Tales from the Trail #03 - Winter 2009

Tales from the Trail
By Kris McMillen, Director of Maintenance for FoOT

Behold the new Ouachita Trail bridge in Section 9 just east of FR 152—east of Lake Sylvia connector trail. Many thanks to Larry Ross of the USFS Jessieville/Winona Ranger District, Ned Skoog and John Cramm for replacing “two old planks in the forest” serving as a bridge with this awesome new bridge. They did all this on Tuesday.

Outstanding job!

"Wilderness: we do not guarantee your enjoyment; we do not guarantee your return." -Some Park Service Employee, Denali NP

The Ouachita Trail traverses two Wilderness areas—Upper Kiamichi in Oklahoma and Flatside in Arkansas. The Mena/Oden Ranger District of the Ouachita National Forest is working out the details for a Wilderness Work Training session. This is supposed to be a hands-on training on trail maintenance in wilderness areas. The classes will be either at their office on Hwy 71 in Mena, AR or their Work Station in Mena.

Date is pretty firm for April 17th and 18th, 2009. Half day will be dealing with safety issues. Part of the time will be learning safe cutting procedures.

Someone will talk about how to sharpen crosscut saws. A day and half will be spent on actual cutting in the field.

Contact:
SHARON L. HOSE
Information Assistant
Mena Ranger District
slhosefs [dot] fed [dot] us
Phone 479-394-2382