Great food, great friends and amazing March weather at the HammockForums.net Third Annual Ozark Hang at Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo River, Arkansas. We enjoyed a 12 mile float from Kyle’s to Ozark and an 8 mile trip from Steel Creek to Kyle’s Landing with a short stop at the falls in Hemmed In Hollow. I hope you enjoy the video of this treasured Arkansas river.
This wind-chapped smile plastered across my face is a result of finishing the Freakin’ Eurekan 15k (9 miles) trail run in early February at Lake Leatherwood near Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
My training schedule called for a 9-mile run. A runner-friend and co-worker suggested the Freakin’ Eurekan as an option. It was only $35 to enter. The location was a scenic, one-hour drive from home and the race distance was perfect. Done. I was in. Race morning arrived with a temperature of 17° F and a north wind gusting to 20 mph.
Despite the stinging winds sweeping across Lake Leatherwood, 90 runners arrived early Saturday morning, checked in and hustled back to the warmth of car heaters. As race time approached we gathered at the starting line, most of us wearing hats, gloves and sensible layers of high-tech fabric. Others wore only running shorts and light-weight shirts. The race was on.
Trail running is as different from road running as mountain biking is from road biking. The trail was rocky and root-covered. There were a number of boulder-strewn creek crossings before and after steep ascents and descents. Rocky sections were ice-covered where rain water froze on the mountain days before.
Negotiating steep climbs and descents required cautious footing and concentration as the race continued. The challenging 9-mile course ended with a significant mile-and-a-half climb straight up a steep mountain and ultimately, straight down to the finish line. By then, weather was hardly a factor compared to the leg stress of steep climbing on rocky terrain.
I was glad to be finished. I got the t-shirt and a fantastic hour and forty minute training run in preparation for my March half marathon. I’m still smiling. It was a fun test of will and skill. Plus, it’s fun to say: I ran the Freakin’ Eurekan!
Like so many others, I recognized I needed a goal to fuel my new year resolution. I sent my $50 to the Bentonville half marathon, scheduled for the last day of March 2012. For the past 2 weeks or so, I have been following Hal Higdon’s half marathon training schedule as well as moderating my diet.
Today, I completed a nice 5.3 mile run around 194-acre Lake Fayetteville on a wonderful trail that has both paved and rugged dirt sections. Weather was in the 50s and sunny so it was a perfect day to get out play locally.
While running has always been my preferred means of fitness, I must admit, life’s commitments and work have been good excuses to foster bad habits. I’m thrilled with the results I’m seeing in less than a month of training. A five-mile run was barely in my vocabulary a month ago.
I have a track and cross country background as well as some marathons and triathlons in my history, but my recent level of personal fitness positions me squarely with most folks who have neither the time nor motivation to run a half marathon. 
My weekend warrior adventures in the backcountry certainly qualify as exercise, but training hasn’t been my motivation for hiking, backpacking and paddle sports. Any fitness benefit garnered has been secondary to my enjoyment of the trails and rivers in NW Arkansas.
I feel an exhilaration as I look forward to a 2012 that combines a higher level of personal fitness with my love for the outdoors. Smart training and backcountry time on Arkansas waters and trails should add up to some enjoyable Saturday Adventures.
I encourage everyone to make some time for yourself in the gym, on the trails, track or roads. Get on a bike, do some walking around your neighborhood or swim some laps. 
Who knows? The next time you slip on that 25 pound backpack, you might not even notice it’s there. And those 5 mile hikes might turn into 10 mile hikes. Choose an exercise you like doing. Take the first step, pedal or swim stroke and you’ll be on your way. Here’s to losing some weight and gaining some fun. Have a great year outdoors.
White Rock Mountain has been on my target list of places to see along the Ozark Highlands Trail. Saturday’s high temperatures were slated to be in the mid 60s, so I motored down to have a look at this remote Arkansas landmark. I drove several miles of forest roads in the Ozark National Forest to get to the trail. There are a number of places to jump on the OHT. One of the best is the parking area at Shores Lake. You can catch the trail from there and make the climb to the White Rock Mountain Summit. Here’s a pretty decent map of the forest roads near White Rock Mountain and Shores Lake.
The view from the top is magnificent. There are picnic tables and flat rocks to enjoy a lunch or snack while taking in the panorama. Take a look at the rental cabins on the mountain. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 1930s, any of these cozy cabins would make a nice weekend getaway.
Shores Lake has a nice campground, shelter house and a boat launch ramp. You can bet I’ll be back this summer for some fishing and kayaking.
