Ouachita Trail - 40 miles in 4 days - Winding Stair Campground to Queen Wilhelmina (Oklahoma to Arkansas) - CONGRATS to Rhonda for finishing her Section Hike of the OT

 

Our Section hikes of the Ouachita Trail over the last several years has involved a lot of flip flopping due to weather changes.  We completed the section Winding Stair Campground to Queen Wilhelmina during November 2023.  We carefully planned hiking this section because the water levels during the spring creates challenges.  As I have mentioned before on previous posts, hiking the Ouachita Trail during the months of November through March are my favorite months.  When we arrived at the trailhead to bein our first day of hiking,  it was raining and it continued raining the entire day.  Rhonda's poncho offered the most protection from the rain.  I learned my jacket was only rain resistant and we will always remember the fun with Bill's Frog Togg pants.  However, we were all soaked.  We were happy it didn't rain enough to cause any major problems with water crossings in the Kiamichi River Wilderness or crossing the Kiamichi River to get back to the car parked on the Forest Service Road.  

 

Even though the trail had an eerie vibe on the first day of our hike, it felt so great to have another opportunity to hike in the beautiful National Forest. We were not expecting the foliage colors to be at their prime.  We couldn't have planned the hike on a better weekend to be on the Talimena Drive.

We finished to the cabin to get on dry clothes and get warm.  We headed for dinner in Smithville.  After a burger from CJs Corner Store in Smithville, we settled in our comfortable cabin at Big Cedar Cabin in Hodgen.  Our friend, Yvonne, made Bill some Toasty Toes.  She made us our first pair when we first started our section hike of the OT.  She is such a giver and enjoys sharing her Toasty Toes with others. 
The slippers are great to put on tired feet after hiking all day. 

 The next day's hike started at Winding Stair Campground and headed toward Pashubbe Trailhead.  

Photos above taken at Winding Stair.

The climb to Winding Stairs Shelter is challenging.  We reached the shelter and had a nice visit with a fellow hiker who had spent the night.  

The cairn had not grown much since the last time I visited this area.  I did not place a rock on it this time.  Scotty, my husband, placed a rock on it when we were there a little over a year ago. 

      This photo does not show the best of the colors. 

Random photos taken on our second sunshiny day. 

Luckily, this rock slide is not part of the trail.  

We encountered one water crossing at Big Cedar Creek.  

Big Cedar Creek crossing.  We had to remove our boots and then stopped for a quick lunch.

Big Cedar Trailhead is on US-259.  President John F. Kennedy dedicated this highway on October 29, 1961.  the monument is located at the Big Cedar Cabins.  

It was mating seasons for the walking sticks.  Eagle Eye (Rhonda) spotted this couple having fun and when disturbed they walked up my leg.  

This tree tried to get our attention to visit the Pashubbe Shelter, but we were ready to end the day and hiked on to finish a wonderful day of hiking. 

Emerald Vista located at Winding Stair Campground.

Day 3 started on a Forest Service Road off Highway 63.  Turn at the boxers hanging on post. (Shown above)  We started off with a water crossing to be able to reach the trailhead at the Kiamichi River bottom. 

The first photo above is on day 1 when we finished and second photo is day 3 when we were starting.

We had many water crossings on this day and only a few required us to put on our water shoes. We made it to the state line after a big climb to the reach the trailhead.  I had the below for dinner at Mountain Country Store in Smithville.  It was way to much to eat and almost ruined my hiking for the weekend.  My gallbladder didn't like all the lettuce.  Thank goodness a Tums did it's magic.

Day 4 drive to State Line Trailhead offered beautiful sights with the sunrise shining on the mountains. 

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO RHONDA ON COMPLETION OF HER SECTION HIKE!

Brunch at the lodge.  I had to stop by my favorite chair at the lodge.  Love this place!  Rhonda and Bill headed back to Oklahoma and I headed on my first Dusty Van Adventure to visit Cossatot State Park.  I stayed the night a Highway 27 Fishing Village and had breakfast and nice visit with Lori at Blue Bell.  I am thankful for another adventure with great friends.