Ozarks November shakedown / recon trip

“Some of us are going to the Ozarks in November to scout out the area and find some good trails for the main Ozarks ECT in January. Tentative date is Nov. 17-18. So far me, Mozark, Jeff and TXWoodswoman have expressed an interest. Anyone else wanna come along? This is not intended to replace the big Ozark ECT planned for January 25-27.”

“Steve, those dates still look good..maybe we can get bacpac to put his pack where his mouth is and get him to join us, hmmm?”

“Not a chance.”

“Figures... Armchair hiker to the rescue!”

“C'mon pac, be a sport.”

“Remember the Leonid Metor shower is that night between 3-5 am central time.
Leonids”

“Would be nice to see a meteor shower, if there's no clouds that night.

As to bacpac, he was talking about setting up an Arkansas hike back when the Ozark ECT threads first appeared but didn't follow through. I put him on the list to join the January Ozark ECT but we could use him more on the November scouting trip since he's in Arkansas and knows the area well.”

“I changed my mind. I can't think of any trails that are within 40 miles of a Hotel.”

“wimp”

“Ack! He is trying to shame me into participating.

I suggested the Sylamore trail, because it has lots of access, caves, fishing, scenery, water, and nearby hotels, but it is only about 15 miles long and some of the hotel campers thought that was too short. I think up and back is about 30 miles, but my math ain't so good.

Realistically there is no point in scouting a trip for 10 people who each have a different idea about backpacking. There is no such trail.”

“Awe, that was low bacpac. Funny!, but Low.”

“What's up with the excuses? Just tell them you can't be bothered.”

“I was shaming you into participating, WD.

Yuck, Yuck”

“bacpac
I'll be on the January trip. Can't make the November one.”

“Dude doesn't need to be shamed into going..if he can, he's there. He "walks the walk" and "talks the talk" that's fer sure!

Dude, got my picts back and will scan them in..once I open up and install the new scanner I bought..LOL!!”

“New scanner? Does it have the saddle attachment?”

“bacpac, is that all you EVER think about?? Sheesh, get a life, will ya?”

“I thought you were from Texas. Sheeze, what did you think I was talking about?”

“Just call me Walkin&Talkindude.”

“Maps of Arkansas

Here is a link to free 7.5 minute DRG topo maps for the entire state of Arkansas. If you don't know what a DRG map is or how manage Zip files you need to learn.

Free Topo Maps

The USGS has a free map viewer DLGv32.

You will need this Viewer to view, edit, and print the maps. This viewer will provide GPS coordinates in NAD27 Datum and UTM or DD.MM.SS format. The viewer allows you to seamlessly connect adjoining maps.

This feature is a 'must have' for folks who will walk across a map in half a day.”

“I forgot to mention that the link is a little hokie.

The first links on the left side of the screen are just some popular maps.

Wait until the map graphic loads and then select the region of the State that you want to look at. The map links for that region will be listed on the left side of the screen as well as on the regional map. If you have some knowledge of how html works you can speed things up a little, but these are big files so be patient.”

“Most of the Sylamore Creek Trail is on the Fifty-Six Quad in the Mountain View Section of the web site.



The trail basically follows the Creek, though it is often a few hundred feet above it.”

“What the heck?s the matter with you folks? A person isn?t real and is a troll until they put their picture up on the web and now bacpac doesn?t hike because he won?t go on a group hike? Just because someone won?t spend their valuable time off with 10-20 people hiking doesn?t mean they don?t do it. Hell, that doesn?t even make a person unsociable. Not everyone likes crowd hikes.”

“Nigal, you're absolutely right. However, more to the point is the way bacpac crucifies some folks for their hiking plans or methodology, but seldom shares any of his own.

"The credit belongs to the man actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.."

We all need to hike our own hikes regardless of others opinions or desires.”

“I'll let bacpac wiggle out of this one but if he doesn't make the January hike I'll kick his ass.”

“I would pay to see you do that Steve! Film at 11!!”

“Ya gotta find him first Steve.”

“Bacpac,

Thanks for the free map viewer link!”

“OK Steve hiker, looks like this is going to be a cozy hike for a few, huh?

Can you please e-mail me off list with directions to the trail head?

Believe it or not, it's less than 2 weeks away! Do you think we will get this recon off the ground at all??

Tx”

“Screw the recon trip. Lets just all go in January.”

“Sounding better all the time, Dude..or is it "Walkin & Talkin Dude" *smile*”

“I still think a recon hike is a good idea if none of us have been there and don't no the trails. So far Hemmed-In-Hollow and the Buffalo River Area are the main contenders. I'll send out an email later today with more details.

Anyone else recon they'd be interested in a recon hike in a couple weeks?”