Cold weather camping is tolerable only because it’s voluntary. I made the choice to stay over on the Pigeon Roost Trail above Beaver Lake last weekend. My 40 degree Phoenix underquilt and Warbonnet Mamajamba are the two latest additions to my hammock camping arsenal. A mild, 50 degree Saturday seemed like a perfect opportunity to give them a try. 
What did I learn? It’s good to know the limits of your gear. A sub-freezing evening and almost freezing feet convinced me I have a nice 3-season hammock rig. Any camping below 32 degrees will require a warmer rated underquilt and at least, a 20 degree-rated top quilt. My existing sleeping bag just didn’t cut it. With all of that said, a night on the trail is always a great escape to adventure. I love this trail and the tall bluffs overlooking Beaver Lake, especially during leaf-off. Get out and have some fun. Stay overnight if you like. And bring your warm gear.
It was a day that cried out for a walk in the woods, so I settled on making my first trip to the legendary Hawksbill Crag. The elusive County Road 5 leading up to the trailhead is steep and narrow. A 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is recommended. As I finished my lunch on the crag, I met two enthusiastic, local hiking groups. Both shared a wealth of information on area trails, rivers and road bike opportunities. Be sure to visit my friends at www.takahik.com and the TrailBlazers at www.thcfs.com.
This is a popular trail and destination. Count on seeing a good number of people along the way. As always, I experienced hospitality and good trail manners from everyone I met. I am told one of the hikers with the TrailBlazers is 85 years young. That’s all the inspiration I need to stay active.
This crag, also know as Whitaker Point, extends hundreds of feet above a lush forest valley and offers a stunning view as well as a great spot to eat lunch, take photos and enjoy the weather anytime of year. Check your map and GPS before you leave. County Road 5 or Cave Mountain Road is your turnoff from Highway 21 just south of the Boxley Baptist Church. It is not marked. You’ll turn right on a narrow dirt road just before the Buffalo River Bridge.
There is no shortage of neighborly, outdoor enthusiasts in NW Arkansas. Thanks to a tip from a couple on Cave Mountain Road, I topped off the day with a stop at the Tim Ernst photo gallery and open house. Now, get out and hike!
The holidays allowed me some time away from the office and a road trip north to Indiana via Kansas City. I spent the past week with friends and family recharging and slowing down to recognize so many of life’s blessings. Without prompting, my grandson shared this touching song of thanksgiving and faith. I hope you enjoy it. Don’t forget all of God’s blessings.
I had the pleasure of hiking one of the most picturesque sections of the Buffalo River Trail with my friend, David this past weekend. In this video, David shares an introduction to hammock camping based on his 5 years of hanging and light-weight backpacking.
The trail from Ponca, AR to Kyle’s Landing covers 10 miles of spectacular vistas and seasonal waterfalls in the creek valleys. We were fortunate to see and photograph a large elk herd in the Boxley Valley as well as 2 trumpeter swans before we began our overnight hike.
For those who might be interesting in hammock camping, I highly recommend the hammockforums.net website. It is run by friendly, helpful people eager to share their knowledge regardless of your experience level. Plus, the site is filled with pictures and videos of backcountry trips, gear reviews and all the best places to buy hammocks and hammock camping accessories.
What a great weekend hike on the Ozark Highlands Trail. The weather was perfect until the moment I crawled into my hammock and a steady rain ensued. I was pleased my rain tarp did its job and kept me and my gear dry and toasty. This 165-mile trail begins at Lake Ft. Smith, just off I-540. This first section is an easy 45 minute drive for me.
I wasn’t planning on rain, but I’m pleased I was able to test my tarp and hammock in a legitimate, backcountry, weather situation. I met a group of four hikers from Oklahoma who had a good deal of experience on the Ozark Highlands Trail. It’s always a pleasure to meet other backpackers. The area around Lake Ft. Smith State Park is wild and beautiful. The trees are nearing their peak fall color. The rugged mountains tower over the lake and the state park. I will most assuredly make future trips for day hikes, car camping and lake kayaking to this spectacular outdoor wilderness.
I had a great first-time experience in my HammockBliss hammock. It was a perfect night of sleeping in the rugged hills of the Buffalo Wilderness. Starting at the Compton Trailhead, the steep, winding trail is a downhill challenge. Trekking poles are recommended. Hemmed-In Falls was down to a trickle so I’ll have to go back to see it in the spring when the water is flowing. After a few detours, some on purpose, others not, Horseshoe Bend was the campsite. There was just enough water in the Buffalo to provide for cooking, cleaning and purifying. I’ll also mention the folks at Buffalo Outdoor Center are extremely helpful with information and pointing you in the right direction. I bought a National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map of the western Buffalo River area. It has complete compatibility with your GPS so you can’t go wrong.