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ICE DAMAGE UPDATE: CLICK HERE for the latest info we have on trail conditions Buffalo River area trails are back open again! PRESS RELEASE
The Ozark Highlands Trail is back open again thanks to the following volunteers:
ROY SENYARD (20+ trips) JIM McDANIEL (20+ trips) JEROMIE WARD (10+ trips) TIM ERNST (10+ trips) BOB ROBINSON (10+ trips) DAWNA ROBINSON (10+ trips) DUANE WOLTJEN (10+ trips) JUDY WOLTJEN (10+ trips) MIKE LAMASTER (10+ trips) PAMELA ERNST RON FERGUSON CHARLES ELLIS GREY OWL BARRETT WAYNE FULMER GEORGE FULK GARY VANDEWBOS MARK HOLT CHRIS ADAMS BOB RANEY ED HALL NORMA SENYARD KEVIN MIDDLETON ERIC HENRETTY SEAN PREWITT ANDY BOOTH GARY WEIR JIM WARNOCK STEVE SAMPERS DANNY HALE PAMELA WEST GARY HODGES DONNA PRICE LOU EBLING BILL SHAW JUDY SHAW CAROL SWINDELL CAROL GRAY LORRAINE DUSCO DALE BOEH JIMMY LAWRENCE CHAR TAYLOR BILL STEWARD DANA STEWARD BOB & SANDY BOWKER
We had a few limbs come down on top of the trail as a result of the ice storm that hit in late January (that is kind of a joke, sorry). At one point the entire national forest was closed north of I-40, including all of the Ozark Highlands Trail. Our OHTA office was out of power for 14 days. Turned out to be the largest ice storm in Arkansas history—by a wide margin. More than 30,000 power poles snapped and had to be replaced. It is a month after the storm now and the utility companies are still replacing poles. And we are still working to open up corridor on the OHT. The folks listed above have done a heroic job working their butts off trying to get the OHT back online again. Less than half of the trail sustained any damage at all, but the other half was hit hard, very hard. In some places it was impossible to even find the trail, much less hike it comfortably. Loppers and hand saws were of little use—most of the hundreds of hours of hard and dangerous work our volunteers have done have been with chain saws, lots of saws. To give you some idea—a crew of four, working all day long, might not even make a single mile of progress. I’ve had to make more than 100 cuts or more with a chain saw to open up 20’ of trail corridor. The folks listed above have gone way beyond the call of duty, taking off time from work, driving long distances, paying their own way, and doing work that volunteers seldom do. Some have been on the trail more than 20 days since the ice storm hit. Next time you see any of these folks please thank them for bringing the OHT back to life.
THANKS to our volunteers listed above, the OHT is now open from Lake Ft. Smith to Fairview Campground on Hwy. 7, a distance of 125 miles ***CLICK FOR CURRENT INFO. There is still damage along this section—you will have to climb over or hike around many trees and root balls—but you can find the trail and get through. The trail east of Fairview remains a disaster area but our volunteers continue to work it—progress is slow, but inching along. Regular updates will continue to be posted on a special “Ice Damage” section on the OHTA web page. We hope to report the trial open all the way to Woolum sometime in March.
IN THE MEANTIME, if you hike a section of trail please let us know what you find in the way of damage—we need to know the number of trees down in a given section, how many in between specific mile markers would be great. We’ll send out volunteer crews as we can. AND IF YOU MAINTAIN A SECTION, you NEED TO GET OUT AND MAINTAIN IT ASAP! And let us know what you find. Even if you just maintained your section before the storm, chances are it needs it again. We will continue to gather reports and coordinate the emergency ice damage efforts through our main office, 870-861-5536. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!!
DAYHIKES New Outings Coordinator is David Cagle
March 22nd, DAYHIKE Pea Ridge National Military Park Civil War battlefield at 9 a.m. This hike will cover 7 or 10 miles through this beautiful national park where the Battle of Pea Ridge was fought in March of 1862. Hikers can walk back to their cars after 7 miles where the trail crosses the tour road at Elkhorn Tavern or continue on for the 10-miler. The trail is mostly level with some moderate climbs. Part of it is on the paved tour road but most of the route is through forests and meadows. We’ll watch the excellent 20-minute movie about the Battle of Pea Ridge before the hike, then we’ll head out. This trek will visit parts of the park that are not seen by 99 percent of the visitors who stay in their cars on the tour road. The park is located 10 miles northeast of Rogers on U.S. Highway 62. Meet at the visitor center at 9am Look for the silver Dodge Dakota pickup. There is a $5 per vehicle admission fee, so car pooling is encouraged. Trip leader is Flip Putthoff, 479–925–2977.
April 4th, DAYHIKE the Cecil Cove Loop Trail. This 7.4 mile hike is rated medium. Meet at the Erbie Trailhead at 9am with lunch & water. Led by Bobby Shepperd—call for details, 479–442–5770.
April 11th, DAYHIKE on the Goat Trail in the Buffalo River area. Six miles, rated moderate. This out-and-back hike will lead to one of the most spectacular views in Arkansas high above the Buffalo National River. We will have lunch at this spectacular, scenic spot. This hike is not recommended for children due to high bluffs we will hike on at the overlook. No pets on this hike, please. Meet at 10am at the Center Point Trailhead 3.5 miles north of Ponca on Highway 43. Bring water and lunch. Trip leader is Flip Putthoff, 479–925–2977.
April 26, DAYHIKE Pedestal Rocks. It's an easy dayhike: Pedestal Rock Loop (2.6 miles), then perhaps we'll visit another short hike in the area (Kings Bluff Trail is closed due to ice storm damage). If you’ve never seen these areas the rock formations will blow you away! Warning: Dangerous cliffs, so no small children on this hike. We will begin with Pedestal Rock Loop, have a little lunch when we’re ready (so be sure to bring some goodies!). Trailhead is 1.5 to 2 hours from northwest Arkansas on Highway 16, about 6 miles east of the Hwy. 7 and Hwy. 16 intersection (Pelsor). We will meet at the Harps Grocery on Crossover in Fayetteville at 8am, or you can meet us at the trailhead around 10am. Hike leader: David Cagle. Call 479-283-1010.
TRAIL MAINTENANCE New Maintenance Coordinator is Roy Senyard April 18th trip may be calcelled - contact Roy for the latest details.
CLUB MEETINGS
April 12th, OHTA GENERAL MEETING in Springdale. Social time begins at 7pm with refreshments, and our meeting will follow at 7:30. Our program will be presented by Jason Hoffman, who will show us all about the adventure of hiking in Costa Rica. 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 our web page). Call us at 870–861–5536 if you need any more info.
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OHTA Officers Tim Ernst, President, 870-861-5536 Keiko Wilke, Treasurer, 479-927-1999 Roy Senyard, Maintenance, 479-587-0200 Scott Crook, Secretary, 479-521-6340 Bobby Shepperd, Meeting Programs, 479-587-0200 David Cagle - Outings, 479-283-1010 Duane Woltjen, At Large/Membership, 479- 521-7032
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