DAYHIKE INTO TERRAPIN BRANCH, May 3. Spectacular views, DIFFICULT hiking. The mileage will not be that far, but it will seem like 20. You must be in top physical condition to go on this hike, with experience in bushwhacking in extreme terrain - just being able to walk around the block will not cut it! No whining - you have been warned. Meet Terry Fredrick at the old Bob's Grocery on Hwy 16 at 8am or at the Fallsville store at 9:15am. Call Terry at 479-442-3812 for more info.

DAYHIKE FROM STEEL CREEK TO KYLES, May 10. This medium 8-mile hike goes through the heart of the Ponca Wilderness in Buffalo National River, and includes some terrific views of the surrounding countryside. Meet Mary Chodrick at 479-443-0082. Call Mary at 479-443-0082 for more info.

OHTA GENERAL MEETING May 11, 7:30pm in Fayetteville (location is between Hobby Lobby and Blockbuster Video at 3114 N. College Ave.). Our program will be given by Dale Oliver, a true adventurer. He will give a slide/power point program titled "Adventure Touring in Baja."  (I've seen his slides and story on the web and know that you will enjoy it!) We'll have some great refreshments too. Everyone is welcome to attend. Call 870-861-5536 for more info or directions.

OTTERS KIDS DAYHIKE AT ROUND TOP MOUNTAIN, May 17. This is a beautiful 4-mile loop trail overlooking the town of Jasper, and the hike is easy, although the first part is all uphill. Glenn Wheeler will lead. Meet him at the trailhead on Hwy. 7 just south of Jasper (look for the sign) at 10am with a snack, daypack, and water. Open to kids of all ages! Call Glenn at 870-743-2732.

OVERNIGHT FUN HIKE ON THE OHT, Richland Campground to Woolum, May 17-18. (Part eight of our end-to-end hike series.) This will be the final leg of the hike this year, and will include some really nice country. 20.9 miles total, rated medium. Brad Davenport will lead. Give him a call at 479-996-4649 to sign up.

DAYHIKE ON THE LOST BRIDGE TRAIL,  Beaver Lake, May 18. The trail is an easy 5-mile loop. Lake views and remnants of an old pioneer homestead can be expected. Meet Sally Stone at the east end of the SAMS's parking lot in Springdale at 9:00am or at the trailhead at 10:15am. Call Sally at 479-521-4062 for more info.

DAYHIKE ON THE LAKE WEDINGTON TRAIL, May 25. Here is another short, easy hike for ya, and close to town too. Mary Collins will lead (she requests no dogs please). Meet her at the trailhead on Hwy. 16 at 9am. Give her a call at 479-443-5813 for more info or directions.

MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE AROUND LAKE FAYETTEVILLE, June 1. This is an easy 5-mile loop right at the edge of town, nearly all flat. Dean LaGrone will lead. Meet Dean at the boat launch area parking lot by the earthen dam at 5pm. Helmet and water are mandatory. Give him a call at 479-750-2550 for more info.

OVERNIGHT CANOE TRIP ON THE BUFFALO RIVER, Woolum to Tyler Bend, June 8. No finer water trail than the Buffalo! Spending a night on the river is a special treat. And this should be and easy, slow-moving, 15.4 mile float. Dean LaGrone will lead. Give him a call at 479-750-2550 for all of the details and to sign up.

OHTA GENERAL MEETIING, June 8, 7:30pm in Fayetteville (location is between Hobby Lobby and Blockbuster Video at 3114 N. College Ave.). Our program will be given by longtime OHTA member and hiking guru from Tulsa Dave Zucconi. His slide show will be "Grand Canyon Memories from over 40 years of backpacking." It should be a great one!  Lots of refreshments. Everyone is welcome to attend. Call 870-861-5536 for more info or directions.

OTTERS KIDS DAYHIKE TO KINGS RIVER FALLS, June 21 - the first day of summer! It should be just about time for a dip in the river, and there is always a nice hole of water at the base of the waterfall there, even if things get dry. This is an easy  hike of less than two miles roundtrip. Glenn Wheeler will lead. Meet him at Boston on Hwy. 16 (just a road sign and a house, no actual community) at 10am with a lunch, daypack, water, and a swimsuit. Open to kids of all ages! Call Glenn at 870-743-2732 for more info.

OVERNIGHT FUN HIKE ON THE OHT TO THE MARINONI SCENIC AREA, June 21-22. Visit this neat little scenic area that is home to sandstone bluffs and giant beech trees. The easy hike of around 6 miles total will be led by Bobby Shepherd. He will begin at the Lick Branch Trailhead, hike into the scenic area to camp, then hike back out again Sunday morning. Any who are interested can continue on the trail from there to the Little Mulberry River doing trail maintenance with Bobby and his two kids. Give him a call at 479-442-5770 to sign up. Limited to ten hikers.

TRAIL SECTION COMPLETED. A new 31.6 mile stretch of hiking trail on the Sylamore Ranger District of the Ozark National Forest was finished on March  24th. Our volunteers had been working on it for two years, putting in nearly 7,000 hours of volunteer labor. A GIANT thanks to everyone who participated. Go to the OHTA web page to find a map, elevation profile, and walking description of this new section (www.HikeArkansas.com).

NO OHTA NEWSLETTER, TRIPS OR MEETINGS IN JULY OR AUGUST. Our regular schedule will resume in September. Contact Dean LaGrone at 479-750-2550 by August 15th to set up hikes for September and October.