Spanno

Hello all. I am a former RECON Marine and my lady friend and I have decided to go backpacking. Now my idea of backpacking in is carry your own stuff and hump it to a campsite of some sort. No roads, maybe trails, a compas and a countoured map. The only place I have found that is anywhere like this is really in Big Bend. That is too far for us to drive, because I am trying to start her off with some overnighters first. I don't want to scare her off and I would like something fairly easy, but gives you the real deal if you know what I mean.

Big Bend seems more like what I have in mind, now are there any areas remotely close to Fort Worth (I.E. with in 2 to 2 1/2 hours driving diatance) that we can go that allows to carry our stuff in, set up camp and go expoloring. We had Colorado Bend in mind, but according to that forum already posted it is more like camping with tourist in drive up parking spots.

Any suggestions would be great. We are leaving next Friday of Easter weekend. I have already bought our gear and some MRE's (that is another stroy be careful on buying those things online, they dont give you what is in a real MRE, very comercialized with have the grub), lots of portable water devices, and one motivated former Marine trying to motivate his gal into the outdoors. I want her to get the idea of what it is like to survive off the land (with some exceptions of course).

Is Colorado Bend a good one, or is there somewhere else? Maybe Possum Kingdom? Also where can I buy maps with coutour lines, I want to show her how to manipulate a compass and map while we are out there?