Eagle Rock Loop Trip Report

“Ok, so Cottonsocks tells me she is fully healed and ready to go backpacking.

I briefly considered a 5 or 6 mile tune up hike, but hey, what the heck, why not 26.8 on the Eagle Rock Loop. Located about 35 miles west of Hot Springs in the Caddo Mountains, it is the longest loop trail in Arkansas. I really didn't think she was up to it, so I built in a couple escape plans if she dropped out.

We started at the junction of the Athens-Big Fork Trail and the Little Missouri Trail. Arriving at 8PM on Friday, we decided to try a night hike to the first campsite. The trail was well marked and very defined and made for a perfect hike with headlamps. At the first campsite, we found someone already there and decided to go on the the second crossing of the Little Missouri River. There we found a nice campsite, pitched a tent right on the bank of the LM River and cooked supper. CS made the 1.3 miles in about 35 minutes which was her personal best hiking time up to that point.

Mileage for the day 1.3
Cumulative 1.3

Second day we were up and on the trail at 7:45, another personal best for CS. We made the hike to Little Missouri Falls (2.8 miles) in good time, but when we stopped, CS discovered she had a blister. After doctoring her up, we continued on after stopping to enjoy the Falls. Next stop was about 2 miles down trail at the next river crossing (we made 8 on the Little Missouri alone). There I discovered her blister had worsened and started to figure she might not make it. However after a short break, we contiued on the Albert Pike Recreational Area which was about 8.8 miles from our first nights camp. Seeing all the car campers inspired us to keep going so it was on the Blaylock Creek for the night. The pull out of Albert Pike was a real strain, but little did we know it was pale compared to what was ahead.

Total miles this day 9.8
Cumulative 12.1

The next morning, CS was slow to get up and get going but her feet looked like hell. More blisters but she was determined to see how it would go that day (Sunday). It was a nice start down hill crossing the LM River 2 more times and passing the Winding Stairs area where the River was beautiful and the swimming holes were plentiful. I asked her at the Viles Branch/LM River Trail Junction if she wanted to quit, but she decided she wanted to go on. From there it was uphill (gradual but constant) for 3.1 miles along Viles Branch which was beautiful and reminded me more of the Smokies than anything I have seen anywhere else. Upon reaching the Viles Branch trail/Athens-Big Fork trail, I didn't give her a choice, but said "Ok, I have filtered water and I am carrying it up to the top of Eagle Rock Vista where we are going to camp tonight". Then I took off UP hill. We climbed the .7 miles and gained several hundred feet before we leveled out. I thought she was going to die. Hoever she made it and we found what immediately became one of my top 5 campsites of all time on Eagle Rock Vista. We could see for miles and miles both East and West and it was simply fantastic.

Miles for the day 7.3 (most of it uphill and all of it with blisters for CS)
Cumulative miles 19.4

The next morning CS feet were hurting so bad she couldn't hardly sleep and was up before Dawn and didn't waste any time getting me up for the sunrise. Just about the time the sun was going to break over the mountains to the East, an impressive thunderstorm blew up from behind us. Although it didn't rain on us, seeing it move through the Mountain Range was very impressive. After breaking camp, it was down hill to the creek and water before we started the next climb up Brush Heap Mountain. Seeing as how there was no way to abort in this stage (at least for another mile and a half), I just kept climbing and waited for CS to catch up at the top. She arrived looking like death warmed over. I told her it was down hill to the junction of FS 106 where she could abandon the hike and I would fast pack the rest of the way out and drive back aroung and get her. She was ready to do that on top of Brush Heap Mountain, but by the time we stopped at 106/Blaylock Creek (way up stream from Saturday nights camp), she declared she would finish it at all costs. So, off we went, up one steep climb, down the other side, twice more and arrived at FS 512 to find the place trashed from the weekend bubbas. So, after a short discussion we decided one more mile (of course it was over another steep climb) to another camp site. She drug up this one, but kept moving. Down the other side and to an impressive and secluded campsite. All in all she made good time and we were in camp by 5PM.

