Day Ten (Wrap Up)

I am writing this from Harrison, AR, population 13,300. Home of the Boone County Regional Airport. Clayton and Samantha and their 3 y/o daughter drove me the hour north from Pelsor this morning.

My stay in the “Hunting Lodge” last night was uneventful. It was just me and the raccoon that has taken up residence in the attic. The forecast thunderstorms were headed right for us, but then faded away before they got there. We just got a little rain out of it. More thunderstorms are predicted for tonight, but even if they fade, too, as I said yesterday, I would make the same decision.

Wendell at the store said that hikers get stranded between crossing every time a big rain comes through. Samantha and Clayton noted that about half the time these storms make it through and half the time they don’t. You just can’t tell.

It has been an adventure filled 10 days, actually 11. Starting with a flight from Albuquerque that didn’t go, waiting for hours at the airport, and then getting to the motel in Fayetteville at nearly midnight. Then an Uber ride to the trailhead at LakeFort Smith on a dreary overcast Sunday, three mile hike to Frog Bayou ford (which I had been dreading for weeks), and a fairly easy, but highly focused, successful crossing of same. At that point I finally felt I was on my way. A true baptism into the OHT.

Each day was different. From avoiding Timber Rattlesnakes to getting lost, found, and stopped by No Trespassing signs. There were stunning falls along Spirit Creek, sprays of dogwood flowers in the forests, and too many butterflies to count leading the way along the trail. The long road walk had its drudgery, but also its high points. Intimate views of the Mulberry River, fine old buildings, and a cup of chocolate mint ice cream in Oark.

At one point along the road I walked by a big place on a hill when a barking dog came racing toward me. He was followed by two more barkers, then a couple more showed up. As they came fly toward me in a lather I was relieved to see there was a fence. But then three more dog came off the porch at me. How many dogs do these people have? Turns out the ninth and finally pooch hobbled down after the three. It was quite an event with nine dogs lined up at the fence barking at one old guy hiking the road. The k9’s will be talking about it for days, maybe weeks.

Ozone, with a place to rest up and gourmet burgers and hot dogs, was just what I needed. Followed by a couple of bluebird days with mild weather and interesting terrain had me coasting into Pelsor. With laundry, shower, food, and resupply I was set to finish out the last week, and then I checked the weather.

But that turned into its own mini adventure with returning to the store, the eclipse, and the “Hunting Lodge” and Clayton & Samantha. It is all part of the journey.

And much of it has been made possible by the kindness and help of other people. My wife, Nancy, got me the second night at the Ozone AirB&B and set up the “Hunting Lodge” and shuttle from Pelsor. Cappuccino was able to get me an earlier flight out of AR back to ABQ. Clayton and Samantha were just genuinely nice people as was Wendell at the store. Everyone seemed to go out of their way to help me out. It restores one’s faith in people.

The OHT that I hiked is like the Appalachian Trail with switchbacks and more open forest, way fewer people, much more remote, with more of a feeling of wilderness. The trail itself is well marked and fairly well maintained. This time of year there was plenty of water, few bugs, and moderate temperatures. It is not an easy trail and has lots of ups and downs, but it also has lots of little interesting features like cliffs, waterfalls, and stream crossings.

Taken as a whole I was surprised and delighted with this trail. I think it is a hidden gem and worthy trek. And I am seriously thinking of returning to finish it…

Thanks for following along on my OHT odyssey. I will take a few days off and then return to this space to chronicle my prep for the Buckeye Trail starting next Tuesday. I will start that trail on May 6th.

Take care and Happy Trails!