A big thanks to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Team for the great new Trailhead parking area on Crystal Springs Road. This much needed new parking area eliminates one of the two most dangerous Trail crossings. Due to the narrowness of the roads, both Crystal Springs Road and Brady Mountain Road were areas of saftey concern for users. With this recently-completed parking area on Crystal Springs Road, only the planned parking area at Brady Mountain Road remains to be resolved. The Corps of Engineers laid new tile in the drainage ditch the length of the new lot, which makes entrance and exit easy and safe from both directions. We will soon be constructing a new trailhead sign for this new parking area to support the increasing number of users who are enjoying the ten mile section from Crystal Springs Road to Brady Mountain Road. Stacy and Jason, your efforts …Click to read the full article
Neither Rain, snow, wind, or even sunshine could chase us off the mountain today. Four Traildogs met today at the Brady Mountain Road trail entrance to the Bear Mountain trail segment to install a temporary direction sign designating trail mileage, 10.0 miles, from The Brady Mt. entrance to Crystal Springs Road. Not so surprisingly, we encountered a few rocks digging the post hole but did finally mange to get it installed. We also utilized some of the large stones found at the switchback located in the newly-dubbed “Saddle” of Bear Mountain to create a natural stone bench for users to take a rest from the long uphill climb and enjoy the great view of the valley and lake to the north. This area of the trail is a great example of trail building through a very rocky ridge. The trail weaves very naturally through this boulder-strewn area, and, after all …Click to read the full article
Al Gathright I hiked up on Little Bear Mountain today to install a bench sponsor’s plaque. It was a crisp February day, just perfect for a nice hike. The skies were a sharp blue background for the emerald green hills around the Crystal Springs Bay area. Some early blue wild flowers are already blooming along the edges of the trail with a promise of more to come. We met four hikers who were also enjoying the trail, with one set having hike the entire 11 miles from the Brady Mountain Road entrance to the Crystal Springs trailhead. Unfortunately we observed several ATV’s illegally driving just south of Little Bear Mountain and two more on the south slope of Bear Mountain. There was also evidence that ATV’s have been utilizing the Little Bear Mountain portion of the trail by removing one of the barriers at the bottom of the switchbacks. A …Click to read the full article
The Traildog rock layers were at work again today. We had five volunteers assisting installation of the bench and creating the vista overlooking the Iron Creek Cascade at about the halfway point of the third section of the trail. At this spot where Irons Creek flows down from the deep valley between Broken Rock Mountain and Hickory Nut Mountain, the creek drops over five consecutive rock shelves creating a natural stopping place on the trail. This natural cascade offers hikers and bikers a spot to take a break and enjoy the soothing sounds of the creek as it tumbles over the rocks of the Cascades rushing west to empty into Lake Ouachita. Attached are photos of the entrance onto the very short spur over to the bench site, the Bench Site, and the view from the bench. Next week we will be installing two benches on the seventh section …Click to read the full article
We had five seasoned Traildogs join us on the trail today. We were able to finally complete the finish work on the east end of the seventh section; the “seventh section” runs across Bear Mountain from Little Bear Creek on the west to Brady Mountain Road on the east. The work today included armoring the wet crossing at the east end trailhead on Brady Mountain Road and completing the final finish work of cutting roots and raking out the new tread on the final 1/3 mile of the new tread. The east end of the Trail at Brady Mt. Rd. is seeing a great deal of usage as the word spreads about this new section. Parking is becoming a safety issue, with folks trying to find a spot near the trail to leave their vehicles. This road is a very busy road, so all users should especially careful when parking …Click to read the full article
Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, we had five Traildogs working the storm cleanup on Section Four Between the trailhead at Hickory Nut Mountain and Forest Service Road 47A. It was good to visit this this 3.2 mile section along the southern face of Hickory Nut Mountain again as it is one of the most scenic sections, especially after a rainfall. Hickory Creek that begins on the summit of the mountain was pure eye candy for our team as we cleared downed trees and limbs. This deep drainage creek creates one waterfall after another as it rushes down the gorge and empties into Lake Ouachita. The area around the artesian spring was highlighted by a set of twin falls just to the north of the spring a sight well worth a hike. We were able to completely clear this section from the Hickory Nut Mt. trailhead to the intersection of U.S. Forest …Click to read the full article
Snow storms bedevil trails with broken limbs, fallen trees, and bent down bushes and small trees. Traildogs have been working to check and clear the entire trail of storm damage. The first section of the trail from Denby Bay to the Tompkins Bend trailhead, including all spurs, has been cleared. This includes clearing the Pine Plantation Road and Bus access roads off Shangri La Rd. The second section from the Tompkins Bend trailhead and the Homestead trailhead to Mountain Harbor Road, including spurs, has been cleared. On Tuesday, Jan. 8, three Traildog volunteers worked the third section of the the trail from the Joplin trailhead to the Hickory Nut Mountain trailhead. We removed dozens of trees and limbs that were brought down by the heavy snow. This section has weathered quite well except for one short section about a half a mile north of the Joplin trailhead. This uphill section …Click to read the full article
It was a windy day on the mountain as five Traildogs began the final days of finishing work on the mountainous seventh section. We are working just north of the massive tornado blow-down area of May 2011. Tens of thousands of trees were ripped, torn, twisted and destroyed along the northern portion of Brady Mountain Rd. Finding a usable route for the trail was a real challenge, but thanks to the tenacity of U.S. Forest Service personnel, we successfully have threaded the trail between tornado damage and private property. Job well done! The wind today blew in another treat as we working. Suddenly, the air was filled a distant aroma that could only be described as manna from Louisiana, when up the mountain an apparition bearing a foil covered pan of smoking hot Cajun Sausage Bread appeared. Georgia Cavanaugh, Cajun Cook Supreme, brought the Traildog volunteers and the Progressive Trail …Click to read the full article
Today was a day of accomplishments as five Traildog volunteers pushed the trail finishing work over a half a mile west where we joined with the finish work that was completed last month when we were coming in from the west by barge. After a mile and a half hike up the mountain this morning, we set our goal of reaching the point where we ceased operations November 30. A great deal of the tread we were working required only minimal finishing, but there were several extended areas we describe as “gravel pits” that are covered in small to medium stones after the machines finish the new tread. These gravel pits are a pain to finish and require a great deal of fire rake work, followed by root pruning. We did take time to build two rock cairns from some of the moss covered boulders the machine crews had uprooted. …Click to read the full article
With any project as large as the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, success is determined by both the dedication of the volunteers and the support of the business community. The LOViT Traildogs, on behalf of Friends of Lake Ouachita and the many people who utilize the Trail, would like to take a moment to give a special word of thanks and deep appreciation for two businesses that have never failed to respond to our many requests for support: Mountain Harbor Resort and Shangri-La Resort. The owners and staff of these lake resorts were two of the first donors to provide the initial funds we needed to secure our first matching National Recreational Trail Grants. And, over the years, both resorts have furnished over-the-top support in assisting us in completing this vision of a forty-five mile-long Mountain Biking & Hiking trail along the southern shore of beautiful Lake Ouachita. The Mountain Harbor …Click to read the full article