The Ozark Highlands Trail is quickly becoming one of my favorite destinations for day hiking or backpacking. The trailhead on this side of the 165-mile trail is at Lake Ft. Smith State Park. The park is nestled in the Boston Mountains on the shore of Lake Ft. Smith. You will find the trailhead behind the park office. The first two mile section of the trail follows along the shoreline offering up some scenic views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

I packed my overnight gear with enough food to sustain me on this warm, 50 degree day in January. Overnight temperatures were forecasted to be in the low 40s, so I jumped at the chance for a relaxing solo trip.

Glad I made the trip. I stayed warm and comfortable in the hammock. Enjoyed a nice Mountain House meal of sweet and sour chicken. Tried out the new Trangia stove and windscreen. I just might be a convert to alcohol stoves.

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!

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.

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.

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!