Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

       Today is the first day since back in May that the predicted high temp for the day isn’t supposed to even reach seventy.  To say ‘it has been a long summer’ is an understatement, I’ve been positively giddy  with anticipation for the start of hiking season ever since I saw the weather forecast for today about a week ago, and in the meantime I've been planning where to go. Red Bluff on the Buffalo      Doing a little  map studying I came up with a nice loop hike that appears to be almost entirely on-trail, after all it’s not the time of year for bushwhacking.   This loop will also cross the Buffalo River twice, right  now is a good time of year for wet crossings.   The river levels are low and the water warm, perfect for getting your feet wet.   Plus, although I haven’t hiked this route before, I have seen both crossings and know they should be shallow (across shoals). Sand Hole at shoal downstream of Sand Hol...

         As summer approaches the possibility of a ‘comfortable enjoyable’ hike becomes pretty rare, hiking in Arkansas in the summer can be downright ‘miserable’.   Last year I went on a couple late spring hikes (see: 175 MCA Camp Trail , and 176 SH Morris Spring ) , on both these I left the house early, didn’t drive far and kept the hike short.   That ‘recipe’ worked well, getting a short outdoor adventure in, then returning home before the heat of the day. pastoral scene south of Acorn Lane Today I’m hoping for more of the same, and I return to Slippery Hollow for my fifth visit to this 1450 acre property of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.   Today I park under the powerlines near the south boundary to the main unit of the natural area, next to a gate where I begin hiking north on an old road.   This road follows the ridge which goes about 1.5 miles to a point overlooking the confluence of Booker Hollow with Big Music Creek alm...

  March was unusually dry this year, April and May have more than made up for it, and today we find ourselves under yet another flash flood warning.   What’s challenging is finding days cool and dry enough to get in a few more hikes before summer sets in.   Today our high is supposed to only reach the upper 70’s with a good chance of rain beginning just after sunset, so I get out early and hope for the best. 'Turtle Bay' on the beautiful Buffalo I’m going to try sticking  to the ‘trail’ hoping to avoid the ticks which are out in abundance this year, apparently thanks to all the rain.   I’ve plotted out a nice loop hike on the Buffalo River and Old River Trails, just east of Erbie Campground.   Much of this route we have hiked before, at least the BRT portion, (see: 51 Erbie to Adair ) but this area on the Old River Trail will all be new to me. Erbie Landing on the BRT Spur near trailhead Pulling into Erbie Campground, I head east toward the canoe launch...