.
2. If you are planning a true “day hike” where you’ll be out for a good portion of the day, make sure to start early.  Even if this means starting in the dark, it’s better than having to finish in it.
3. Let your slowest member set your group’s pace.  While faster members may want to go on ahead, don’t let the group get separated too much.  It’s better to take the time to enjoy the scenery than to have someone left behind.
4. Develop an emergency plan.  While no one wants to consider the worst-case scenarios, you should still makes sure everybody knows what to do in the case of an emergency.  Take along a first aid kit, hand out whistles in case someone becomes lost, and discuss contingency plans with your group.
5. Take a five to ten minute break every hour.  Even if you don’t think you need it, this will keep everybody happy and ready to continue on.  It also makes a great opportunity to bust out any snackstrail mix, granola, fruit, etc.that you’ve brought along.

The Cleveland Metroparks were officially named before the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  In 1917, engineer William Stinchcomb achieved the first step toward his long-standing vision of an interconnected system of parks.  This was when the General Assembly appointed a park board expressly for developing the new system.  However, the buildup of the parks themselves was slowby 1930, 9,000 acres had been purchased across nine different sites, but they were not connected.  By 1970, the board had purchased 16,000 acres.  The park has grown 6,000 acres since then.

Each of the sixteen reservations includes trails for hikers and bikers, with most offering cross-country skiing areas as well.  The largest park, Brecksville, covers 3,494 acres, and includes seven gorges, the Squire Rich Historical Museum, and is also part of the National Audobon Society’s Bird Area Program.  Next biggest is Mill Stream Run, which covers 3,189 acres.  Visitors will find golf courses, sledding sites, and an education facility at this beautiful location.  These two parks, together with Rocky River, Bedford, and South Chagrin, make up the Emerald Necklace.

With such a large area, it’s almost impossible to ever uncover all of the Metroparks’ secrets.  If you’re a local, make it a point to regularly visit the parks and discover something new.  If you’re just visiting, make sure you don’t leave without stopping by at least one of the locations.

The focus of the group, of course, is still the hikes themselves.  With over 225 hikes every month (most over 5 miles), there’s plenty of opportunity for members to carry on the legacy of McCarty and Wooley.  Longer hikes are held regularly as well, along with annual events like the President’s Hike, the Chili Dog Hike, the Bird Hike, the Frozen Waterfall Hike, and more.

There are currently over 900 members between the ages of 18 and retirement.  Unless a hike on the online schedule is marked “members only” or requiring an entry fee, all hikes are free and open to everybody.  Pick a “leisure” or “moderate” hike to start off with, and be sure to show up on time, as this group doesn’t waste any time (on hikes marked “brisk,” that extends to the hikes themselves).  With hikes every day in both East and West Cleveland, there’s no excuse for not checking out the club if you’re interested.

Membership in the club is open to new visitors after they’ve attended six hikes.  Attendance is monitored by cards filled out at the end of each hike.  Members not only have the opportunity to participate in the private hikes, but also are invited to the annual parties, birthday celebrations, after-hike dinners, and other special activities.