ALL HIKERS PLEASE NOTE! Hike organizers are not responsible for the participants in any way. Everyone who attends a hike is expected to be on their own and take care of themselves. Also note that all of our outings are free and open to the public - you do not have to be a member to attend.

OTTERS KIDS DAYHIKE AT RICHLAND CREEK, September 7. Plan on spending the day in a spectacular area. We will have a picnic lunch and swim at the campground, then explore Richland Creek upstream for fossils. Camping is available so feel free to come out and camp on Friday night, or meet us at the Pelsor store south of Jasper on Hwy. 7 at 10:00am (or back at the campground at 11am). Bring lunch, swim suits, and wading shoes. This is open to kids of all ages! Give Pam Ernst a call at 870-861-5595 for more info.

OHTA GENERAL MEETING, September 8, 7:30pm in Fayetteville (location is between Hobby Lobby and Blockbuster Video at 3114 N. College Ave.). Our program will be given by Jerry Hilliard, an archaeologist with the Arkansas Archaeological Survey through the University of Arkansas. He will discuss Rock Art in the Ozarks, about Native American drawings and later bluff drawings. We'll have some great refreshments. Everyone is welcome to attend. Call at 870-861-5536 for more info or directions.

ARKANSAS TRAILS FESTIVAL, Byrd's Canoe on the Mulberry River, September 21. This annual festival is for all types of trail users, and is for the enjoyment and benefit of outdoor enthusiasts throughout the State, complete with interactive programs, lunch, door prizes, and FUN. It is sponsored by the Arkansas Trail Council. This will be a great opportunity for all land and water trail user groups to meet and gain understanding about a wide variety of trail enjoyment. Be at Byrd's on the banks of the Mulberry River at 9:00am (888-520-7301). Bring your lawn chairs. Some folks plan to make a weekend of it and do some paddling if there is enough water (camping available). To get to Byrd's go north from Cass on Hwy. 23, turn east onto Hwy 215 (now paved!) for six miles and Byrd's is on the right. For more information contact Jacque Alexander at 501-682-9070 (work) or 501-821-4053 (home).

WORK TRIP ON OHT, September 28. Join us for a day of trail maintenance on a part of the OHT that needs some extra attention. Give Roy Senyard a call at 479-587--0200 for location and to sign up. Bring work gloves and water. No experience is necessary!

DAYHIKE ON THE OHT FROM DOCKERYS GAP TO WHITE ROCK, October 5. Part one of our end-to-end hike series. This dayhike is rated medium with a couple of pretty good climbs, and is 8.3 miles. The hike will end at one of the most scenic spots along the trail, White Rock Mountain. Mary Chodrick will lead. Meet her at the White Rock Trailhead at 8:00am or give her a call at 479-443-0082 for more details.

OTTERS KIDS DAYHIKE AT LOST VALLEY, October 6. We will be returning to one of the kid's favorite trails. This easy hike is 2.3 miles roundtrip and has plenty to explore - waterfalls, caves, boulders, and a beautiful forest, all by a mysterious stream (bring a flashlight if you want to go inside the cave). Meet at the Lost Valley trailhead at 2:00pm. This is open to kids of all ages, and anyone else who wants an easy hike! Give Pam Ernst a call at 870-861-5595 for info.

MEETING IN MOUNTAIN HOME, October 10, 6:30pm.
ìA meeting will be held on Thursday, October 10th at 6:30 pm for area
hikers interested in joining the Ozark Highlands Trail Association
(OHTA). The OHTA is a private, nonprofit volunteer organization that was
organized in 1981 to build, maintain and enjoy the Ozark Highlands
Trail. The purpose of the local organization is to bring together
individuals in Baxter and surrounding counties who enjoy hiking and
would like to help with trail maintenance/construction in the Sylamore
District of the Ozark National Forest and along Lake Norfork. Tim Ernst,
noted landscape photographer/publisher, author of Arkansas trail
guidebooks and OHTA president will present the program. The meeting
location is the Corps of Engineers Mountain Home Project Office at 324 W
7th Street. More information on OHTA is available at www.HikeArkansas.com.î

OVERNIGHT FUN HIKE ON THE OUACHITA TRAIL, Talimena State Park to Winding Stair Campground, October 12-13. Big mountains, steep hills, lush vegetation, and lots of rocks. This 23.7 mile hike is rated difficult. Kerry Coe will lead. Give him a call at 318-688-1162 for more details and to sign up. The hike is limited to ten hikers.