Miles for the day 6.3
Cumulative miles 25.7

By Monday night, CS feet looked ugly. Blisters on blisters, and before she went to bed she cried and said "I can't make it". I said, the only option is for me to hike out tomorrow morning and get the rangers to come in and get you. By morning (Tuesday, she decided she could make the 1.1 mile push to the car. So off we went. I let her lead and stayed behind her all the way up Spirit Rock. The views were very impressive and we were finally up and over and back down to the vehicle. Although it took her over an hour and a half to cover the 1.1 miles, I have to say I have never seen anyone hike with that many blisters.....ever. I am not sure I could have finished it with my feet feeling as bad as hers looked.

Miles for the day 1.1
Cumulative 26.8

On leaving, she made me drive her straight to the rangers station in Glenwood so she could fill out the paperwork and get her thru-hike patch.

Well earned.

All in all this is a beautiful hike. Water was abundant (we filtered and drank about 5 or 6 liters a day) and you were never more than a mile or so from a reliable water source. The trail is very well marked, clean and free from blow downs (for the most part). Highly recommended to all.”

“Chili forgot about when I fell and got a black eye and a cut on the face.”

“OUCH!!! Blisters can definitely ruin a hike, but it looks like u made the most out of it. Sounds like an awesome campsite, and i would have loved to seen the thunderstorm roll by.

pics?”

“Dang cottonsocks!
You are one tough mama! ;-
)
Glad you made it!”

“pics will follow in the next couple of days!”

“You go girlie.....you are one tough cookie!!!.......hate it about the blisters.....but tickled you are feeling better......hugs...looking forward to seeing you at TC4 ( or before......woooohoooo)”

“were there many chiggers and ticks?”

“Wow, what a TR, and what a trouper cottonsocks was! Blisters on blisters! Ouch!

Glad you made it back though. Wear that patch with pride!”

“Wow. I'm speechless.

What a trooper, cottonsocks!

Chili36, you BAD bad man!

;)

Sounds like really good memories, once the pain subsides.”

“Great job, cottonsocks! Makes me proud just hearing how you gutted it out. Way to go, you two... but especially cottonsocks! :-)

OK, so I hope the chili meister was a fully loaded sherpa with the booze for this one???!?”

“Congrats. Great to hear that the hip problem is behind you.

You're getting well just in time for prime time hiking season.”

“Well, hell, I can't get logged out of CS profile so I will post anyway.

were there many chiggers and ticks?"
Owl
09:52:31 PM
09/07/04

I sprayed our boots, socks and gaiters with permonone and we didn't suffer a single chigger or tick bite.

Chili36”

“Where are the PIXTARS???”

“We took a disposable camera so we are waiting for the pics to be developed. Pics in a day or so.

chili36”

“chili - you're gonna have to come to the Walls of Jericho trip. It's not on the trips page, just search for the thread.”

“"chili - you're gonna have to come to the Walls of Jericho trip. It's not on the trips page, just search for the thread."
dayhiker


But not Cottonsocks? WTF is up with that?”

“Hey trip sounded grea! Thats prolly one of my favorite close drive trips. You guys should have let me know I would have joined you. In case your wondering I use to go by stilllost. I backpacked this past weekend over on the buffalo river trail and had a blast. Hey let me know next time I realy enjoyed hiking with you and your wife. well catch ya later!”

“Hey cottonsocks, how many F*** Me's did you say? ;-)”

“I couldnt count that high!!! Lets say at least 500!!! Does that sound close enough?”

“CS - you're welcome anytime too. This will be similar to the Sipsey trip yall missed. From what I can tell it'll be fewer waterfalls and more bluffs.”

“Wow cotton, you are slacking off! ;-)”

“No kidding? I didnt think anyone would notice.”

“What I meant to say is that since chili posted under your name and I was responding to that post, that you, by default were invited. I was making sure he knew he was invited too. Yeah, that's what I meant to say.

Glad to see you out and about.”

“This trip sounds like fun. I'm not sure how long it will be before my feet will be well again.


When is the trip?

How many miles?

How many days?

Thats all I need to know for now.”

“Dec 3-5. It's a basecamping trip. We'll setup camp about 3.5 miles from the TH and offtrail explore each day. It's a new wilderness area that just opened up in NE Alabama.”

“Sounds like fun!!! Thanks for the info.”

“PS, this is in a dry county. I'm sure some of us will have an evening toddy, but this won't be a whiskey fest type of Savage Gulf trip.”

“good job cottonsocks, sounds like a great trail.”

“Her feet are improving.

