LOGAN SPRINGS PRESERVE EXPEDITION!

This is the stone that has the metal letters, spelling out Logan Springs Preserve, located at 15300 Osage Hill Road, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and serves as the marker for this 210 acre, historic natural area.

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 It is a property owned by The Nature Conservancy, (www.nature.org) with the mission of protecting the Logan Spring water source, that leads into Osage Creek.

In a "previous life", a small dam was built at the beginning of the spring, and the water from the spring was used to supply fish ponds, that were located across the gravel road from the spring. 

An opening in the dam makes for a closeup view of this man made waterfall:

The Logan Springs Preserve is adjacent to the Logan Cave National Wildlife Refuge, which is the home of some endangered species of cave-dwelling creatures.  The entrances to the caves are fenced off, to prevent damage caused by humans trampling through the underground environments.  Seeing the word "REFUGE" brought to mind one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.org) memory verses that says, "But let all who take refuge in You, be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:11

A generous donation enabled The Nature Conservancy to erect a deck adjacent to the spring that can be used by the public, and that is where I gathered with a group of people assembled by the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (www.irwp.org), to learn about water quality in northwest Arkansas. 

There is a plaque on a large rock adjacent to the deck, that expresses gratitude for the generosity of the donors, who made building the deck possible. 

Since we were gathering at 8 am on a crisp October morning, the coffee and breakfast they provided was very welcome!

As we sipped our coffee, in front of the deck and scenic pond,  we had a very informative presentation by an expert on the use of native plants to help stop stream back erosion. 

 The speaker told us how long the roots were, of some of these native plants, and why they were so good at reducing stream bank erosion.  Before I took Master Naturalist training, I always appreciated the way trees leaned over a stream to make for a pleasing photograph. 

But now, I  realize this occurs because one side of the tree's surrounding soil is eroded away quicker than the other side.  Notice how the trees leaning over the pond at the springs are each leaning towards the water, so much so, that they form an "X" over it!  If this erosion takes place too quickly, and over an extended period of time, the result is a fallen tree into the stream, which eventually may cause flooding, and additional degradation of the banks of the flowing water.

From the deck beside the spring, we strolled by the building that used to be the fish hatchery, in the 1950's. 

If you have ever visited an active fish hatchery, you can imagine what these cement tanks would have looked like whenever the hatchery was active:

Our group then crossed the gravel road, to start our trek along the hiking trails that have been developed on top of what used to serve as pond levees to hold the fish that were being raised:

A pipe goes under the road, to supply water to the water features within the preserve, that have been repurposed for recreational purposes.  A water wheel pumps this water throughout the preserve:

There are Interpretive plaques along the walking paths that explain what you are looking at, including one that tells the history of the fish hatchery:

We walked along the levee trails, with experts pointing out various features of the flora and fauna.  In the original baitfish hatchery, there were about 36 different ponds, so that makes for many miles of levee trails!

Birds that like fish in their diet have always been drawn to fish hatcheries, and this area still has a multitude of bird species, making it a fun trek for bird watching enthusiasts, and placards along the trails point out some of the bird sightings.

The Nature Conservancy is a non-profit organization, and generous donations from area corporations have made the preservation of this area possible:

For those who want to rest or have a picnic at a scenic outdoor location, there are picnic tables strategically placed throughout the property:

One of the larger water features at the Preserve is an oxbow lake that has a floating dock, built to withstand the fluctuating water levels possible within the property:

This little lake is the largest water feature at the location, and would be an enjoyable spot to sit with a pair of binoculars to observe how many species of wildlife one could see!

Next our group crossed a bridge that connects the levee areas to a flatter area, adjacent to the entrance:

This path will take you by some greenhouses that an area botany group is leasing from the Nature Conservancy, for the purpose of growing Arkansas native plant species:

Near the green houses, one will encounter a wetlands area, with board walks;

Some of the boardwalks do not have railings, so watch your step!

