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

Meeting Place: Jessieville Ranger Station on Hwy 7 N of Jessieville, AR on the left side of highway past the Work Center

Outing Coordinator Contact: Sid Wood 501-455-2950 or 501-517-6441 swood65342@yahoo.com

District Captain: Scott Meyer

Project: General trail maintenance on unadopted section of trail that is becoming overgrown. In Section 7–Mile 150.8 to 153.0—Big Bear Shelter to FR 107 2nd crossing.

If you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle you could drive on FR 107, please let Sid know—it is mainly just large mudholes with hard bottom. The other half of the group will bushwhack in to near Big Bear Shelter.  Bring your loppers and any other tools you like to use for routine trail maintenance, lunch, water and snacks, proper safety gear. If you have a gasoline-powered weedeater and would like to bring that, please do.

FoOT Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Gaskill gave a strong financial report and then summarized the votes for directors received to date.  Those wishing to vote in person were given the opportunity to do so, and then a motion made and approved to accept the election results.  New Directors Mayfield, Mooney, and Wood will begin their three year terms in January when the board meets to elect officers for 2012.

Attendees were given a recap of the past year’s accomplishments, including:

• Outstanding current trail condition report;
• Over 4800 volunteer man-hours contributed;
• Continued membership growth;
• Unsolicited recognition in newspaper and television;
• FoOT hosting of the “40th anniversary of the Ouachita Trail” event, and Art Crowley remembrance, at Arkansas Trails Day in May;
• FoOT support of the “Ouachita Challenge” mountain bike race, resulting in a $5000 contribution to FoOT;
• USFS approval of the first new shelter;
• Improved and expanding internet presence.

President Gifford closed the meeting with presentation of special recognition awards to five FoOT members:

• Carolyn Shearman, for her tireless effort as our record keeper and producing the required USFS volunteer man-hour reports;
• Loretta Melancon for her years of service on the board and Vice President of Recruitment, and specifically for her efforts this year in organizing the 40th anniversary event;
• Mike Sims, retiring Board member;
• Ed Hawkins, retiring Board member and District Captain;
• Kris McMillen, co-founder of FoOT, retiring board member, and retiring Vice-President of Maintenance.  Kris has been the heart and soul of FoOT since its beginning and deserves much of the credit for our success.

Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please participate in our election of Directors. The primary business of the meeting is the election of three of our nine director positions. A good turnout in our election is vital to a healthy non-profit organization. Finally, Arkansas law requires that members of non-profit organizations confirm their membership annually. Please complete and return the membership renewal form. If you are unable to find the ballot or renewal form, contact Cheryl cherylgaskil@sbcglobal.net.

Bill Sears and Billy and Kris McMillen will be supervising the trail crew. Mike Kelsey will be assisting in Western Arkansas.

The work will be tread repairs and trail construction which consists of digging type work using Pulaski, McLeod, and various digging type tools. If you are up for this type of volunteer trail work and would like to come over and lend a hand, you are more than welcome to participate in this new experience.

You would need to be at Cedar Lake Campground off Holson Valley Road by 7:30 a.m. any morning during the above dates. You will need some sort of eye protection, appropriate boots and work gloves and appropriate clothing. You should have a first aid kit, lunch, water and your day pack. If you have access to a tool that would be useful, bring it along.

To sign up Contact: Bill Sears bandrgreenhouse@att.net or Kris McMillen bamkm@sbcglobal.net

“They should form a framework of parks and forests connected by a series of paths and trails for general outdoor living.” -BENTON MACKAYE, founder of the Appalachian Trail, 1879-1975

Tales from the Trail

A while back we asked you for your stories of Ouachita Trail Experiences. Matt Anderson of Venus, TX sent the following interesting tale from the trail:

“This past year, my wife and I hosted an exchange student from Rome, Italy. Since backpacking is something I enjoy, our student agreed to go with me to do a section of the OT. We stayed the first night at Pashubbe and hiked the next day to the Kiamichi River crossing. Along the way, about 30 mins before the top of Wilton Mt, we came across a bear right on the trail! It was about 50 yards ahead, almost as tall as we were (but a bit heavier), and was digging for some food. We pulled out the video camera and got some great footage. We let our presence be known, and it “hid” behind a bush while “checked each other out”. Our student and I, of course, backed down the trail out of sight for a few minutes, and cautiously came back later letting it know we were coming. We saw it further up the mountain off the trail, and it wasn’t paying any attention to us, so we passed on by. We ended up cutting our trip back a day because of nerves, but that was a highlight of backpacking for us.

