Plan C
If you've been following this site, you 've see this where I explained my backpacking plan for 2024. If you read this then you'd know that Tina and I had to change our plans because I didn't book the boat to Isle Royale early enough. So you know that we decided to do a section hike of the Superior Trail instead. And if you read this you'd know that those plans changed on the second day due to an injury. So I haven't gotten my fix on trail days this year.
Long time readers are likely also aware that I have ties to Scouting. When planning my vacation days for 2024 I budgeted 5 days to do some sort of trip with the Scouts. Earlier this year I formed a crew of older Scouts who had already done backpacking trips before and polled them to ask where they'd like to go. One of the top vote locations was Arkansas. (This surprised me as I expected someplace like Colorado.) They have chosen to do a 50 mile section hike of the Ouachita Trail, starting at the Eastern terminus at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, and hiking westward to Forest Service Road 124 over Thanksgiving break. I have long wanted to do the Ouachita Trail, and I still have vacation days, so...... I've decided to continue on after the Scout trip to see if I can complete the trail.
The Ouachita Trail is 220ish miles from Pinnacle Mountain State Park outside Little Rock to Talimena State Park in Eastern Oklahoma. Most of it goes through the Ouachita National Forest. It's a relatively new trail that doesn't get heavy use, but has had trail improvements akin to the shelters on the Appalachian Trail. Everything I've read about it or YouTube videos I've watched about it suggest it's beautiful, challenging, and underappreciated. And quite rugged.
The Plan
November 23-27 is the 50 miler with the Scouts. The 27th is a short day, with most of it spent driving back to San Antonio in time for Thanksgiving on the 28th. My plan is to turn right around Thursday afternoon, after Tina and I have a Turkey lunch, then head right back up to where we ended on the 27th, sleep at the trail head, and start early the next morning. I will resupply twice over the next 12 days, and will get a shuttle from the end of the trail back to my car.
Most people hike the OT from West to East. The Western end of the OT, in Oklahoma, is the hardest part of the trail. It's notoriously rocky and rugged, and has more elevation change. Almost universally every trip report I've watched on YouTube comments on how difficult their first couple days are. In that aspect, I'm glad the Scouts decided to start on the easier end of the trail. This will save the most difficult parts to the end - after I've had several days to work up to it, and when I'm carrying the least weight. It will also mean that if I do get injured (like several have), I will at least have completed most of the trail and don't get cheated out of it!
I am trying to be reasonable / practical with this plan. The lessons of trip on the Appalachian Trail last year are still fresh in my mind. While I know I could likely do more, I'm keeping contingencies in mind. My body is getting older, I've put on weight, and I'm trying to complete this trip without needing a recovery period. We shall see how it goes.
Wish me luck, and Keep Hiking my friends
