Trail Status – Dec. 11, 2013
Trail Cleanup
Traildogs are a hardy bunch, even when it is cold. Today, five of the Traildogs cleared 25 downed trees between Crystal Springs Road and Brady Mountain Road. The recent snow and ice storms had taken their toll, and they always either fall across the trail or on the trail. Most of the downed tress were on the north face of Big Bear Mountain. It was a balmy 25 degrees as we set on this ten mile stretch of mountainous trail. Patches of ice and a little snow were still evident on Little Bear Mountain, but big Bear Mountain was another story.
As we reached the summit on the north side of the mountain, the trees and shrubs were completely covered in sparkling diamonds. The bright sunlight shining through a forest of ice was a sight to savor. The Trail itself was coated in leaves snow and ice but was manageable as we worked our way east. Traildog Vista was coated in ice, and the view of the lake shrouded in a grey icy fog was beautiful. As we moved down the Trail, we were showered with falling ice that sounded like broken glass as it broke free of the old growth hardwoods towering high above us. At the end of the day, we had successfully cleared ten miles of the trail, and with the winter leaf-off, the views of Lake Ouachita from the north slope of Bear Mountain were at their best.
The LOViT Marathon, Dec. 21, 2013
Just a reminder: The LOViT Marathon is scheduled for December 21st. We are seeking volunteers to assist at the aid stations. If you feel you can volunteer, please let us know so we can schedule assignments. The aid stations will be closed around noon.
Construction Plans – Brady Mountain Road to Blakely Dam
Construction plans for the eighth and final section of the LOViT are coming together. We have selected a contractor and expect to begin construction around the first of February. This final section is approximately six miles in length, starting at Brady Mountain Road and moving east to the base of Blakely Mountain Dam. We are still awaiting the final “Order to Proceed” from the Arkansas Highway Department’s Grant administrator, but we expect to receive this approval in the next few days. We will keep you posted as the construction schedule firms up.