Ozark Highlands Trail-Hiking with Jesus

“???”

“Because of Sunday the 23rd being Easter, we are going to head out Thursday morning, hike the 19 miles in 3 days and head home Sat. evening. This should give us a little time to explore. There are lots of interesting waterfalls and a natural bridge and stuff like that. It may well be THE wildest spot in Arkansas, so I've heard. Hopefully the weather is nice. The older I get, the more I hate the cold.

Hillbilly and I have been planning this. I believe he has invited a friend or 2. And my lovely bride BuffaloBabe will be attending as well.”

“Sorry, Jesus is contracted to do some landscaping for me then, if he isn't deported again.
last edited: 2/15/08 12:07:04 PM”

“Hardy Har Har...”

“[img]http://www.ouachitamaps.com/picture_library/OHT/OHT%20Map%2011%20Haw%20Creek-Hurricane.jpg[img/]”

“That section is also one of the most popular and impacted parts of the OHT even before Tim Ernst stated on Backpacker Magazine's website that it was his favorite section. It's nice alright but my favorite and more secluded section is.....”

“Dunadan, Dayhiker, CocoaWilliams and myself stepped into another world on that section.....


....they have the pictures to prove it....."beware of spiders"”

“Owl, have you paddled the Big Piney above Ft. Douglas. If so, how was it? FR1002 in section 6 downstream.”

“HbH:

I've only paddled the Helton's Farm to Longpool section of Big Piney which is a very fun run. I'd like to do the upper sections sometime.

The book "A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks" by Ft. Smith's very own Tom Kennon is a great resource for information on the whitewater streams in the State.”

“
        "Ozark Highlands Daredevils"?

”

“Owl, thanks, I have ran the sections from the the Ft. Douglas bridge down to Longpool.

I was looking at Strats topo and the portion above Ft. Douglas looked intriguing. I am thinking a bushwack up Piney creek is in order to check it out.”

“did you do this in a canoe or yak?”

“Tandem Canoe. I have not as of yet taken up the fine sport of kayaking. You have to watch the water on both the Big and Little Piney creeks. You can end up in a situation like Stikmons report on the upper Buffalo that Owl dredged up. I have an old BlueHole canoe that weighs to much to carry farther than the truck to the creek.”

“No problem Hillbilly, I have 3 yaks and a canoe! Man, we got pummeled this weekend. I live near the White and it's RAGING. I thought about taking a day-yak yesterday but that water looked cold.”

“Hopefully, going out on Thursday will keep all the toorist(inside joke) away for this trip.”

“Strat, the water was rolling here also. I had the same thought. I have a little Buffalo solo canoe that I thought about putting in Frog Bayou. I wimped out.
I have been paddling for 20 plus years and have never been in a yak.
I am seriously contemplating purchasing one this spring. I will be soliciting advice.”

“10-4 good buddy”

“Ahhhh..... Mirkwood. How could I forget?”

“I just got home from a run on Frog Bayou. There were nine of us; seven kayakers and two canoers. When there's water, ya gotta go!

I'm trying to get some of my paddling buds interested in the Mulberry for tomorrow.
last edited: 2/18/08 2:49:37 PM”

“Dang, I wish I could get away...”

“I hope I didn't scare anybody with my 'hiking with Jesus' title. It's simple a reference to the hike being on Easter weekend.

JUST HIKE IT!”

“I'm offended.”

“Blasphemy!!!”

“Suggested hiking attire......sheep are optional.


”

“LMAO!”

“well i do hike with Jesus”

“Amen bruthah!”

“Hillbilly, we still on? I think my 2 youngest boys want to go(10 and 13). They've hiked a lot and can keep up.

After looking at the elevation gain, what if we went the other direction? I haven't hiked in a while so I'll need all the help I can get. What do you think?

Owl, you going?”

“I am in as long as the weather is not like the last couple of days. Either Direction is good with me. I need to look at a topo or the trail guide which I do no have at work. I am not sure but I think the climb out is easier on the (west)Fort Douglas end. All my hikes in the area have been solo in and outs from the west end. I am planning on driving up the night before and car camping at Haw creek falls. Let me know and we can coordinate vehicle movements.”

“The Mulberry looks killer too. Time to go paddling
http://www.turnerbend.com/river_gauge.html”

“NICE!”

“I'm GEEKED!”

“????”

“translation; EXCITED”

“Weather looks great. High 60s and low 70s day time and high 30s and low 40s at night.
Lots of rain in the preceeding days so the creek crossings may be damp.
There should be water over all the waterfalls and in the feeder streams. Photo ops.

Strat- Are you car camping Wed. night?”

“I imagine it will be a boots off crossing at the Hurricane near the "I am waiting on Jesus" compound.”

“Yes i am sure it will be. I will check the Piney creek gauge to see if the crossings will be safe. I do not want to do the high water cutoff. That skips the best part of the trail.”

“I'm not positive quite yet but we'll probably have to just drive over early Thur.

We'll make the crossing , I'll bring a rope, LOL.

Sure wish you could make it over, Chili.”

“Yeah, I would like to be there, but I don't see it happening.”

“Maybe you could take us out on a TN trail one of these days. I rekon I could pretend it's France or something(Volunteer diss).”

“Get your sorry Hawg A$$ over here in the Smokies and I will show you what a REAL stream crossing is.”

“My niece lives in Johnson City. I am planning a week there this fall. Day there, day back, a day or two visiting and the rest in the woods.”

“I would suggest the AT between Carvers Gap and 19E.”

“Thanks, I will definately be soliciting advice as the time gets closer. I am planning late Oct.”

“I've seen you stream crossing technique, chili, LMFAO! Having said that, you sir, have a deal.”

“That was the coldest day of my life, bro.”

“Hopefully, this upcoming trip won't be as cold”

“Rain today and tomorrow.Thur and Fri looking good!

I hope I can find all my gear, LOL.”