ICE DAMAGE UPDATE:

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HEAVY RAINS CREATE MUD SLIDE ON OHT AND ACCESS ROAD. Back in April, 2008 a serious mudslide destroyed a short section of the OHT in between Falling Water Creek and Richland Creek Campground - the trail actually slid so far down the hillside that it covered up parts of the forest road below. This road is currently closed. Richland Creek Campground is closed until further notice, although you can reach the campground from the north (the road is open). The forest service has no immediate plans to fix either the road or open the campground. A trail route through the mud slide area has been flagged but ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK AS ALWAYS! The hillside is still moving as of December 2008. Your best bet is to drop down to the forest road and make your away around the mud slide area, then back up the hillside to the trail.

LAKE FT. SMITH STATE PARK NOW OPEN (as of May 22nd). The OHT now officially begins once again at the new Lake Ft. mith State Park - the park and campground are open as well. ***UPDATE, October 12. This was, at first, a false alarm - the city of Ft. Smith actually DID NOT complete the new section of the OHT as they told everyone. We found out about this glaring lie by the city late in September and decided it was of no use to get them to complete the job. OHTA volunteers came to the rescue and opened up more than 1/2 mile of trail that the city never constructed, and as of October 12th the trails is now, at last, open for business beginning at Lake Ft. Smith State Park - shame on the city of Ft. Smith, but YIPPIE for OHTA! (Parts of the trail that the city did construct are in really bad shape, but it is possible for hikers to follow it now. AND it will be dangerous to make the crossing of Frog Bayou during periods of high water - and there is no way around this so plan accordingly.)

PIONEER ROAD CLOSED IN HURRICANE CREEK WILDERNESS. Up until recently, there was a forest service trailhead on forest road #1002/Johnson County Road 5881, and you could make an easy hike along an old pioneer road from that trailhead that would take you about two miles into the wilderness area and connect with the Ozark Highlands Trail at milepoint 111.3 (see page 95 in the OHT Guidebook). This old road crosses private property, and the land owner no longer allows hikers to cross his property. The old road was used as an emergency exit point for folks within the wilderness area, but it is now no longer accessible and you would need to make other plans. The forest service trailhead has been removed.

WATCH OUT FOR FALLING TREES! We are in the middle of a widespread epidemic in the Ozarks - a little beetle called the RED OAK BORER is killing thousands of red oak trees in the Ozark and Mark Twain National Forests in Arkansas and Missouri. As you hike the area trails be aware of dead trees along the way, and watch out for falling limbs and even falling trees as you hike - be especially alert when hiking during stormy weather when winds are strong and can blow trees over. Also when choosing your campsite take some time to look around at the trees and large branches above and do not camp in an area where a falling tree might hit your campsite.

OZONE STORE CLOSED, PELSOR STORE CLOSED. For those of you expecting to be able to resupply at the two little grocery stores along the Ozark Highlands Trail please note that the store at Ozone burned down and is not going to be rebuilt. And also that the little store at Pelsor is closed most of the time. What most hikers do is mail a package to themselves at the post office that is located at each of these tiny communities - these post offices are open and will hold your package for you if requested.

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