Thanks for all that FOOT does to create a great place to enjoy! What a fantastic experience!”

Thanks, Matt. Great story. Keep enjoying the Ouachita Trail.

New Steps at the Hwy 10 Trailhead on the Ouachita Trail

Griffin project - stairs on highway 10 at mile 202

Eagle Scout Candidate, Andrew Griffin, in coordination with FoOT thru Kris McMillen and Bill Mooney, completed the rebuilding of the wooden steps where the Ouachita National Recreation Trail crosses Hwy 10 near Lake Maumelle at Trail Mile Marker 202.

The previous steps had been in place a number of years and had deteriorated. Andrew stated that his priority concern for this project was the safety of hikers. The team placed large rocks at the upstream side of steeper stairs to divert water in ditch to help protect the new stairs. Andrew led a team of 5 young men and three adults on this project which was completed on August 21, 2011.

Andrew Griffin

Andrew is 17 years old and a member of Christ the King Boy Scout Troop 29 of which he has been a member since beginning his education. Outgoing Scoutmaster is Phil Sampson and Incoming Scoutmaster is Dan Myers.

He is the son of Mike and Bonnie Griffin of Little Rock, AR. He attended Christ the King School through 8th grade. He is currently a senior at Catholic High School with an “A” average and in the top 21% of his class. He is on Catholic High’s Wrestling team and hopes to letter again this year, making for a three year letterman award.

After graduation in May 2012, he plans to attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to study Engineering.

Andrew is an avid outdoorsman enjoying hiking, fishing, hunting, and wake-boarding. He plays guitar and in his “spare time” mows and maintains about 7 different lawns.

Great job, Andrew!

Photography

FoOT is most fortunate to have many great photographers in our midst. Randy Jones of Norman, OK takes care of Mile 43.8 to 46.3 – (OT sign at bottom of Rich Mountain to Arkansas State Line). Recently Randy’s nature photography was featured in the Oklahoma City newspaper. You can see Randy’s outstanding photos at http://naturepics.zenfolio.com/

Congratulations, Randy. We are proud to have you as a member of FoOT.

Tools

Friends of the Ouachita Trail owns a wide variety of both hand and power trail tools for the membership to use on the trail. The tools are stored at various locations including: Jessieville Ranger District Work Center on Hwy 7 north of Jessieville, AR in two cabinets in the dozer shed, at a cabinet near the campground host site at Cedar Lake Campground off Holson Valley Road out of Hodgen, OK and at various members’ homes. The members storing tools include:

• Billy McMillen Hot Springs Village, AR
• Bill Mooney Roland, AR
• Ron Mayfield Oden, AR
• Todd Henne Plainview, AR
• Glenn Wortham Hot Springs Village, AR
• Bill Sears Talihina, OK

If any FoOT member would like to find out what tools are available and/or where to borrow any tools from, contact Marie go.marie@yahoo.com for a list of what is where and to find out how to contact these members.

Anyone needing to borrow blazing paint supplies may contact John johnburnshsv@gmail.com

Help Wanted

Kris has chosen not to be re-elected as Vice President of Maintenance. Kris will still be around and about on the Ouachita Trail and may be seen with loppers in hand or just hiking on the OT or some trail.

Here I go down one of those trails... (or was it UP?)

FoOT is seeking a volunteer for the Officer position of Vice President of Maintenance. If you are interested, contact Jim Gifford jimgifford@suddenlink.net

Give Me a Sign-Part 2

Over the last 2 or 3 years we have managed to replace most of the 30 plus year-old signs on the trail. The majority of the new signs were made by Lenny Melancon of Hot Springs Village, AR and as you can see Lenny also helped install many of the new signs. We are eternally grateful to Lenny for this wonderful service. Lenny is moving away (Good-bye, Lenny) and has donated his sign-making tools to FoOT.

Here’s Lenny installing a sign

Dave Fox of Fairview, TX made many of the nice new signs for the trail located in Oklahoma. Thanks again, Dave.

