Day Fifteen of the Ouachita Trail

It was 38° when I woke up at six. As advertised, the wind blew all night, but not as fiercely as the night before. My hammock pitched in the shelter, worked well and fixing breakfast back in the corner kept me out of the wind. So another successful shelter night.

I was on the trail as the sun came up, working my way down from the shelter to Brown’s Creek. It had a rather elaborate bridge for a rather mundane little creek. But a bridge is a bridge and I crossed it when I came to it.

My first goal this morning was to walk the 5 miles to the Sylvia Lake turn off. Sylvia Lake is only a half mile from the trail and was rumored to have a complete campground, including showers. My plan was to go in and check it out. And when I got there, I found it was true. It was then that I realized I didn’t have any good way to dry myself off if I took a shower. And since the air temperature was only in the high 40s air drying did not seem to be a good option. So I settled for rinsing out my shirt and pants and socks. Then I hung out at an empty campsite while my laundry dried and I ate an early lunch. When everything was dry enough, I put on my “clean“ clothes and headed out.

I have been in the Ouachita National Forest since I started this hike, for the last 192 miles. The actual hike ends 30 miles further east at Pinnacle State Park, north of Little Rock. So my final goal today was to reach the eastern border of the National Forest. Part of tomorrow I will be traversing private property, so the edge of the National Forest is the last place I could legally camp today. Since I was only 10 miles from the National Forest border at the shelter last night, I only had 10 miles to go today. Hence my lollygagging at Sylvia Lake.

Finally, to all of you who have been commenting, I really appreciate your comments. Sorry I have not been responding to them in real time, but I only have limited battery power to recharge my electronics so I have skimped on my reply’s. Thanks!

Until tomorrow, happy trails…