I think my husband has been bitten by the OT bug. It wasn't hard to talk him into another hike on Section 2 of the OT with me. I plan to hike Section 2 again in the Fall with friends. The biggest challenge to me on Section 1 was rocks, whereas water crossings were the biggest challenge on Section 2. A little ways in on Section 2 there is a rock carin at 2,451 ft on Winding Stairs Mtn and lots of lichen covered boulders. This section also takes you through Rough Mtn. First water crossing in this Section is Big Cedar Creek. From Big Cedar Creek the trail takes you across Hwy 259 to continue toward Pashubbe TH. Highway 259 was dedicated by John F. Kennedy in 1961. It is the dividing line between Winding Stairs Mtn and Rich Mtn. The hike from Big Cedar to Pashubbe TH is a nice hike, but could be very messy and involve challenging water crossings during rainy season. There are zig-zagging switchbacks on this portion that made me feel like I was getting nowhere. Once past Pashubbe TH the trail will take you through a portion of the Upper Kiamichi Wilderness (10,819 acres). Beginning at MM 40.9, the trail intertwines with the Kiamichi River 8 times. We closely watched the water levels at waterdata.usgs.gov and I’ve decided I don’t want to hike this section unless water levels are 4 feet or less. I put water shoes on 3 times and Scotty 0 times - we made it with no falls. At MM 43.8 the trail heads straight up Rich Mtn and remains very challenging until MM 46. At MM 46.3 the top of Rich Mtn at the Oklahoma/Arkansas state line is the highest point on the trail at 2,610 feet.
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