Steve Sampers

Steve Sampers of Garfield, AR.    Steve adopted 5.1 miles of trail to maintain – Mile 79.9 to Mile 85 in Section 4 (Turner Creek Gap to Mile 85).  That’s a lot of trail to maintain alone.  Anytime you hike in that  section you will find it maintained perfectly.  Steve lives up north near Rogers, AR and drives down this way often to keep up his trail section and to help out with group trail crews.  Usually he stays for a few days, often camping out) and that is how he can get so much accomplished.

Steve is involved in many trail volunteer activities in Arkansas, including helping out Boy Scouts with trail projects at various State Parks.  He is president of his chapter of Master Naturalists and was recipient of the

2011 Arkansas Trails Council Volunteer of the Year Award.  FoOT is very proud to have Steve find time in his busy schedule to help on the Ouachita Trail.

Maintenance Director, Kris, reports a funny story about Steve. He was on one of his usual multi-day work outings on his trail section when his tools, which he stashes in the woods off trail overnight, were gone the next day.  Turns out someone walked by, found them and turned them in to the sheriff’s department.  Fortunately for Steve and the OT, he was able to retrieve them.  An adopter on the trail without his tools is a sorry situation!