Youngsters are encouraged to use these areas to try their hand at fishing, since no fishing license is required for those under a certain age.  A placard shows the type of fish they might see:

A picnic table near the Children's Fishing Pond would enable a place for a parent to sit, while observing their little one get acquainted with the outdoors:

A set of interpretive plaques, written in both Spanish and English, give a good overview of the entire area, and they are located adjacent to the parking area:

I would definitely recommend a visit to this newest Nature Conservancy acquisition in Northwest Arkansas.  My visit there gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia

FRITZ'S ADVENTURE EXPEDITION!

 

If you are not bothered by heights, there is an attraction in Branson, Missouri, that can give you plenty of thrills and challenges.  It is called Fritz's Adventure and advertises itself as "80,000 square feet of explorable space, that brings outdoor adventure into The Great Indoors."

 I went there recently with these friends to check it out, and we got a "before" photo, as we approached the entrance, located just off Hiway 76 West in Branson. 

Diana took a selfie of all four of us:

When you first enter the building, you will use the touchscreen computers to complete the liability waiver that is required of all participants.

Then you will head to the cashier to pay the entrance fee.  You can go to their website (www.fritzsadventure.com), to see the fees for your specific needs, since the fees vary, depending on your age, and several other categories of discounts one might qualify for.  There was a small group ahead of us in the cashier line, so we took advantage of the "waiting opportunity" to get our picture taken in the "Campsite Photo Opportunity" they have set up in their gift shop, adjacent to the cashier line.

Of course, the gift shop sells tee shirts, and they have very clever designs:

One of the tee shirt displays, shows a Branson banner, with tee shirts suspended on large industrial hooks.

Our group started out on the Sky Trail Ropes Course.  This is a four story ropes course with 40 differnet paths of varying obstacles, such as a tight rope, rolling log, suspension bridges, and more. This course  requires harnesses, but no helmet or gloves.  Helen waited down below in her wheel chair, and snapped this photo of us waving good by, as we were about to start our elevated experience: (Note:  There is no charge for spectators, which is what Helen was, in her wheel chair.  Spectators are not allowed on the upper floors.)

After that, Diana asked another spectator, who was more mobile, to take some photos of us with her phone, once we got up on the Sky Trail course.  (Phones/cameras are not allowed on the challenge floors or ziplines, so I am indebted to a kind gentleman spectator, who walked around with Diana's phone below us, taking these photos)

Photo below shows Peggy on the platform, ready to start a ropes challenge.  Our harnesses were tethered to a pole, with metal slots on it, and one could only go where the slots were connected to a challenge obstacle.  It gave me a new meaning to the phrase "playing the slots"!

Photo below shows how our hiking group can get in shape for water crossings on wobbly stones, by practicing on the wobbly boards Diana is traversing:

Photo below shows that Peggy is making progress scaling across the rope wall, while Diana is almost finished with the "wobbly stepping stones" obstacle:

I followed Peggy attempting the rope wall, as she started the balancing act, required for the "wobbly stepping stone" maneuver:

This photo below, of Diana and I on the platform, shows you how the harnesses are fitted on sturdy tethers, attached to metal sliders, that move along the slots in the metal beams:

In the photo below, all three of us are on the platform, with the understanding that we could not stay there indefinitely!  We were going to HAVE to trust those harnesses to be our "life line", as we slowly inched a our way, across the shaking suspension bridges, 

Our (anonymous) photographer took this "long shot", that shows the maze of obstacles that one can tackle on the four-story Sky Trail.  Since the photo does not show my feet, I have no memory of which obstacle I was on.  Participating in these challenges took every bit of concentration I had, so I was oblivious to anything going on around me!

There is one spot on the Sky Trail, where there is an automatic camera that will take your photo!  Then you type in your cell phone number, and the device will text you the photo!  I took a "trial shot" to practice, not realizing that my uplifted arms were covering up Diana in the background!