The good news is that she suffered no discomfort with the hip.”

“I and my boys Travis 10 and Trevor 11< birthday on the trail yea! Went to Albert Pike the last week of May 2004. We parked at the Winding Stair parking lot and backpacked into the Winding stair area. We slept the first night under the big rock outcrop. The boys swam, fished (my youngest found a hook and line in a tree and used granola gummies to catch sunperch, this kid can survive!) and explored the area. We swam over to and took pictures of the peace sign, really cool. We gathered some twigs and started a small fire in the fire pit to smoke away critters. It was a very peaceful night with the Little Missouri running past. The next morning after breakfast we loaded up and headed to the crossing at viles branch. This was a humid and green area that reminded me of our home in Louisiana. After changing shoes and playing in the knee deep river we headed up Viles Branch trail. It was not too steep but steady uphill. We camped about 1/2 mile before the Athens Big Fork Trail. We set the tent because it looked like rain in the afternoon. We slackpacked with water and snakes to to the Athens Big Fork trail. The trail got steep really quick. We trudged up the slope through the burned trees until we were looking down on the valley below. Within 100 yards of the Eagle Rock Vista campsites a lightning bolt came out of nowhere! The boys were scared and so was I. Without a chance to enjoy the view for long we hiked back down to Viles Branch. Mountain tops and lightning are a deadly mix. We walked through light rain back to our tent area along Viles Branch. The rain quickly ended and not one more lightning bolt struck. Just my luck after all that climb! We cooked up birthday pancakes for my oldest and had a good meal. Having plenty of food and time for the trip I asked the boys if they wanted to camp on Eagle Rock Vista? They said now way too hard to climb and lightning! They wanted to return to the Winding Stair. We packed up the next morning and returned to the same site at the Winding Stair. The boys had a ball. There were lots of dayhikers and climbers in the area. That afternoon clouds rolled in and I asked a fisherman for a weather report. He said 70% chance of rain and rain it did. Just after dark the electric show was on. I thought we would be washed into the river. I must say that Sierra Designs makes a good tent. I have been through several rain storms with my clip 3 and haven't felt a drop. I kept thinking how scared the boys would have been on Eagle rock Vista in all that lightning. The next morning we woke up and everthing was saturated. The tent was covered in mud and debris. Big limbs had fallen all around us but luckily none landed on the tent. The tent was so dirty I had to wash it by the river because it weighed a ton. The only clean spot was the bottom where the Tyvek protected it. I watched the river rise before my eyes. We broke camp without breakfast and loaded up the wet heavy gear for the trek out. We saw no others hikers in the area. The river crossing was ver dangerous. I went across with my pack first. I wore my boots for better footing. I made it across with out falling but with many slips on the smooth rocks. The swift water was 3 feet deep at the crossing. On the return trip without the packs weight I lost footing and fell. I got a foothold and returned for the boys packs. I grabed their packs and once again crossed without falling. I was getting better at walking and using a stiff bamboo stick as a brace. I tied myself to Trevor and we started across. Within ten feet he lost footing and was skimming the water. I held on to his arm and floated him across. I return for Travis and his eyes were the size of plums. I told him we would be ok and we entered the water. He also lost footing almost immediately and had to be floated across. I was totally exausted after the multiple crossings. We derocked our boots and picked up our gear for the hike out. The boys performed like troopers. We reached the car after lunch on the trail at the old bench overlook. The sun broke through the clouds just as we reached the parking lot. Several people asked me about the crossing at the parking lot and after my story one one group of strong backpackers decided to continue on. I spreadout and dried our gear for about an hour in the dry breeze. In an hour the nylon fabrics were dry as a bone. We traveled by car to Little Missouri Falls and played for a few hours. We loaded up and headed to Hot Springs for a well deserved hotel stay and resturant meal. The boys say they want to try and complete the loop next year. Judging from their courage I'm certain they can do it.


I would love to do this loop with another adult or group of adults this Fall, so that I can scout the entire trail. E-mail me at Bateauxdriver@yahoo.com if interested. I live in Louisiana between the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas.”

“I am not sure I want to do the entire loop again, but I would certainly join you on the trail at Winding Stairs and go up Viles Branch and camp on Eagle Rock Vista again.”

“Great! I'll see what I can do. What would be the best month for this area? I would nudge for early November.”