We already have a new signmaker… John Stettinius of Hot Springs Village, AR. A BigFoOT welcome to John.

Ouachita National Forest is again offering a Cross-cut Saw Certification Class on October 25 at Camp Clearfork off Hwy 270 just out of Hot Springs, AR across the highway from Charleton Recreation area. Housing is available at Camp Clearfork. If you are interested in attending or to get more details contact Larry Ross.

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!

Loretta wishes to thank all who made this event such a success: USFS, Ouachita Nationa Forest Jessieville-Winona Ranger District, Arkansas Department of State Parks and Tourism, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Von Bothmer Family Foundation, Bennet Brothers Stone Works, Hot Springs Monument Company, FoOT Board of Directors and volunteers, and of course the OT Pioneers without whom there would have been nothing to celebrate!

Scroll down the page for photos from the event and listen to Jay Miller’s Keynote address.

Maureen Cowley (Art's wife) admires the new bench and plaque honoring her husband and the 40th anniversary of the OT.

Cowley Family from left to right: Jimmy Cowley (nephew), Maureen Cowley, Mary Cowley-Takaoka (daughter), Jerry Cowley (nephew), and granddaughters Erika, Monika, and Naomi Takaoka.

Jay Miller

Jay Miller, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Administrator of Program Services and former Arkansas Trails Coordinator and Executive Secretary of the Arkansas Trails Council (1976 – 1984) who delivered the keynote talk at the dedication.

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Notes for keynote talk at the 40th anniversary of the Ouachita Trail

Hosted by the Friends of the Ouachita Trail
Lake Sylvia Recreation Area Trailhead, May 7, 2011
Jay S. Miller
Chief of Park Interpretation, Arkansas State Parks

National Trails System Act, enacted October 2, 1968, allowed for the creation of a system of national trails to promote preservation, public access, travel, enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.    —Margaret Mead

Dedicated people with a vision can get things done. The story of having to unofficially build the trail with a nod from the forest supervisor when the service really didn’t want to build the trail because it would be an obstacle to timber cutting is an amazing story of doing the right thing when the right thing needed to be done. Today we benefit from their actions two generations ago.

(The future is here – we are the time machines … we have come to the future and experience the vision of 40 years ago.)

The vision 40 years ago was a trail across the Ouachita National Forest, motivated by success of similar trails on forests in the east. The Arkansas Trails Council saw a larger vision – that of connecting the trail to Little Rock. That required coordination and gaining the cooperation of a variety of organizations and landowners. It was not easy. The connection to Pinnacle Mountain State Park was accomplished in the early 1980s and that trail connection has been enjoyed by thousands of people. Now, 40 years after the Ouachita Trail was begun, with the completion of a pedestrian bridge over the Little Maumelle River this summer, that full vision – Oklahoma to Little Rock – will be a reality.

This is a great thing and something to proclaim. This is a trail with a wonderful history of dedication, perseverance, and cooperation, but it’s not a thing of the past. It’s a vital trail for people today and tomorrow. It provides health and fitness, adventure and exploration, study and understanding, and fame and economic wealth to Arkansas. The completion of the Ouachita Trail is a symbol of the good things people can do to improve opportunity and quality of life.

As you celebrate the trail, use the opportunity to celebrate and continue the vision for the future, as well as honoring the past.

If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.”  -Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964 (when signing the Wilderness Act of 1964)

We need to get beyond the idea that trails are for the trail users. Trails attract tourists and help the economy, they improve the quality of life, urban trails reduce crime, they provide health and fitness, they alleviate ‘nature deficit disorder,’ and they foster feelings of good will and ‘community’ within a community. It’s these larger, intangibles – the ‘idea of a beneficial trail system’ that move the trail program forward.

Like national parks – trails are symbols of America and are valued by people who will never use them. Trails embody freedom, the American spirit, the desire to be confident and independent. They provide the opportunity to strike out for adventure, to discover America. These American values embodied in trails are what make trails successful, and are what trails are really, deeply, emotionally about.

Trails provide vision, opportunity and hope, and some people walk, ride and paddle on them, too.

Listen to an audio recording of this event:

Jay Miller’s Keynote 5/7/2011