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OZARK HIGHLANDS TRAIL ASSOCIATION
Neither OHTA nor our volunteer leaders are responsible in any way for the safety of participants.
Visit the archives section for previous newseltters.
LIST OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2006 EVENTS
DAYHIKES February 4. Dayhike on the Redding/Spy Rock Loop. This is an easy-medium hike of 8.8 miles. Meet at the Redding camp ground at 9:00am. Please contact "Grey Owl" Barrett at 918-825-0500 to confirm. No pets please!
OVERNIGHT HIKES January 14 & 15. Overnight Fun Hike from Chancel to Big Piney through the Hurricane Creek Wilderness. The distance is about 15 miles and is rated medium. E-mail Brad Davenport or call 479-996-4649 to sign up. Limited to ten hikers.
February 11-12 (cancelled). THIS HIKE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH OR APRIL. Overnight Fun Hike on the Mt. Magazine Trail. The distance is 14.2 miles and is rated medium. Plans are to start at Cove Lake and hike up for a total elevation gain of 1753’ to the highest point in Arkansas. We will camp along the trail on Saturday night and hike out on Sunday. Plans are to meet at the Pack Rat at 7:00am or the Cove Lake Parking area on highway 309 at 9:30am. Please contact Bobby Shepperd to reserve a spot and get more details. Limited to ten hikers.
February 25 & 26. Overnight hike from the Boxley Valley Trailhead to Steel Creek on the Buffalo River Trail. The distance is 13.6 miles and rated medium. Plans are to meet at Steel Creek Trailhead at 9:00am. Hike will explore some interesting sights along the trail. E-mail Bob and Dawna Robinson to sign up or call 479-783-6319. Limited to ten hikers.
TRAIL MAINTENANCE January 14. We will be working the OHT section from Fane Creek to Hwy. 23. Meet at the Cherry Bend Trailhead on Hwy. 23 at 8am. For more info and to sign up e-mail Roy Senyard or call 479-587-0200. Tools will be provided and no work experience is necessary - just bring a pair of leather work gloves, and a daypack with water and lunch.
February 18. We'll work the OHT in the Indian Creek area and Marinoni Scenic area (if we get enough folks to split into two crews). Meet at Redding Campground turn-off just beside Hwy. 215, 8am. For more info and to sign up e-mail Roy Senyard or call 479-587-0200. Tools will be provided and no work experience is necessary - just bring a pair of leather work gloves, and a daypack with water and lunch. CLUB MEETINGS January 8, 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—there is a map on the web page here). We'll have an interesting program - check the online newsletter for details. We’ll start off with refreshments and social time at 7pm, with the meeting to follow at 7:30. E-mail OHTA or call 870–861–5536 for info.
February 12, OHTA General Meeting in Springdale. (there is a map on the web page here). We'll have a great program given by our own Carolyn Crook about her recent trip to China. And we'll have refreshments and social time beginning at 7pm, with the meeting to follow at 7:30. E-mail OHTA or call 870–861–5536 for info.
NEW TRAIL REROUTES. There are four new trail reroutes along the OHT that have been constructed this past year or two that you should be aware of. All of them were done to improve the location of the trail, and result in a nicer experience for all! The FIRST one is at Spirits Creek, mile 24.5 The trail used to cross the creek three times, but now has been rerouted so it remains on the west side of the creek—visiting the base of a nice bluff and waterfall area in the process—and only crosses the creek once. The SECOND reroute is at mile 37.8. The trail used to run along an old logging road that is now heavily used by four-wheelers, but now bypasses the road and runs along the edge of a bench with some great views, eventually crossing the old road at a right angle. The THIRD reroute is in Waterfall Hollow at mile 77.6. The trail now crosses a road that it used to run along, and visits not one or two, but three very nice waterfalls before rejoining the original trail (note that construction on this reroute is ongoing, but will be completed soon) The FOURTH reroute is at Falling Water Creek, mile 139.6. The trail used to follow the county road, but now enters the woods at the far end of the bridge and runs alongside the creek for some great views of the creek before crossing the county road and rejoining the original trail. Thanks to all who helped make these improvements possible!
FOREST SERVICE CLOSES PARTS OF OHT. While you are planning for your next OHT hike, and just before you head out the door for the trailhead, it will be a good idea to call the specific ranger district where you are going to hike to find out if any trail closures will be in place. The forest service has recently been closing parts of the trail with no notice to us, so we have been unable to keep up with this issue. They are closing parts of the trail for logging operations (to remove trees damaged by red oak borers), and also will be doing a lot of controlled burns this spring—in fact the Ozark National Forest plans to burn three times more acreage this year then last, which will include several sections of the OHT. Below are the district ranger office phone numbers for all sections of the trail—most likely only a few sections will be closed, but be sure to call the district no matter where you are hiking to get the latest information. OHT Contact Info: • Sections: 1 & 2; mile 6–37; 479–667–2191 (Boston Mtn. District, Ozark) • Sections: 3, 4, & 5 (part of); mile 37–99.5; 479–754–2864 (Pleasant Hill District, Clarksville) • Sections: 5 (part of), 6, 7, & 8; mile 99.5–156.6; 870–446–5122 (Buffalo District, Jasper)
Also note that the Supervisor’s office of the forest service in Russellville has a new phone number (they invite public comments): 479–964–7200
OHTA TURNS 25 THIS YEAR We are the oldest and most successful hiking club in the region, with members in more than 20 states who have contributed nearly 300,000 hours of free labor to the government and built one of the best hiking trails in the country! We hope you will join us to celebrate at our annual hike-in on October 28th, 2006 (details will be in the September/October newsletter). We look forward to seeing you on a hike, work trip, or at meetings this year, and are always anxious to hear your thoughts on how we can make OHTA even better. A list of the current club officers can be found HERE. THANKS to everyone for all that you have done, and happy 25th!
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