Ozark Highlands Trail

“Just got this message in a Missouri trail group forum this a.m.:


Subject: Ozark Highlands Trail continuation

The EA for the Buffalo National River's OHT/Buffalo River Trail
continuation project is available online for viewing:
www.nps.gov/buff/oht.pdf

The comment period begins Sept 15, ends Oct 15. The biggest battle going on is whether or not to construct the trail using part of Lower Buffalo Wilderness. The EA's preferred alternative is to NOT use the Wilderness to hook up two existing portions, and would instead use existing roads. I believe the OHTA will be supporting an alternative that would use the Wilderness.

Read it while you can. EAs might soon be a thing of the past.”

“good reading for a slow morning.”

“Keep the trail out of the wilderness. Keep the trail-rats where they can't do much harm to the areas the enthusiests care about.”

“I would have lost money on this one. I was just sure Mutt would have the second post here.

However, I would have scored big time on the subject of his post.

;-)”

“LOL!

I wanna hike with Mutt!! When are we gonna meet up Mutt? I like off-trail.. HIKING, I mean ;-)”

“You honor me, lizs! I bet you'd be a natural at treetop camping.”

“please do not feed the arkansas trash...let it lie and decompose.”

“I say let the trail go through the wilderness and ban the MOTORIZED flat-bottom boats that the NPS allows to cruise the Buffalo River through that section.”

“stikmon, I'm all Missouri for your information. Lizs has chosen me and over you, so get over it you jealous prick! ;-)”

“ban the boats...”

“lmao stick! that's one motor dood was a DICK! glad they had motors in the white river to tow us upstream , though!

actually, there's trails all through there. we sow some old men on 4-wheelers in there one time. they were going to the farm where they had grown up. i've even seen a pick-up truck, right in the middles of the wilderness area, on the river. they should just let it go through there. it's pretty vast and wild. there's several old town and communities in there that have been taken back by nature. it should be enjoyed, in my opinion.”

“Oh man, now we'll have to have an environmentalist battle! I mountain bike and have a 4WD, but I say keep'em out!

OK, c'mon stratty, fire back at me. lol”

“she has a 4 wheeler. dang iowan redneck.”

“This is a complex problem, with the government it always is!

The government wants to preclude a trail through one of the wilderness areas. Their prefered alternative is to send the hikers out onto gravel roads and 7 miles of paved highway.

There was an original commitment by the government to create the trail, before the land was designated wilderness. Now they suggest orienteering through the wilderness or out on the highway. Orienteering will create social trails and greater impact to the land.

I would like to see a trail through the area with a possible spur leading to a trail head outside the wilderness. There are sensitive archealogical areas that the trail needs to bypass. Without an established trail you can bet one will develop where it does not need to be.

Start sending your letters on Monday.”

“I agree bacpac. Richland Creek Wilderness has at least 4 trails to get to Twin Devil Falls. One established trail would make sense.”

“I agree with Bacpac and Arky.”

“bacpac and arky and jbeils and liz are all flaming liberals! ! ! !















LMAO! j/k!

i crack myself up. good points bacpac. have you ever hiked in there?


liz, i don't think 4 wheelers should be alloud, i was just demonstrating that it's already been breeched in there. i think the area could sustain one establihed trail but it's no big deal either way to me.”

“I think bacpac is entirely correct.”

“THE TIME HAS COME TO BEGIN MAILING YOUR RESPONSE TO THE OHT/BNR EA FOR EXTENSION OF THE OZARK HIGHLANDS TRAIL. IF YOU BELIEVE THIS TRAIL IS A LEGACY YOU WANT TO LEAVE, DO NOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY PASS YOU BY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS OCTOBER 15, 2003.

