Mansfield Father/Daughter Pairs Hike Appalachian Trail in MA

Dr. David Kloss was inspired to organize his first father-daughter backpacking trip when he realized that after years of being a Boy Scout leader, he had never once taken his daughters for hike up nearby Wolf Rock.

“I thought, wouldn't it be fun to get the fathers and daughters together doing some outdoor activity like hiking or biking,” said Kloss, who writes a blog about father-daughter backpacking.

Kloss's annual trip has reached its seventh year, and although his youngest daughter Jenette is now a sophomore at St. Lawrence University, he said he will continue planning the trip – he picks a new location every year – and teaching the basics of backpacking to the novice hikers who accompany him.

“It's something the girls would never get an opportunity to do otherwise,” Kloss said.

Early this morning, Kloss departed with his seven father-daughter pairs. They will return Sunday afternoon.

This Year's Trip

Kloss usually picks a length of trail in Northeastern Connecticut or Western Massachusetts. Through the years, his group has covered several segments of the Appalachian Trail.

One of his favorite locations is Mount Greylock, the location of this year's trip, and last year's.

The trip begins at five a.m. Saturday morning. The group assembles at the , everyone piles into a town van, typically driven by Kloss. They stop at for breakfast then drive up to the beginning of the trail.

“There's a really spectacular part of the trail 200 feet above sea level, you get to look out over the valley in Connecticut and Western Mass,” Kloss said.

Kloss likes to ascend at a steady pace, fast enough to work up a sweat until the group reaches a campsite on the Southern edge of the mountain where there's a beautiful meadow. Occasionally they spot a hawk, or another large bird of prey.

But the crown jewel of the trip, according to Kloss, is the view from the summit of the mountain – where the hikers can see all the way to Eastern New York State.

The physical exertion required to make the trip is a feat of endurance in itself for some of the younger girls who are as young as 11. The oldest girls are 18. The majority of the girls comprise a smattering of ages in between.

The Essentials

Backpacking requires specialized gear, like a backpack with a frame, lightweight cooking utensils and a lightweight tent. Kloss lends out some of his gear to pairs who want to go on the trip but don't want to make the financial commitment before trying it out.

“If they like it, then they can buy gear of their own,” Kloss said.

The pairs who have returned for the trip year after year establish a certain camaraderie. The trip becomes something to look forward to for at least a couple of years, until the girls have grown out of it. But until they do, watching a group of girls mature into a group of young women is an experience in itself.