I fulfilled a dream the last week of December. I hiked the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) from Lake Fort Smith to Cass, AR. The Ozark Highlands Trail cuts across some of the last remaining backcountry areas of the Ozarks and offers a genuine wilderness experience in some rugged Ozark terrain. Yet, accesses via a network of Forest Service roads make it possible to do an endless assortment of day hikes.
Having lived in the Boston Mountains near Winslow for a number of years and making at least an annual pilgrimage to White Rock Mountain via road, I had always entertained the notion of hiking the thirty miles from Lake Ft. Smith to Cass. It was as if the wilderness beckoned me to come and experience it and its famed sunsets and sunrises from White Rock Mountain as a hiker.
The Ozark Highlands Trail Association offered the 31.6 mile trip in a four day, three night adventure between Christmas and New Years Day. I signed up. I had already done a lot of preparation for the trip. My wife Sharon and I had started a weight loss and fitness program last June. By September I was walking or hiking somewhere almost daily, and I was doing some pretty strenuous hikes occasionally. By the date of the trip I had hiked 170 miles. The OHTA hike would put me over 200 miles for the year.
Sharon was supportive and helpful. We had never done much backpacking per see, although both of us are very comfortable hiking and camping. We had some camping gear, but needed a lighter tent and some internal frame packs. We had started getting gear together in October. She is also expert at camp cooking and had learned the most recent backpacking techniques for freezer bag cooking on homemade, lightweight stoves. She also helped in meal planning for my trip.
The weather became the main determining factor on whether or not I thought I could make the hike. A week out, the forecast proved to hold a mild week with no rain and only one night of subfreezing temps during our hike.
I can’t say enough nice things about the OHTA and its hike leader Jim Warnock. Jim helped make my first multi-day backpack trip a great experience. The other five folks also were great to get to know, and we meshed pretty well over the four days.
If you have an interest in hiking the OHT, I recommend getting acquainted with the association and its opportunities to experience the Ozark’s backcountry. They do a tremendously good job as volunteers maintaining and supporting the trail. Consider joining and getting involved.
Enjoy the photos.
© 2012, Scott Branyan