UPDATE: As of Monday, September 15, 2003, I obtained further clarification on Alternative B: The NPS will build trail all the way to Hwy 14 and somewhat beyond to allow connection to Loafer's Glory Wildlife Management Area. This reduces the number of road miles we would be relegated to, but a hiker would still have to walk right through the center of Cozahome. This is a community populated by residents who were were strongly opposed to the Buffalo River wilderness in the first place! The don't take kindly to strangers walking through the middle of their community.

Whether or not the full trail all the way, Alternative C (or E) is finally accepted, will depend on whether you can overcome the arguments of those completely opposed to trail in the Lower Buffalo Wilderness, simply because it is a wilderness. Their position is any trail, and particularly a longer distance trail, degrades the wilderness. The Wilderness Act allows trail to be constructed in wilderness. The BNR built the Buffalo River Trail (of which the OHT/BNR will be a part) in the Ponca Wilderness!

The trail can be located to be always not more 3/4 of a mile from the south BNR boundary. That is the very edge, not the heart, of the LBW. (As important as this issue is, the NPS can't think of anyone on their staff who has ever bothered to hike such a route to find out for themselves.)

Remember, we were promised this trail by the Park Service in the late 70's, and that is the reason it has been in their mangagement plans ever since. DO NOT LET THEM CHEAT, DO NOT LET THEM BETRAY, DO NOT LET THEM BACK OUT. DO NOT FEAR THEY WILL DO NOTHING---THIS ISSUE WILL HOUND THEM UNTIL THEY DO SOMETHING.

The Park Service must protect the wilderness by law. They need to be shown that having a trail will actually better protect the wilderness than no trail. No additional access points will be needed for the OHT trail (Dillard Bridge at 14, Cozahome Road TH, and Log Wagon TH are already there, and entirely sufficient). Social trails (unofficial trails), always presumed harmful by the Park Service, will be greatly discouraged by the presence of the OHT. Patroling of the LBW for illegal activities will be facilitated by the OHT, and more caring eyes will be watching over it than one or two lonely rangers roaming the woods.

BEFORE YOU WRITE, PLEASE RE-READ EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO READ. WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER. WANT TO ADD A PUNCH?---COPY YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND U.S. SENATORS. Back up your statements with personal experience where you can.

IF YOU HAVE INTERESTED FRIENDS WHO WILL HELP, ASK THEM TO HELP. BURY THEM IN MAIL FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER IMAGINED.

Write to:

Resource Management Office,
Buffalo National River
402 North Walnut, Suite 136
Harrison, Arkansas, 72601

Blanche L. Lincoln
United States Senate
355 Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, D.C., 20510

Mark Pryor
United States Senate
825 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C., 20510”

“Your Name
Street Address
Your Town, State Zip

Resource Management Office,
Buffalo National River
402 North Walnut, Suite 136
Harrison, Arkansas, 72601

Dear Sir or Madam:

I support a continuous trail through the Ozarks. Bypassing the Lower Buffalo Wilderness is not a legacy I want to leave for my children.

Thank You,

Your Name here”

“Didn't it say 2 posts above to "write your own letter?" hmmm... I didn't think cut and paste = "write your own letter"”

“Liz, you are correct. I made an error in judgement.

I realized after my initial post that the majority of the people who post to this site only do so to avoid real work at their place of employment.

It is unreasonable for me to assume that developing hiking trails or writing a letter was a suitable task for the majority.

For those who care, make an effort.”

“thanks bacpac and liz, mine's sent in.

now bacpac, have you ever hiked in there any?”

“letter writing in the near future...but not tonight...I'm toasted on a Baron Pichon Longeville '86, and am not up to writing letters.”

“Toasted stikmon... I think toasted marshmallows would be better, though...”

“No I have never hiked in the Lower Buffalo Wilderness. I have hiked in the Leatherwood Wilderness area which is just east and in the Upper Buffalo.”

“I'll send one. I'm always glad to help out trail building efforts anywhere.”

“Thanks, HPM”

“I've written an email urging them to bypass the Lower Buffalo Wilderness.”

