OTSHAB Winter BB Trip Jan24-26 2025

Another OTSHAB Winter Backpacking Trip. I do like these. This year the candidates where not completely new to camping, just camping in winter conditions. I do like sharing what I have learned over many years of freezing my butt off while camping during the winter! 😂⛄

This year our group (there were three groups this year, each with a few "subject" and a few EB (Experienced Backpackers) with them, were down on the Victory Section of the Ozark Trail. A section I must confess I don't remember ever being on this section. 

The weather was going to break kindly for us this weekend as it was still going to be cold (must give the group what they came for) but with no precipitation for the entire weekend. 

Temps would be low 20's at night and get to the mid 40's during the day. 

The plan was for everyone to meet at the Wrangler Trailhead on Friday, late afternoon, and then hike 8 miles west to Upalika Pond trailhead.  Spend Saturday night and return to Wrangler Sunday morning.

                                   

As is usually the case I am excited for these trips and arrived early around 3 pm. The temps were in the 20's and there was a crisp wind. 

The trailhead had parking for about 8 cars and fire rings for each site. The animal pond at the campsite was frozen solid.

Soon Dean and his wonderful dog Blue appeared out of the East. Dean and Blue had hiked the 1.5 miles from the actual beginning of the Victory Trail section to here. The actual starting point has no parking and is just a trailhead sign off a gravel road. I gave them a lift back to Dean's vehicle and we both returned to Wrangler. 

When we returned Denise (one of the participants) and Cindy (EB) and Cathy (EB) had all arrived followed shortly by Karen and James (Participants) 

We were all there and everyone started putting up tents and talking about gear and what they brought and if it would be warm enough. I went with my tent this weekend as everyone would also be in a tent, so my normal hammock set up would just introduced more unnecessary gear talk, when we were trying to dial in their normal winter set ups. 

Only Dean can wear shorts in 20 degree temps! Kiwi's are a hardy bunch

We got around to seeing everyone's set up, and I must say they all had first rate gear for their big three. Many were using the Durston tents and really fine down quilts, it was emphasized that it was not important to buy any new gear for this trip, but I am sure the excitement made a few purchases happen.

We all made food and we did have wood to make a fire for tonight. 

Long abandoned turtle shell

The temps did fall, so the first night fire was very welcome. 

The morning could not have come soon enough for a few. The night was COLD, low of 18 and despite good gear, sometimes implementation is more important. A couple of our charges spent the night warming up in their cars and in the morning decided that they just were not prepared for what might be another cold night. Even after the assurance that it would probably be warmer and we had more gear and more time to work on technique, felt that this was not the weekend for them and decided to depart this morning. 

The rest of us lingered, with no real hurry to get going, until everyone felt prepared, we left camp around 10:15. Temps about 24 f.

As is often the case on cold but clear winter days the ice and frost make the woods beautiful in the cold sunshine. the creeks with plenty of water had awesome patterns of ice along the edges with some being completely frozen over. 

However no snow remained from the 12" dumping that Missouri got a few weeks ago. 

A low water bridge (below) made of paving stones, along a forest road

no leaves means that the views are as open as they will be all year. Another excellent reason to hike in the winter. 

Interesting that there were many trail signs for Upalika Pond in the beginning, but the closer you got to the pond the fewer signs appeared. 

a minor creek to cross, no wet feet.

A large section trail has been bulldozed. We were not sure why as we could not see any signs of logging (we would see some later). It turns out we had missed the official OT trail but we would find it on our way back tomorrow. 

An armadillo rummaging in the undergrowth totally oblivious to me moving closer for a picture. 

Halfway we stopped for a rest and a snack. A good time to talk about how the first few miles had been and any feet or cold issues that might have come up. In general everyone was fine. A bit taxing on some, not used to carrying the weight of more gear in winter, but everyone was having a good time.

Starting up again after 30-40 minutes, Blue waits patiently for us "Humans" to catch up. 

There would be several times Blue showed just what a great and well trained dog she is. 

The first, while she was aware of the armadillo, she made no move to chase it and stayed close to Dean.

Several of the fields in this area have been cleared for walk in Turkey hunting

This is the area that looks to be designated for logging. You can see the blue and orange strips on the trees. Orange paint marks trees that will be spared or the edge of the boundary of cutting. Blue are trees to be harvested. The blue at the bottom is to remain on the stump so an inspector can see that the correct tree was taken. 

We arrive at the spur to the Pond,

The Story of the Upalika Pond 

The same ritual repeats itself nightly for hikers. Get to camp, set up tents, get water and then eat. 

In the case of getting water that required a bit of work tonight. the Pond was frozen and required some doing to get not only water, but some that wasn't filthy after breaking through the ice. 

Saturday night did turn out to be warmer 28f . We managed enough wood to make it a pleasant evening to relax and chat. Many trail stories were told.

The amount of wildlife noise here was amazing. Coyote, Fox, Owl, Cows. There seemed to be something going on most of the night. The stars tonight, like last night were spectacular. This is within 40 miles of the darkest site in Missouri.  

Sunday morning. Everyone survived the night, some a bit stiff and sore, but all good. A few lessons learned and a better idea of what today would bring. 

Purple paint is the universal symbol for No Trespassing, etc, but I had never seen it in a roll of tape before. 

More information about the area of Pine restoration and the areas of native grasslands for hunting.

more frozen animal ponds

Historical trash (aka truck fuel tank) 

Larger animal pond, almost chocked with saplings. Right after here we stopped at the same spot for early lunch and a rest. We also encountered a pack of dogs running down a coyote. (not something I am a fan of!) The dogs came within a couple hundred feet of us. Blue was as calm as could be, just another hiker on the trail. 

not everything survives the winter (deer skull)

Taking the opportunity to walk in the sunshine the last mile done on a lonely forest road back to Wrangler Trailhead and the cars. 

Victory Section Ozark Trail

Day 1 

Wrangler Trailhead to Upalika Pond 

Day 2

reverse Day 1 (change at the end)

Thank you to Cathy, Dean/Blue, Cindy, Denise, James, Karen for making this a fantastic winter weekend out in the woods.