Buckeye Trail Cleared!

Ok guys the SAVE THE BUCKEYE AND CANEY CREEK TRAIL Org. had it's first trail work day! Founding members Jay Hunt, Janet Trigg (Outlawpacker) and Tom Trigg (Ouachita Hiker) and Dusty the trail dog worked there butts of and cleared all of the ridge top trail! We also cut out three blow downs on the top of the ridge with Jays help, thanks man!! When we started down off the ridge the trail got bad, that doesn't describe it but it will suffice! We cleared as far as we could, aprox. 8 hrs. of solid work with few breaks. The trail is hard to follow in places but it is doable. It needs a lot more work but since the trail isn't going any were it will have to wait for another day. At some point we desided that enough is enough and we just was trying to get out!

After aprox. 8.5 to 9 hrs. we made it down to the falls. By the way there is a large blow down on the trail above Katy Falls that I didn't clear. You can go around it and I will cut it out later. I was just to tired to get out my saw!
By the way when you get to the large rock charn (you listening Jay??) go left to the falls and go right to the Caney Creek trail. Jay will fill you in later on his adventure hiking up Katy Creek instead of Caney Creek!

The trail conditions on the Caney Creek trail from the junction of the Buckeye and the Caney Creek Trail heading EAST was worse that I expected. There are many blow downs. At least three to four, Jay correct me my memory was left on the trail, that required a detour around of a sizable distance. It wouldn't be hard to go around these, esp. if you are fresh but we were dog tired, yes Dusty's tail was draging also! There were around three tree trunks that you could go under without to much of a problem. The underbrush is encroaching on the trail almost all of the way. But even with this the trail is easily followable. We ended up spending over 12 hrs. on the trail. Let me just say that I turned 56 on Friday and I made it out ok, you can to! We were all draging, battered and brused but we are all ok.

When we made it out to the East trail head I still had a mile hike up the road to the Buckeye trail head to get to my truck. At this point Jay was in sad shape, and this old gezzer headed up the road by flash light. May I also point out that I had the ONLY flash light! Yes age does come into play at times! Also experence! I was around a quarter of the way up when a good gent on a ATV came by and gave me a lift to the Buckey trail head. THANKS!! Well let me tell you that was a white knuckle ride for sure! But I got there ok, as soon as I got in the truck I started cramping up! But I led my intrepead trail maintance crew out alive! Any way I plan on going back around the week of Thanksgiving to cut out blow downs. Pics will be posted late today.

P.S. Jay we should get EXTRA points for hiking and trail work this week!!!
OH

A HUGE thanks for your work, guys. Way to go!!
UL

I forgot to mention that even though much of the trail is cleared it isn't "hiker shorts approved" yet. Those that like to wear shorts will get some what blooded. Just not as bad as it was before!

OH