January 30, 2008

Traildogs - January 30, 2008

This morning was a crispy 18 degrees as we started the dig at 8:30 am. How cold was it? It was so cold at our morning the break snacks froze in our backpacks. Despite the crispy cold weather we had five volunteers join us today including to really hardy ladies, Jo Anna Parker and Pat Smith. The really good news is that this leg of the trail is developing rapidly. In seven working days we have added over three miles of new tread to the Vista trail. We have accomplished by carefully laying out the trail to take advantage of several old logging roads, and several sections of old forest service roads, a very good machine operator and over 265 hours of volunteer effort.

For those of you who are familiar with the first two sections we are now 2.2 mils northeast of the current Mt. Harbor Rd parking area and are rapidly approaching the foot of Hickory Nut Mountain. Today we dug past the beautiful five-step cascade on Iron Creek and followed the creek for approximately one mile. All along the creek are shelves of rock covered in velvet green moss that the creek tumbles over as it rushes to the blue waters of Lake Ouachita. We, also, had a flock of about twenty eastern bluebirds that seem to be swirling around us all day inspecting our progress and urging us on.

Some other good news is we are now digging from two directions with the volunteer/Corp of Engineers team digging northeast from the bottom of the mountain and the USFS team digging from southwest from the top of Hickory Nut Mt. The USFS team pushed through the heavy rock strewn surface that is typical of the area's mountain tops, creating almost a 1/4 mile of new trail. A great effort in tough terrain for these very experienced Rangers. The view from this area of the trail is a panorama of the western edge of the lake from about 1000 feet above the surface and leaves no question where we got the inspiration for the trails name.

Tomorrow Thursday January 31st we will again be working the same area north of the Mt. Harbor trailhead parking area weather permitting. If it raining, snowing or sleeting we will not be on the trail. You can now drive approx. 1.2 miles east of the parking area on the dirt road on the left side of the parking area. Go through the gate and travel 1.2 miles to where the road ends then follow the trail on foot until you find the dig. If you will call me on my cell phone 501-276-5006 I will come pick you and shuttle you in to the dig by four wheeler and save you the mile walk in.

Hope to see you on the trail.

Jerry