For the next attempt, we scrunched up together, so we could all three be in the photo:

After we finished the mid-level course, we paused to re-hydrate, visit the ladies room, and look around to see what was available to do next.  We discovered they have a great meeting room/dining room for large groups, that looks out over the entire recreational facility, as well as windows to the outside.

There is also a clever mural that provides many photo opportunities, with the invitation that says, "Let's Go On An Adventure!.  (Note a wooden plank suspension bridge mural is painted on the floor)

There is a walkway where you are on eye level with an airplane.  (Peggy took this photo of me on the walkway).  One of the activities guests can do, is crawl through a maze of small metal cages, that will eventually get you into the airplane's cockpit (a 1959 Twin Beech) where you can listen to air traffic controls. 

The entrance floor is also where group photos can be taken, and instructions given.  Fritz's Adventure routinely promotes days that are designated "Home Schooler Days", and we happened to be at the Home School Day promotion for August.

A pretend swinging bridge painted on the floor provides additional photo opportunities:

There is even a ladder that the photographer can climb, so they will be above the people on the floor mural:

After this, we ordered lunch from their snack bar, and took it outside to eat on their patio, (which fortunately had sun umbrellas),  and is right below the doors that zipliners use to start their outdoor aerial adventures, called "The Treetops Escape":

Here is a gal about to land:

We also stood by listening to a group getting their safety instructions for starting the treetops course .  This is called "Ground School", because you get fitted with your harness/helmet/gloves, and you are taught how to use the zipline/treetops equipment.  Each person must then take their feet off the floor, and slide down a zipline that is just inches above the floor, with the purpose of getting the participant to trust that their harness will hold them.  We learned that it might take two hours to complete, so we realized it was more time than Peggy, Diana, and her mom had available before they started their drive north to Illinois to participate in their next adventure, called Floatzilla.

I did not have a time constraint, so I continued on with the treetops course, and realized that one of the activities I had seen when I was on the easier course, but could not access, was because it was a part of the more difficult treetops course:

It was when I saw this photo of a participant with gloves and a helmet, I realized why I had not been able to access that portion.  I had not yet been through the safety course, where the gloves and helmets were issued.

 One activity to "save your energy" for, is a climb to the "Crow's Nest", outside near Highway 76.  After your first outside zip line, you will have the option of climbing the pole that leads to this, as pictured below:

One climbing activity I have been wanting to try for a long time, is a Via Ferrata.  The first time I saw a Via Ferrata was on a massive granite bluff in Quebec. I asked my rock-climbing son about it, and he said they were very common in Europe, and consisted of metal pegs hammered into rock walls, that allowed the climber to traverse a vertical wall, without having to rely on cracks in the rock to get footholds and hand holds.  There was a simplified  version of this on the treetops course, and it is pictured below: (I was able to make the traverse successfully, although there are no photos of my very awkward movements to "prove" it!)

This climbing obstacles, which had a certain WAY, they had to be completed, serves as the visual aid for one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses that says:  "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it.' ."(Isaiah 30:21)   There was only ONE WAY to access the ziplines that led you outdoors, and if you did not go that way, you could not access the outdoor zip lines.  Thankfully, I had a voice behind me telling me how to access that outdoor zip line!  I was baffled because I was at the upper story door that led to the outside, but it was closed!  The voice behind me said, "This is the way, press this button." And voila!  The door opened!

Thankfully,  I managed to do all three ziplines outside, without having to do the "hand over hand" maneuver that I was forced to do on my very first indoor zipline, because I did not accelerate enough at the beginning, to take me to a successful landing on the platform at the other side!

In addition to the photos of activities on this blog, there are additional activities that you can try out.  There are underground tunnels, laser room, climbing wall, telephone poles to climb, giant treehouses, multi-story slides, and warped walls.  Be sure to check out the Fritz's website for more information, including weight and height limitations.  For example, for the Treetops Zipline course, the weight minimum is 44 pounds, and maximum is 285 pounds.  The height requirement is 55 inches. 

 I am very thankful for the experience I had at Fritz Adventure.  It gave me "MILES OF SMILES!"  Tricia