Founded in March 2026, the OHIO Bobcat Backpacking Club is still a relatively new addition to Ohio University's expansive club selection. Members have the chance to experience the outdoors and meet other nature lovers.
Over Fall Break the club will be getting together for a backpacking trip to Zaleski State Forest in Zaleski, Ohio. The forest is just 30 minutes northwest of Athens, Ohio.
Each semester, the group comes together to plan a trip that's considered beginner friendly for new members. Typically, about 10 members attend a Bobcat Backpack excursion. The group will decide on whether they should split into two groups depending on if the members would prefer a challenging or simple route.
Gunnar Fredrick, a junior studying outdoor recreation and education, is the president of the club. Fredrick spoke of the inspiration behind starting a backpacking club.
“We had just been going on trips as friends, and we realized that there was definitely a demand for a club like this, and there just wasn't one in existence yet,” Fredrick said. “So, we decided last winter that we would take a few months off from doing trips and focus on just making it official.”
Fredrick said they enjoy witnessing environments that aren’t accessible by car, and said many spots they’ve visited are better seen in person.
Another founding member, Owen Seiler, a junior studying aviation management, said being out in nature brings one “solitude.” While out hiking, members are free from any distractions and are forced to connect with their surroundings.
“I think the biggest thing would be just meeting new people who have similar interests and getting to teach some of the things that I've learned in my experiences,” Seiler said. “That's kind of the biggest thing I'm looking forward to is getting to share the things I love to do with other people.”
When starting the club, Fredrick and other founding members set out to provide fellow Bobcats with an adventure-loving group, but also with those who are trained in safety procedures. Fredrick is trained in CPR, wilderness and Red Cross first aid and is trained to use an automated external defibrillator.
“We'll definitely make sure we have someone with a higher level of experience in training leading each group, if we do split into different groups,” Fredrick said. “But beyond that, we'll go over special safety procedures that we might have to do, depending on where we go. We might be in like Black Bear Country, so just reviewing the different procedures we might use for the different environments we might be in.”
Members of the club attending the Zaleski State Forest trip were required to attend prior meetings reviewing maps of the area and the route the club will be taking, to ensure everything goes as planned on their first official trip as a new club. The group also went over their individual roles for the trip, so everything is organized once they start their journey.
“I can't wait to see us do more trips,” Spencer Singer, a junior studying wildlife conservation and biology, said. “I can't wait to see us grow as an accessible and welcoming place for new people who want to get into backpacking, and I can't wait to see people grow their skills and gain confidence to maybe do this on their own one day.”
While the upcoming trip only spans three days, there is a lot of prepwork to ensure a safe and successful trip without any issues.
“It's really important anytime you're going out into the wilderness or just anywhere that's not a populated area for more than one day,” Seiler said “It's pretty critical to have at least some sort of planning, so you're not just going in blind.”
On their beginner-level trips, they usually hike about five to eight miles. More advanced trips hike about 10 to 15 miles. For their trip to the Zaleski State Forrest, Fredrick said they’ll be hiking about four miles a day for the first two days.
“It can be really nice that once you're done with your, three or four miles of backpacking for the day, you can take your pack off and do a little no pack adventure,” Fredrick said. “So we'll do that sometimes. I think last year when we went to Zaleski on a similar trip, we took our packs off and walked down to Lake Hope and went fishing for the rest of the day.”
“I'm really looking forward to meeting new people, relaxing at camp after a really long and rewarding day,” Singer said. “Being outside, the campsites at Zaleski are really beautiful and it's great just to hang out with friends after a great day of hiking.”
