I know, I know. Any post about being in the woods in Missouri in the summer, I jump on immediately to warn the poster of the perils of Missouri Summer heat, humidity and BUGS. However in my role as a trail adopter for the Ozark Trail Association (OTA), by the way you should join! In order to make sure everyone has a pleasant walk when the weather cools and it is time to get back out on the trail, someone has to go out and report on the trail conditions. I signed up for this, so out I went. Fortunately, the weather was a bit kinder this week (just a bit). Highs only around 80-85, but the humidity was its normal 80-90%, which means that I was drenched 10 minutes into my days.
This time I was thinking ahead and I got an RV site just outside Bunker Missouri, which put me only about 14 miles from my Blair Creek sections. I could at least suffer during the day (it is not really suffering) and then go back to air conditioning, a shower, and a beer, after I finished each day.
I mentioned in my post in March that I have two sections, each 3 miles in length. The first is called 2a and runs along a dirt road that services one of the Doe Run mines. In fact that section used to be part of a trolley that moved down timber from further back in the woods up to the forest road. This section is usually just fine, mostly flat, with a couple small dips, but no real issues. When trees do fall, they are not huge as this is mostly a 3rd or 4th growth area. The next section is called 2b and has a variety of terrain, with good representation of the total Ozark Trail, including a rare Fen, which can only be accessed in the late or early season, as the access trail is very overgrown, in the Summer months.
Section 2a.
I got to the Little Sinkin Campground, just south of Bunker, around 9 am on Wednesday. Set up the RV and then went over to the Blair Creek Trail Head. According to the trail register (not that everyone signs it) I was the last person on this section in late March! I got my tools ready and headed out on section 2a. The temps were around 80f at 10:30.
2a is 3 miles each way. The tread and trail looked good on this section.
This is the kind of deadfall I am equipped to remove. Sure it is easy to step over, but it is better for walkers and horses if there are no obstacles at all.
All gone
It took me about 2 hours to walk the 3 miles and when I reach the end, I stopped to have lunch and drink a whole quart bottle of Powerade.
My walk back is just to collect trash. This time I found only enough to fill half a trash bag with old cans and bottles, mostly those that have been thrown from the road. If I can see it from walking the trail, I will pick it up.
While walking back I also check for trail signage. I don't like a trail with constant markers, but depending on trail conditions, I like to think about when would I think it would be helpful to see a trail marker. This section is so wide and goes in a straight line, you don't need many, but while looking at them I spotted the master of camouflage. If you look at the trail marker you will see a creature seldom scene and for good reason. If you look closely, there is a vine just coming up under the trail marker and the Walking Stick (Phasmida) is just extending that natural cover perfectly.
Back to the RV for a shower and air conditioning... and beer
Section 2b.
I was in bed early and up early. After breakfast and a coffee, I was at the trailhead around 7:30. Today was going to be a bit warmer (85f) and more high humidity, so I wanted to get an early start. Section 2b is more indicative of "real woods" with varied terrain and some small hills to climb.
Parked at the TH again and ready to go.
The old abandoned kiosk just down the hill from the TH. the new kiosk was behind my truck in the photo above.
I will give you examples of what trail conditions are like:
#1 The first new blow down is a big one. Several trees came down in the wind. All of these blown downs are mostly dead trees. I cleaned up all the smaller branches and brushed out a temporary path around the blockage on the upslope so it easy to get around, but this will require a sawyer crew later in the summer.
#2 I worked on this one for about 30 minutes. My bowsaw is 26" so I could theoretically get through this, but without a wedge or way to prop up one side, as the cut goes deeper the tree starts to bind the saw. I tried using various downed branches but none were strong enough to take the weight as a fulcrum. This one will have to wait for the sawyer crew as well, but fairly easy to step over. I will add a wedge and mallet to my pack next time.
#3 A couple of dead trees coming down together. About 24" in diameter. Marked for removal
These next two are just general state of the trail photos. All this debris got removed and anything encroaching that would touch you above the waist gets chopped back. This section could use a general weed whack, but most of the growth, directly on the trail, will die back by fall.
#3 more deadfall down in the hollow.
#4 a tangle of deadfall at the lowest point on the trail.
#4 I managed to clean this up and chop back to just inside the trail, so getting around it is no problem, but the rest will be cut out by the sawyers.
#5 is a left over from my report in March. You can step over this one, but at around 24" it is too big for my bow saw.
#6 slightly larger than #5 and again deadfall. #3, 4, 5 and 6 are all fairly close together on the trail. Unfortunately, about half way between any road in this section, for the sawyers.
Arriving at Blair Creek, there was plenty of running water in the creek and shade, so time for a rest and a snack. There was even fish in the creek.
Beautiful green moss on the rocks with holes carved into the rock by the water.
I stayed at the creek for about 30 minutes and cooled off. It had taken me about 2.5 hours to go the 2 miles to here with cutting and brushing along the way. The trail from here starts to climb to the top of a ridge. About half way up there was another deadfall and this little guy was clinging to the log across the trail. Another fairly rare sight, a Luna Moth, North Americas largest moth. Fun fact: These moths don't eat, they are only alive for about a week to reproduce. This poor guy had lost part of one of his lower wings and was having trouble flying. He was, unfortunately, on the log that needed to be cut. I carefully moved him to a near by log so I could clear the trail.
Logs cut and debris moved, no need to report this one as it is cleared.
Reached the end of my section. You might be able to see the "C" on the tree, meaning the end of section 2b. The next few sections are looked after by the L-A-D Foundation. They are a private organization that works with the Missouri Department Of Natural Resources to manage and preserve the 144,000 acres of the Pioneer Forest which was the largest privately owned landholding in the State I stayed at the end of my section for about 45 minutes and just sat in the shade to cool down. I had lunch, but didn't really need anything to eat as I had ingested enough orb weaver spider webs and probably spiders to give me enough protein for the day. This particular variety are the banded orb weaver, they look like they have a sea shell on their backs. They are everywhere. Their webs are across the trail and are always, ALWAYS, right at my face height. When I set my pack down, I had 4 or 5 still hitchhiking on my pack!
Needless to say, it was rather easy walking back the other way, the three miles, to my truck. No spider webs and no trail debris to clear. When I got back I was drenched in sweat. I poured all the water I had left on me!
The trail wasn't going to let me leave without exacting a price. I had thrown a long branch off the trail earlier in the day. I didn't think much about it, except it did rip a whole in the side of my pants. When I returned to the RV to shower, I discovered the damage.
Trail 1, Craig 0
Day 1 stats:
I stop my Garmin watch on long breaks as it tends to add distance even when I am sitting still. So my time on trail will be much longer than indicated in the stats. Around 5 hours total for the day.
Day 2 time is also skewed as I forgot to turn on my watch after my water break/stop on Blair Creek, on the way back, and didn't notice it until about a half mile down the trail. This is why the elevation profile is not symmetric. 6 miles total at just under 6 hours on the trail.
