Backcountry Fitness Challenge 2009 SIGNUP

Clif wrote:OE? Are you the oenavigator OE? I was gonna show you this site. Been real busy since our last exchange. We been talking bushwackin escapades thru emails. Met on the geocache site. Welcome over here...Q if ya haven't figured that out yet. This is a cool spot. Welcome. These folks seem real nice.

I may have to get on a team also... but we do more day hikes and bushwackin than trails. Question.. do you have to have a loaded pack for the miles to count? Thougth I picked that up from a post.

That's us! We do day hikes also. We have four children so most of the really long trails are out. I would love to hike Eagle Rock Loop someday. Just me of course. I hope our miles will count. We took the kids hiking along the "Homestead" trail near Lee Creek last weekend and in the morning I'm taking the kids for a picnic and hiking on the trails at the east end visitor center in Mena.

OE's,

Is the visitor center that you are refering to at the foot of the talimina scenic drive? If it is the FS is connecting that trail, called the Earthquake Ridge Trail, with the Ouachita Trail. It is finished up to one of the visita's below the scenic drive. You might go up to the state park and hike the lovers leap trail. It goes up to a nice overlook on a deck.

OH

That's the one. I didn't know they were connecting the OT with Earthquake Ridge. That's neat. My wife and I hiked ER about a two months ago. It's a nice easy trail. Kind of close to the road though.

We've hiked Lover's Leap before. I like starting from the southern side of the lodge and hiking around to the overlook. That's a good idea. I think we'll do that. We haven't been back since this summer and there's a playground for the kids to play on after we eat.

Something you might considering if you want to get into hiking is the Ouachita Trail. The OT is all around your area. You might consider becomeing a member of FOoT.
That is the friends of the ouachita trail. You can adopt a section of trail to keep up. We have the 1.5 miles of trail from the OK state line towards the lodge. also the 1.4 miles from the scenic drive down towards hwy 270. This is something the whole family could get into. Any way check out the FOoT website if you are interested.

Just a shame less plug!

Tom

I'm guessing that it was too late to join in the challenge? Bummer. My wife and I got a chance to hike to a really neat waterfall yesterday and I was hoping to claim mileage.

OE,

NO it isn't to late! Here lately Jay has been in places with no internet. At least that is what he mentioned at one time. I have his cell number and I will try to give him a call or at least leave him a message. Don't give up!

OH

TM,

I agree totaly with you. By the way I talked to Jay shortly after my last post. He has been sick but plans on getting on tonight and takeing care of this.

OH

Trail Monkey wrote:Personally.. unless someone disagrees, I think that because OE is asking to join he can now claim the miles. When Jay assigns him to a team then the miles will go to them.... Just my 2 cents... So OE I would say write the dates an miles down then when Jay gives you a team post in that said forum. Thoughts on this.. anyone else?

Trail Monkey, OH; thank you guys!

Ouachita Explorers, welcome to the site! So sorry for the delay, but as OH said, I've been fighting with the crud.

Okay, you guys are going to be on the Trail Stompers team. We are one person short right now, so we're taking the two of you.

Clif will go to the Intrepid Explorers team.

That will put the teams back to even for now (until more people join.)

If you have any questions, check the rules, or feel free to ask.

And yes, Trail Monkey is right (Don't get used to that!): From the moment you post that you want to be part of the challenge, your mileage counts. Be sure to put it in the right forum!

Now, as I always say: Get out there and hike!

And again, welcome.