Monday I started the Ozarks Highlands Trail. It is currently 164 miles going (West to East) from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Woolum, AR. Sometimes you will see it shown as 218 miles, but that I believe is including all of the loop trails. The goal is for it to eventually to connect with Ozark Trail in MO for a combined over 700 miles, taking you all the way to St. Louis. But there does not seem to have been a lot of progress on that lately. As its name describes it runs through the Ozark Mountains of AR, north of I-40.
I started at the Lake Fort Smith State Park a little later than I planned. It had been raining quite a bit, but was only more misting/drizzling through out the day. Unfortunately the leaves and rocks were very wet and slippery. My poles usually saved me, but unfortunately not always. I was looking forward to the waterfalls, but despite the recent rain they were dry. I guess I should have taken pictures, but thought I would see flowing ones later. Didn't really get a great picture of Lake Ft. Smith either. Went over a lot of rivers and creek beds that were drive. Some from where they engineers have rerouted water, other from the previous dry season. At least I did not have to ford any streams with in the 30s and 40s. Saw multiple fire place/chimneys, showing there were once houses. Like the AT they use white blazes (Ouachita Trail uses blue).
Only went a little 8 miles with the late start. Camped at Jack Creek since there was water and a campsite (rocks and flat surface for a tent).
Earlier in the day I had stopped at a campsite where someone had set up lots of rocks to sit on (even like chairs). There was also chair built of limbs and twine, which I sat on as I filtered my water.
I started at the Lake Fort Smith State Park a little later than I planned. It had been raining quite a bit, but was only more misting/drizzling through out the day. Unfortunately the leaves and rocks were very wet and slippery. My poles usually saved me, but unfortunately not always. I was looking forward to the waterfalls, but despite the recent rain they were dry. I guess I should have taken pictures, but thought I would see flowing ones later. Didn't really get a great picture of Lake Ft. Smith either. Went over a lot of rivers and creek beds that were drive. Some from where they engineers have rerouted water, other from the previous dry season. At least I did not have to ford any streams with in the 30s and 40s. Saw multiple fire place/chimneys, showing there were once houses. Like the AT they use white blazes (Ouachita Trail uses blue).
Only went a little 8 miles with the late start. Camped at Jack Creek since there was water and a campsite (rocks and flat surface for a tent).
Earlier in the day I had stopped at a campsite where someone had set up lots of rocks to sit on (even like chairs). There was also chair built of limbs and twine, which I sat on as I filtered my water.
The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
Richard Ewell, CSA General
Richard Ewell, CSA General
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