Tales from the Trail #06 - September 2009

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

[click photos for larger version]

FoOT District Captains Program

FoOT could not function without the District Captains. They are the interface between the Powers That Be (the paperwork wizards and others) and the volunteers. The photo shows Glenn Wortham enjoying the trail at the famous rock cairn just west of Winding Stair TH in Oklahoma. Glenn has been with FoOT since Day One and serves as Secretary/Treasurer and FoOT Board Member. Glenn is District Captain for Section 7 which runs from Mile 138.8 to 160.4 (Hwy 298 TH to Hwy 7 TH). Glenn and friends have a trail adoption from Mile 155.1 to 157.0 (Hoot Owl Gap to FR 122).

He is a retired federal probation officer and with wife, Susan, lives in Hot Springs Village, AR. He is USFS chainsaw certified and has supervised numerous trail maintenance outings on the Ouachita Trail (too many to count). The FoOT thanks you, Glenn, for always being there to lend a hand.

Featured Trail:   Lake Sylvia Loop Trail---4.1 miles

This trail located at Lake Sylvia Recreation Area connects with a part of the Ouachita Trail, overlooks a spectacular rock canyon area, and loops back along the shores of Lake Sylvia. Take Hwy 9 north and then west on Hwy 324 and go 4 miles to Lake Sylvia past the campground to the parking area on the left. The trail begins across from the parking lot on the Lake Sylvia spur trail (spur off the OT). In .4 mile you will reach the OT and turn left and follow the OT across FR 152, then left at Chinquapin Gap. This part of the Ouachita Trail has adopted sections belonging to Carolyn Shearman, Charles Mullins, Walter and Becky Thurman, and Ozark Society (Pulaski Chapter).

There are some great views. Near the end of the loop, just before you reach the campground, take a right to an overlook of the Lake Sylvia spillway.

We hiked this trail back in April on Arkansas State Trails Day. One of the hikers that day, Scott Meyer, was inspired to adopt a section of the Ouachita Trail in Section 7.

Get That Tree off My Trail!!

Wildfires, controlled burns, tornadoes, straight line winds, other forces of nature all create downed trees which sometimes land right across your adopted section of trail. Thanks to our many volunteers who are certified by the U.S. Forest Service to operate chainsaws on the National Forest we are often able to remove these obstacles quickly and efficiently. Sections of the trail in Upper Kiamichi and Flatside Wildernesses do not apply. Trees there must be removed by cross-cut or other hand saws.

The guys who are certified must complete a two day class which appoints them card-carrying sawyers for three years. After three years, if they like it, they can be re-certified by attending the class again. FoOT has a number of prerequisites for taking the class. Often the endeavor involves carrying the heavy saw and gear for several miles. These are some pretty sturdy volunteers.

At the head of this program is Billy McMillen. Billy is our only Class “C” certified volunteer instructor. In the past we have mainly relied on the Forest Service to conduct the classes. With their limited time and personnel we are finding that we may have to conduct our own classes.

FoOT sometimes sets up small work parties specifically for the purpose of sawing reported downed trees. Swampers help carry gear and toss logs, etc.--in general help the sawyer. Yours truly often serves as a swamper, but I usually get into trouble since I have difficulty keeping up with Billy’s pace and I sometimes get sidetracked tidying up along the way. I am no longer allowed to carry my loppers on a chainsaw work party. Who made up that rule!!!????? 

Anyway, next time you have the good fortune to trek with one of these guys, be sure to give them a pat on the back (and a hand carrying the gear).

August on the OT

August 6, 2009 7:00 a.m. I always wondered about being on the OT in August. Billy, Ed Hawkins and I hiked from Turner Creek Gap at Mile 79.9 to Mile 76 on what I always refer to as Fourche Mountain East and back doing some evaluations and flagging for a trail repair crew coming out of the Poteau Ranger District. What can I say? I’m glad we went in early morning. This section of trail was severely damaged by the ice storm in 2001. We noted that the trees are coming back strong. There is a good canopy now. Outstanding views between Mile 78 and 79 on the ridge. The trail is not as bad as it was the year before FoOT came into existence, but it was very overgrown with annuals (still very green). Tough going and hard to see all those rocks underFoOT—especially with sweat running in your eyes. I just sprayed and sprayed and blocked out all thoughts of ticks and chiggers as we waded through the intermittent seas of poison ivy (it IS pretty) and tried to concentrate on watching for snakes http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/safety/critters/snakes.shtml

I came out with only one scratch from an invading greenbriar. We saw LOTS of bear activity along the way. Billy GPSed and we flagged the areas needing tread work. It was uphill all the way to Mile 76 and then it was uphill all the way back. How does that happen? Mission accomplished.

Another Awesome August Tale...

Sometimes a Maintenance Report that passes across my virtual desk really gets my attention—especially when accompanied by photos. Here we have some before and after photos by John Carroll on his adopted section of the trail. On August 30th John visited his section with a manual sling blade and loppers and we will let the pictures tell the story.

OT mile 198.8 before and after...

OT mile 198.9 before and after...