Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

       Last week it rained four days, not all day, but I think we got just over four inches total.  We’re still way below where we should be for average rainfall, but I have my hopes up that it’s enough to get some waterfalls flowing.  I head up Cave Mountain Road, arriving at Whitaker Point Trailhead parking lot around 10:30, there are 10-12 vehicles here.  I’m about 99% certain that all these hikers are somewhere between here and Hawksbill Crag. Grace Falls      Ten or twelve cars is nothing for this big expanded parking area, it can probably hold close to fifty.  Two years ago when I was last here (see: 161 Whitaker Point ) , I had recently read about ‘Theresa’ who had come up here in August 2021, to do some hiking possibly to the famous crag, but in the thick early morning fog, she became disoriented, and wound up lost down near Edgemon Creek over two miles west of Hawksbill Crag. terrain gets steep and rocky farther down ...

     I’m heading back down to Pruitt, for some hiking along the north side of the Buffalo.   Pruitt is always tempting to visit for me, because it’s about the closest area on the Buffalo River to the house .   Anytime I don’t feel like driving very far, I seem to end up near Pruitt (most recently see: 209 Mill Creek ).   Or if I don’t want to drive ‘at all’ I’ll go to Mincy Conservation Area or Slippery Hollow, either one of those is less than half an hour by paved roads. the lovely Buffalo River      There are a few popular hiking trails in the Pruitt area, but on the north side of the river and especially east of SR 7 is more off the beaten path .   And for that reason, I head down NC 3580 also known as Pruitt Yardelle Road.   The road’s in good shape, after a little over two miles in, I pass a small sign at the BNR boundary and start looking for a parking place. off-road parking on old 'lane'      The first promi...