OHTA GENERAL MEETING, October 13, 7:30pm in Fayetteville (location is between Hobby Lobby and Blockbuster Video at 3114 N. College Ave..). Our program will be given by Fayetteville community leader Paula Marinoni (her father is the namesake for the Marinoni Scenic Area on the OHT). She will discuss "The Spirit of Nature - The Intelligence of the Universe is at Your Feet." And we'll have some great refreshments, as always. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you can't find the meeting place, give us a call at 870-861-5536 for directions.

OHT WORK TRIP TO HARE MOUNTAIN, October 19. Come and work on the highest point on the OHT and get it ready for the big hike-in the following weekend. No experience is necessary but you will need work gloves, lunch and water. Meet at the Cherry Bend trailhead at 9:00am. We'll work from Fly Gap to Hare Mountain trailhead. Give Roy Senyard a call at 479-587-0200 for more info and to sign up.

HARE MOUNTAIN HIKE-IN AND OHTA'S 21st BIRTHDAY PARTY, October 26-27. Come renew old friendships and help us celebrate our 21st birthday! We'll have a potluck dinner around the campfire at 6pm (bring a tasty treat for everyone to share), with a general meeting to follow at 7pm. There is plenty of camping available, but you will need to bring all of the water that you may need. Hikers will arrive on their own from several different locations. If you need to follow someone out to the trailhead, meet at the Pack Rat in Fayetteville at 1pm on Saturday (the hike up will be less than two miles). For more info give us a call at 870-861-5595.

OVERNIGHT FUN HIKE ON OHT, White Rock to Cherry Bend, November 2-3. Part two of our end-to-end hike series. Come join us to visit such scenic spots as Spirits Creek, White Rock Mountain, and the historic railroad bed, on this medium-rated hike of 18.9 miles. Brad Davenport will lead. Give him a call early at 479-996-4649 to sign up.

OZARK HIGHLANDS TRAIL CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES THIS FALL. Now that the hot days of summer are about to end the work will begin again on the expansion of the Ozark Highlands Trail toward Missouri and the Ozark Trail. Volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Trail construction trip dates are listed below through the end of the year, along with the crew leaders.
Be sure to check with a trip leader to sign up before the trip. We will base camp at the Blanchard Springs Campground Group site #1 (hot showers available!). If you have any questions feel free to call Duane or Judy Woltjen at 479-521-7032, or send them an e-mail at ozarktraveler@lynks.com. Also visit the OHTA web site at www.HikeArkansas.com for the most current construction news and updates, including a map of the progress.
Bob & Dawna Robinson, 470-783-6319
Dave & Annie Turner, 870-352-7321
Dale Oliver, 479-571-8862
Scott Covington, 479-571-3196
October 5-6 Led by Duane & Judy Woltjen,  Scott Covington
October 12-20 Led by Bob & Dawna Robinson, David & Annie Turner, Duane & Judy Woltjen. (American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation)
November 2-3 Led by Dale Oliver, Scott Covington
November 9-10 Led by David & Annie Turner, Bob & Dawna Robinson
November 23-24 Led by Bob & Dawna Robinson, Scott Covington
Nov. 29-Dec. 1 Led by David & Annie Turner, Duane & Judy Woltjen
December 7-8 Led by Bob & Dawna Robinson,  Scott Covington
December 14-15 Led by Duane & Judy Woltjen, Dale Oliver
 

THANKS FOR READING, and have a great fall!    ---Tim Ernst, editor