Ouachita Trail - Section 6 - Hwy 27 TH to Hwy 298 TH//Section 7

Lori's Vista

Woo hoo! Ouachita Trail hike of Section 6 and 7 in the  books!  Based on my STRAVA stats, we gained some bonus miles.  It could have been due to the spotty ATT signal.  Based on topo and Far Out app, we should not have had any bonus miles. We got from point A to point B without getting caught out on the trail in the dark and that is all that matters.  In the future, I will only Hodgepodge hike Section 7 due to it being a little more technical in spots.  Now that I am becoming more familiar with  the OT, I will be back often to visit my favorite parts of the trail.  

We met a hiker on day 1 and he told us a story of how the trail makes him feel.  When he was a young boy, he would catch tadpoles and put them in a jar and the water was dirty.  The dirt would settle in the bottom of the jar and turn the water clear - this is what hiking does for him.   It helps all his dirt settle.  

Due to weather changing on us, we added mileage to our first day hike on section 6 leaving about 7+ miles of the section.  The second day we hiked first part of Section 7 (whew!) is was very challenging.  Third day we flip flopped back and hiked 7+ miles of Section 6.  If we wouldn’t have visited so long with hikers and their cool German shepherd we met  from Michigan, we would have beat the rain that started a little less than a mile from the truck.  The Nero (1/2 day hiking) day allowed us time to have a nice lunch - fried pork chops, fried okra and mashed potatoes and gravy from the Blue Bell Cafe and explore the area a little.  We visited Mt Ida and had a muffuletta - a first for me.  

At the end of the fourth day my dogs were not only barking, but howling!  I couldn’t wait to get my boots off!  Lots of rocks, but beautiful scenery.  I will definitely revisit parts of both of these sections.  It was great weather for December and now that I am rested I am already planning Sections 8, 9, and 10!  If you haven’t visited this area - you definitely need too.  

Hiking the OT may be a race to finish for some but the last one wins too.  Everyone that hikes it has toughtitude! Take it slow and soak it in is the best approach for me.  It is not only about all the places I get to go - it is more about how many people I take with me along the way to the end

Lequire, OK - Photo taken from highway on drive to Arkansas

Stopped for pie in Summerfield, OK

Small Cairn

Put a bow on it! It is definitely a GIFT!

Zigzag Goldenrod

I met John Archer this summer at the OT Get Together

John Archer (2nd from left on front row) - Mr. Archer was Ranger for Jessieville District of the Ouachita National Forest from 1970-1997

Concrete walkway across Irons Fork allowed us to cross high and dry. We spent a few minutes enjoying the views upstream and down. I later learned that in 1981, John Archer and a group of Ouachita Mountain Hikers came to this concrete bridge that had recently been built by two men from Mount Ida.

Archer wondered if the bridge withstood recent flooding of Iron Fork. He wrote, “When they came to the bridge the first comment I heard was, ‘Isn’t this a beautiful place!’ The hikers were looking up and down the creek. That made my day.” Read more in John Archer’s concise History of the Ouachita Trail 1970-1997.

Dale's venison jerky is the best snack on the trail

Mark, Jodie and Bella (Hiker Poodle)

Bella loves the trail

Lots of unusual mushrooms on the trail

Saw Greenbrier

Bird's Foot Violet

I thought this looked like a duck's head

Beautiful Vista

Winged Elm

Geo Tracker is great for the Forest Service Roads

When I am bringing up the rears I can get some of the best photos

When you don't have your hammock....

We called this the garland tree - look closely the greenery wraps around the tree to the ground

Bent tree is growing a Pinocchio nose.

Tin can stove in a shelter

Slug was slow-moving

We realized we were off the trail for a few minutes when we saw this!

2nd Cairn

Irons Fork

Just in case....

Unique Rock on the trail

Juniper Haircap

I think I have time for a nap.

Stick kept attaching my boots and not letting go.

Trail name on this hike "Stick Magnet"

Burls on trees is believed to be from stress from injury, fungus, virus or insects.

Tree fungus grows when its spores land on a tree that is vulnerable enough to encourage its growth. This may be a tree with fresh wounds, a dying tree, or a tree that is stressed out as a result of physical trauma or lack of resources.

Pretty sunrise on Hwy 298 on the way to the trailhead

Bella in her Ugg sweater - to cute!

On my many visits to the OT, I saw flags of all type supporting people's views.

Bella was a little upset she didn't get to hike with us.

Love this cushy stuff!

Important signage on the trail

Irons Fork

Danny and Lisa Owens contribute a lot to the trail and in helping others with logistics

A little less than a mile hike in the rain and we were very DAMP!

Drying out my stuff from a short hike in the rain.

Daunte from Michigan

We didn't visit the Bill Potter shelter on this hike, but I've heard it is a nice one.

Neon ribbon stretched across the trail? Should we do the limbo with backpack? I am sure I would have fallen backwards and ended up like a turtle on it back and couldn't get back up.