In the past month we have been working the finishing touches of the newly completed third leg of the trail. We are also trying to deal us some vandalism to the Hickory Nut Mountain Vista at the end of the third leg. It seems a number of people felt it was ok to vandalize the vista by spray painting their names over the beautiful old rock walls. We were able to raise a reward of $750 from some of the local businesses and from the Friends of Lake Ouachita INc. and got support from the Hot springs and Montgomery County newspapers to run articles on the vandalism and the reward. Attached is a photo of some of the damage.
Tomorrow at 8:30 we will be meeting at the Mt. Harbor Road Parking area by the white house. The Corps of Engineers is sending a machine and operator to help us relocate the trailhead sign to the new parking area. We will also be installing some drainage pipe in the ditch to create a proper drive into the new parking area. The county has committed to bring the gravel for the lot as soon as its dry enough. If you would like to join us it should only take a couple of hours to complete.
Weather permitting we will have a work day Monday Sept 7th starting at 8:30 am. We plan to work on installing two ATV Barriers with one team and blazing the new leg of the trail with another team.
If we can get four volunteers to help with the blazing it should only take a couple of hours. We have a short training class on proper blazing before we start.
We will meet at the trail entrance located at the top of Hickory Nut Mountain at the west end of the picnic area.
We will have all the tools and supplies there for both activities.
Se you Monday.
Jerry