“Now I'm going to email the congress people to oppose the trail in the wilderness - thanks bacpac for their names.

I know of at least 3 other people who will join me in opposing it, and maybe a couple others who owe me a favor.”

“Boy am I glad I don't owe you any favors.
I think bacpac put those up there for everyone to use including you.”

“I've convinced some recreational treeclimbers to oppose it as well. At least 3 more there.

Next stops are the arborist forums...”

“Mutt, don't forget to get the right wing anti tax groups involved.”

“heh. No, I don't want the wingnuts - on either side - to get involved.”

“I think I may be the only person in the world who has fewer friends than Mutt.

I think his arguments will incite support for those who actually spend time on the trail.”

“Letters sent.”

“shucks bacpac, I thought you had me on ignore. Believe me, I want you trailrats to have your trails, but not in wilderness areas where we enthusiasts bush-wack.”

“bacpac,

While I usually refrain from writing letters to the politicians who I know will never see my letter, I felt compelled to do so in this matter.

As an Arkansas resident, I urged my Senators to support the trail through the wilderness.

I respect Mutt's position and it is with some hesitance that I would support any initiative to create a trail through a Wildnerness Area. However, I strongly feel the trail will lessen, on increase the impact on the area.

Far too many times, while bushwacking, I find fire rings, trash, downed trees and evidence of heavy impact from those who think "out of sight is out of mind".

While I am sure Mutt is a minimal impact hiker, it is unfortunate that many who prefer to bushwack fail to respect the environment.”

“I have to agree with chilli- If a trail is well thought out amd planned, it can protect sensitive areas by providing a route around them- people will enter the wilderness areas anyway and a trail lessons the impact.”

“grrr,


"on increase" = not increase”

“While I am sure Mutt is a minimal impact hiker, it is unfortunate that many who prefer to bushwack fail to respect the environment.

You're absolutely right - it pisses me off too. This is mostly done by drunken, scumbag deer hunters.


people will enter the wilderness areas anyway and a trail lessons the impact

Nah, people will go off trail anyway. I know I do.”

“chili, well said.


mutt, you're weird


arky, PIG SOOIE!”

“Just read this on the MOTrails board,:


Subject: Victory Trail update

Portions of the Victory Trail have been closed since an F4 tornado
ripped through Carter and Butler counties in April 2002. Volunteers are now working with the Forest Service to clear the trail of massive downfall, and yesterday we opened up one mile of trail, starting at the Wrangler Trailhead heading west. Margo took pictures, and I'll have them posted at the OTA site in a few days.

It will take a few more outings to clear the remaining downfall.
Contact Wilmer Scott of the USFS at (573) 325-4233 if you'd like to
get involved.

John”

“In a letter to Senator Lincoln Superintendent Miller explained the response period had been extended to November 14 in deference to local residents concerns, then he went on to state:

"To date we have received over five hundred letters and other pieces of correspondence. When the comment period is over, we will conduct a detailed review of all comments. It will most likely be a lengthy process to insure full consideraton of the public's concerns before making a final decision."

Thanks to everyone who took the time to write.”

“Glad to help out.”

“Good News! The Ozark Society Board met January 10, 2004. The Board voted 13 to 8 to endorse the September 20, 2003 General Membership vote of 42 to 7 in favor of routing the extension of the OHT thru the Lower Buffalo Wilderness (alternatives C and E on the BNR Environmental Assessment) instead thru the community of Cozahome on public roads.

I look forward to seeing Lizs and the rest of you during trail construction.”

“Would one of you good Arkansas folks keep us informed as to when and where this will begin? It would be one of the greatest things we could do as TT'ers; help extend one of the great trails in the country.”

“No doubt the more trails that we have the better.

8)”

“I have done the OHT and actually attended some annual meetings on Hare Mnt. Great trail. How many more miles?”

“for keeping us informed....YES...the sven saw will travel to the buffalo...

STIKMON loves to saw wood!!!”