Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

       I tried to get out of the house early this morning hoping to beat the heat , never thought I’d be saying that at the end of December.  Yesterday we hit 86° with lots of new records  set   around the area  for ‘ warmest day after Christmas ever’ .  Today is forecast to be more of the same, normally I wouldn’t even think about hiking when the temps are in the eighties but before long we’ll be back to normal in the 30-40° range. distant views from the BRT      Driving through Boxley Valley I had hoped to see some elk, I thought mornings were the best time for elk viewing but nothing , and it’s already 60°.   I pull in at South Boxley Trailhead having decided to hike the start of the Buffalo River Trail.   If the BRT had mile markers South Boxley Trailhead would be mile 0, we have hiked south farther upriver from here (see: 6 Hedges Homestead ) but the BRT heads north downriver. root-cellar at South Boxley parki...

       This morning I’m going back to Gene Rush WMA, after last weeks exploration of some of the many firelanes I thought I’d check out more (see: 210 Firelanes and Lick Creek ) .  Another adventure in the Wildlife Management Area many years ago took us through Gene Rush all the way to Hensley Cemetery at the end of NC 4251 inside BNR.  We were able to drive to within 100 feet of the little cemetery but the last few miles were pretty rough. scenic Cave Creek      Another fond memory of that day, is of driving over Cave Creek on a water-damaged old low-water bridge and the nearby campsite on the banks of Cave Creek.  This is where I decide to do some hiking today, from the campsite/parking down Cave Creek to the Buffalo River.  All the way through Gene Rush WMA the roads are in great shape and it doesn’t take long to get to the new Cave Creek bridge. bridge over beautiful Cave Creek      I don’t know when this bridge ...