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MARCH 25TH UPDATE - HEAVY RAINS CREATE MUD SLIDES ON OHT AND ACCESS ROADS. See the Alerts Page for details.
LAKE FORT SMITH STATE PARK IS STILL CLOSED (which includes the first six miles of the Ozark Highlands Trail).There is NO DATE GIVEN for when the park and new section of the OHT may open.
All of our outings are always free and EVERYONE is welcome - membership is not required! Contact the outings leader by phone or e-mail to register and for more information. Our volunteer leaders are not responsible in any way for the safety of participants.
DAYHIKES
March 1st, DAYHIKE Pedestal Rocks/Kings Bluff Loops, 4.3 miles. Meeting time 10am at the Pedestal Rocks Trailhead (along Hwy. 23 east of Pelsor) or 7:30am at the doctor office at the corner of Hwy. 16 and 265 in Fayetteville. It is an easy/moderate hike showcasing rock formations and waterfalls, including the Kings Bluff falls. Contact Karen Van Donge at 479-443-7119 for more information.
March 15th, DAYHIKE on OHT (Sylamore Section). Meet at Moccasin Spring Trailhead (on Hwy 341 1.7 miles north of Hwy 14) at 9:00am to hike the scenic 9 miles to Brushy Creek Trailhead. We will pass thru the new Cripple Turkey Trailhead where the 24 miles long North Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail connects to the OHT. Rated medium. Three possibly wet crossings. Cabins at Cody’s Restaurant in Fiftysix (870-757-2270). Camping at Blanchard Springs. Call Duane Woltjen at 479-521-7032 before March 14 to confirm your plans, and for details and driving info.
April 5th, DAYHIKE on OHT between Herrods and Indian Creeks via Herrian Mountain. A moderate hike at 7.2 miles. We will explore waterfalls and pools. No pets please. Bring lunch and water. Meet at 8:45am at the Redding Campground entrance. Contact Greyowl Barrett at 918-825-0500 for more information.
April 6th, DAYHIKE on OHT. Hare Mtn. Trailhead to Redding Trailhead. An easy hike at 6.4 miles. No pets please. Bring lunch and water. Meet at 9am at the Redding Campground entrance. Contact Greyowl Barrett at 918-825-0500 for more information.
April 19th, DAYHIKE the Redding to Spy Rock Loop Trail. 8.8 Miles. Rated medium difficulty. Meet at the trailhead inside Redding Campground at 9am. Bring lunch to enjoy on Spy Rock. No pets please. Contact Bobby Shepperd to sign up at 479-442-5770.
OVERNIGHT HIKES
March 8th & 9th, OVERNIGHT FUN HIKE ON THE BUFFALO RIVER TRAIL, Pruitt to Kyles. There are many great views of the Buffalo River along this 16 mile, medium rated hike, and you might get to see an elk or two. Dean LaGrone will lead. Give him a call at 479–750–2550 for more info and to sign up. Limited to ten hikers. (hike postponed due to the weather)
April 12th & 13th, FAMILY OVERNIGHT FUN HIKE AT WILLIAMS WOODS for slow/beginner backpackers, or those with physical difficulties. Call Pam Ellwood for details at 479-750-0734.
April 12th & 13th, OVERNIGHT FUN HIKE ON THE OUACHITA TRAIL. We will hike from Hwy 71 to Queen Wilhelmina State Park camping at Eagle Gap 16.5 miles, rated medium. This will be one of the very best weekends to be hiking in the Ouachitas so don’t miss it! Contact Kerry Coe at 318-464-6904 for details and to sign up. Limited to ten hikers.
MAINTENANCE WORK TRIPS ON THE OHT
March 21st thru 23rd, Spring Base Camp at Mulberry Mountain. Join us for great food, sometimes questionable company, and a bit of volunteer trail work too! Mulberry mountain (located just north of Cass on Hwy. 23, The Pig Trail) has brand new showers and a state of the art water system. Food, work tools and camping space will be provided. No experience is necessary, but you do need to sign up in advance so we will know how much food to bring. Volunteers can arrive beginning Thursday afternoon for work on Friday, or come for either weekend day, or all three. For more information call Colin Berger at 479-986-9022.
March 28th thru 30th, Spring Base Camp at Mulberry Mountain. Another great weekend for being on the trail helping to keep it one of the best hiking trails in the country. We’ll camp at Mulberry Mountain once again, and all food, work tools and camping space will be provided. No experience is necessary, but you do need to sign up in advance so we will know how much food to bring. Volunteers can arrive beginning Thursday afternoon for work on Friday, or come for either weekend day, or all three. Call Colin Berger at 479-986-9022.
CLUB MEETINGS & MISC
April 13th, OHTA GENERAL MEETING in Springdale. To get to the meeting site, from Hwy. 71 B in Springdale turn EAST on Emma street, go several blocks, then turn LEFT/NORTH onto N. Main Street, then pull into the parking lot on the right behind the building (across from Shiloh Museum—here is a map). Flip Putthoff, the Outdoor Editor at The Morning News, will present slides and talk about how he prepares his weekly “Outdoor Arkansas” feature. We’ll have refreshments and social time at 7pm, with the meeting at 7:30. Contact OHTA for more information.
VOLUNTEER AT THE NATIONAL TRAIL SYMPOSIUM IN LITTLE ROCK IN NOVEMBER. Longtime OHTA member, Terry Eastin, is in charge of this major national event to happen November 15–18, 2008. Trail folks from all types of organizations (motorized, mountain bike, horse, and even a few hikers) will be there. OHTA members Bob and Dawna Robinson are working to find volunteers to help make it a big success. If you want to help, give them a call at 479–431–8952, or find all of the complete details on the web at AmericanTrails.org/2008/volunteer.html.
LAKE FT SMITH STATE PARK - as of March 13th neither the city of Ft. Smith nor the state park have a clue when the OHT or the new park will be open. They first told us last Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Years, then March 1st. If you hold your breath waiting for this place to open you will probably die in the process.
OHTA Officers Tim Ernst, President, 870-861-5536 Keiko Wilke, Treasurer, 479-927-1999 Colin Berger, Maintenance, 479-986-9022 Scott Crook, Secretary, 479-521-6340 Bobby Shepperd, Meeting Programs, 479-587-0200 Tim Ernst, Outings, 870-861-5536 Duane Woltjen, At Large/Membership, 479- 521-7032
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