The “1-2-3 Project” funded by FoOT’s Designated Maintenance Fund was completed on November 16. The project was a total success in spite of some weather conditions we had to deal with. We completed all items of priority in Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Ouachita Trail. Many thanks to all of you who contributed in one form or another to this Maintenance Fund.

Bill Sears, Billy McMillen and Kris McMillen served to supervise and work alongside the crew for 10 days of labor. We also received assistance from Mike Kelsey, James Holton, Ed Hawkins and Sue Hawkins.

Bill Sears, our District Captain for Sections 1 and 2, sums it up well: “Well after spending a week on the trail doing tread work and seeing other tools, I will be making some changes. I guess what I am saying is that I have a better understanding as to what works and what is a waste of time. I wish more of the members could have had the experience that we had. It would give them a better understanding of what can be done on the trail. Those really bad areas that look impossible can be made into a great trail given the right resources. It was money well spent, worth every penny.”

The E-Corps Trail Crew from American Youth Works of Austin, TX was perfect. We were very pleased with their performance and I would recommend hiring them again. We were amazed at the amount of work that was completed by a crew of professional young adults who knew exactly what they were doing and were extremely cooperative and flexible.

The money was well-spent and the trail in Sections 1-2-3 is a better place.

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On another note we wanted to let you all know that the “Forest Road 76 Re-Route Project” has been mostly completed. There is still some finishing work to be done, but the trail is open and ready to use. I have hiked it and it is wonderful!! Beats walking down a gravel road for 3 miles any day. The scenery is beautiful as it takes you down into a lovely valley and then up high to some great views.

This awesome project comes to us courtesy of Martha and David Doty, the Ouachita National Forest and Montgomery County, Arkansas paid for by a special grant involving the Forest Service and the County. The same crew that we worked with on the “1-2-3 Project” worked on this re-route behind the Forest Service mini excavator and they all did a fantastic job. We hope they can return and do more finishing work on the new trail section. Watch for future news updates on the progress.

Thanks to all our wonderful Volunteers,
Kris McMillen
Outgoing VP of Maintenance
Friends of the Ouachita Trail

The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them to the impossible. -Arthur C. Clarke