Black Fork Mountain Wilderness

Just back from a hike with the wife, Janet and Jay. I highly recomend this trail. Fantastic views, terrific old growth (100+ yrs. old) stunted Oaks at the top. The only thing it is kinda long so plan on a full day. Start EARLY, we were going to hike up on Rich Mountain but swirling clouds, wind chills probably in the 20's or 30's changed our plans. I am sure that Jay will give a trip report, I am to tired to! Any way was still a great hike of 8+ miles. I will post some pictures later.

I got this from wilderness.net Thought it would be interesting reading:

Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness in 1984 and it now has a total of 13,139 acres. Arkansas contains approximately 8,350 acres. Oklahoma contains approximately 4,789 acres. It is managed by the Forest Service.
Description

Oklahoma entry:

Shared by Oklahoma and Arkansas (see Arkansas, Black Fork Mountain Wilderness), this area contains the 13-mile-long, rugged ridge of Black Fork Mountain. Large rock flows or "glaciers" and sandstone bluffs stand above a forest dominated by oak and shortleaf pine. The northern slopes support hardwoods with an open understory. A forest of dwarf oaks adds to the cover of vegetation, which includes several unique plant species, such as serviceberry and granddaddy graybeard, hidden away in small coves.

There are no maintained trails on the Oklahoma side, and you'll find the hiking to be challenging. You'll also find the headwaters of Big Creek along the southern boundary. Once you're deep in the interior, water sources are either slim or none. Two small springs on the mountain flow most of the year. Few humans ever walk on Black Fork Mountain. On the northern side the sound of traffic from a nearby highway fades away and leaves you as alone as you can get in an Oklahoma Wilderness.

Arkansas entry:

The Black Fork Mountain Trail, six miles long one-way, passes several pioneer sites dating back to the late 1800s as it winds its way to the top of Black Fork Mountain, over 2,400 feet above sea level. The mountain is actually a 13-mile-long east-west ridge, a geologic uplift that runs well into Oklahoma. The Wilderness boundary also follows the ridge into Oklahoma (see Oklahoma, Black Fork Mountain Wilderness).

Some of the slopes near the top of the ridge on the Oklahoma side are nearly vertical. Rock scree slopes, sometimes called rock "glaciers," flow off in many locations. No maintained trails lead from the Arkansas side of the Wilderness to the Oklahoma side.

In both states the ridge rises to scenic overlooks that offer spectacular vistas of this region. Lower slopes are heavily forested with shortleaf pine, blackjack oaks, and ancient dwarf oaks. Solitude reigns here, as Black Fork Mountain receives few human visitors.

Some of the shrubs and trees in the area are seldom seen anywhere else in this region. Beyond the Ouachita River and Big Creek, which border the Wilderness, the area holds no water except for two small springs on the mountain that flow most of the year. The hiking is considered difficult.

Here is another trip report,

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trails/ar/trail_217.php

Here's some pictures from a trip 2 yrs. to Blackfork Mtn. Wilderness:
http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/mdavis314/Blk%20Frk%20Mtn%20Wldns/

Nice pictures, I will make it to the top one of these days. I will make it a overnighter. Just to far to go out in back in one day.
At least for the wife and I.

I'll be back out there soon. I'm gonna knock it out in one day. More water/start earlier. That's gonna be my strategy!

(It will also help when I drop a few pounds!)

Jay,

I emailed Charlie in Tulsa, ouachitamaps.com, they went up Sat. did some minor trail maintence and camped out in the area of the chimney.
They experienced the same whiteout conditions that we had on Rich Mountain. We must have just missed them. They came down Sun. morning.

Anyway losing weight is good. I have droped a few more pounds but have alot to go. You need lots of water for that trip, esp this time of the year.

Here are a couple of interesting links on this wilderness. Apparently there was a plane crash on the north slope back in 1973:

http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19730927-1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Fork_Mountain_Wilderness

That is interesting. I knew of wrecks up on Rich Mtn. but didn't know
of any on Blackfork. I recently was told of a crash site near the Caney
Creek Wilderness Area. Near one of the horse camps.

Anybody know where the two springs are located?

I've only been up there one time and I don't know were the reputed springs are.
Mark Davis (ar.hiker) has been up there. Maybe he will chime in...

I don"t remember any springs. There is an old house place up there, probably some water in that area.

If a hiker could find the springs and set up a base camp on top, then a cool thing to do would be to locate the plane wreckage by bushwacking the side of the mtn.

You're a better man than I if you try bushwhacking on the side of that mountain. The trail is bad enough in itself in places.

I did find that Tim Ernst says there is a spring at around 5.2 mi. (spur trail marked with a cairn).

Looks like someone has found and documented the crash site which is supposed to be 600 feet below the summit on the north slope:

http://okwreckchasing.org/ti655.html

http://okwreckchasing.org/ti655_2.html