Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

     Tomorrow winter weather makes its return, today is going to be warm and windy as the cold front slides in, maybe I should get out there for some hiking while the weather agrees.  A few days ago, visiting Loafers Glory WMA for the first time I was investigating a possible route into a remote area of BNR (see: 219 Loafers to Painted ) .  Today I’ll be doing more of the same, except this time I’m going to Gene Rush WMA. Lick Creek      A couple months ago in Gene Rush I explored upper Lick Creek on a nice easy loop hike that involved a few of the many ‘firelanes’ in the Wildlife Management Area (see: 210 Firelanes ) .   Today my primary goal is to access some remote areas along the Buffalo River, and to do that I’ve decided to follow lower Lick Creek down to the Buffalo.   Parking at designated camping area #2 just off NC 4265, I begin my hike on Firelane 1105. parking @ camp area 2 Firelane 1105      The first thing I...

     Lately I have been looking for options for entry into some of the more remote areas of Buffalo National River.  The park consists of over 95,000 acres with access points along the state highways that cross the river.  There are also lots of back roads that will get you a little ‘deeper’ into the park, but with all the private property around BNR, getting to the remote areas can be challenging for day-hikers. Buffalo River      I guess the challenges vary for different usage groups, for example: horseback riders have a much longer range than the typical day-hiker but they need access points accessible to trucks with horse-trailers.  Recently I’ve been investigating Wildlife Management Areas, some of which share common boundaries with BNR and seem to have some nice big parking areas.  Gene Rush WMA is the one bordering BNR with lots of potential to reach some remote areas in the national river. green info-board at parking area ...

     Here it is a new year, how time flies I swear the older I get the faster time goes by.  My wife says that it’s because I forget half of everything that happens, maybe she’s on to something.  I know one thing, so far this winter has been a roller-coaster ride : one week is cold the next it’s hot.  Today we’re back to hot so naturally I’m going hiking.  I drive down to Woolum on the Buffalo River, with a plan. Boat Hole on the beautiful Buffalo      On the south side of Pindall is N. Woolum Road, ever since S. Woolum Road was closed I think it was five years ago, this is the way to go.  My plan is to ford the Buffalo River at the new Woolum ford then east over to Richland Creek and hike the Ozark Highlands/Buffalo River Trail up to the white convertible on the trail where we turned around a few years ago (see: 106 Dave Manes Bluff ) .  Well, you know what they say about ‘ plans of mice and men’ . dead-end road to Boat Hol...