OZARKS KEYSTONE TRAIL EXPEDITION!

 One of the benefits of being a member of the North Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, is the opportunity to volunteer on worthwhile projects that are near and dear to my heart---such as hiking!

My first experience on the trail that follows the shoreline of Norfork Lake, in Baxter County, Arkansas, was as a hiker, with a coed group (of mostly strangers to me) that a friend--Dea-- from church, had told me about.  The group met at the trail head for the Robinson Point Overlook and walked over the hills and hollers that led to the top of a bluff, overlooking Norfork Lake.  It was around the year 2002.    I had visited Norfork Lake all my life, but mostly for watersports activities, rather than hiking. 

The photo below shows the overlook at Robinson Point, which was my first group hike on Norfork Lake, over twenty years ago.  Now, I get to help keep that overlook free of weeds, by being a part of the trail maintenance volunteers.  Photo below shows me and fellow volunteer, Wendy,  at the Robinson Point Overlook, with the tools we use to cut back weeds.

 

This is a photo of the small brown and white OKT sign at the entry of the trail to the overlook.   The short wooden fence at the beginning, is to help define the entry point, and was the service project of a local Eagle Scout.  

That co-ed group I first hiked with, "fizzled out", so I started hiking with a group of ladies I met at a Becoming An Outdoors Woman conference in central Arkansas (www.agfc.com).  There is a story about that in my blog archives, dated September 23, 2008.  That core group of ladies congealed later, to  became what came to be known as Women Hiking (the) Ozarks---WHO---for short.  The photo below shows one of our WHO hikes that took place in December (as evidenced by the Santa hat on one of the hikers!)

I published a blog about David's Trail (dated April 26, 2010 and available in the archives of this blog), explaining some of its history.  The person the trail was named after, was the son-in-law of a lady in my Sunday school class, so I knew the story of his being an avid supporter of physical activity, who passed away suddenly, at a young age.  

There are very few sections of the trail that are completely flat, and some of them are so steep, that a rope has been added over the ravine being crossed, to assist hikers in the ascent and descent.  That is me, holding onto the rope, as I try to make my way to the top of the hill!

 

The concrete marker pictured below is also at Robinson Point, but it is on the north side of the entry road, whereas the section to the overlook, is on the south side of the entry road.  

As this close-up of the sign shows, the purpose of the trail is to encourage an active lifestyle.  

When an effort began to expand and link the trails along the Norfork Lake in Arkansas, a new name was coined, which became the Ozarks Keystone Trail, or OKT, for short.  This trail marker, nailed to a tree shows where the name "keystone" comes from.  It is the link, or "keystone" between the Ozark Trail in Missouri, and the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas.  Notice this particular sign, has a "YOU ARE HERE" flag in red, which shows your approximate location within the 680+ miles of trail through the two states.  The Ozark Trail in Missouri has over 430 miles, and the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas has about 250 miles, starting at Lake Fort Smith State Park, near the Arkansas/Oklahoma border.  Thanks to the addition of the Ozarks Keystone Trail, it now extends to the Missouri border!

 

The trail sign nailed to a pine tree, shown below, says the same thing as the previous sentence I wrote, but in a more concise form!

Most of my hiking time recently has been spent as a volunteer that meets on the first Saturday of the month, at the Raymond James office in Mountain Home.  There we pack sack lunches, provided by the Ozarks Keystone Trail Endowment, and then divide into teams, to do maintenance along the approximately 80 miles of the OKT.  The January 3, 2026, volunteers are shown below: 

Funds provided by the endowment have purchased two all-terrain-vehicles that are used to haul both volunteers and heavy equipment to remote parts of the trail, that are otherwise difficult to reach on foot, when carrying heavy equipment.  A trailer is used to transport the ATVs to whatever site is being worked on.

 The photo below shows one of our first outings with one of the ATV's, fully loaded with some of the equipment strapped on top.  It is clearly marked as a VOLUNTEER vehicle, because otherwise, ATV's are not allowed on the trail.  

The reason we need chain saws is because, invariably, one or more trees have fallen down across the trail! 

Because we often drive our personal cars to a staging area along the lake, the volunteers have been provided with a magnetic sign to identify their car.  

Once we are deep within the forest, we get out and start using loppers to cut back sprigs and leaf blowers to clear the path, so hikers can see where the trail is.  

The photo below shows me and fellow volunteer Dawn, with the tools we were using one Saturday.  

This photo shows a volunteer who is a retired physician, carrying a heavy back-pack blower, and pointing the high pressure air left and right, to help hikers see where the trail is.  

In addition to leaf blowing and weed whacking, the volunteers (this is Pam), often are putting up new signage, or repairing/replacing old signs.   Although it may be confusing to newcomers what is Davids Trail and what is OKT, the signs help.  Since the trail goes through some areas along the lake that are traditional spots for deer hunters, metal gates are at some locations, to discourage unauthorized use of vehicles for hunting. 

One of the newer sections of the trail goes all the way to the Missouri border.  Photo below shows Mark, and Bob on either side of the marker located on the shores of Lake Norfork, with Deb behind them, up on the trail.  

I had been told of this marker for years, but this was my first time to see it, so I wanted to give a gesture of praise, to finally get to have a photo with it!

I found a rock along the shoreline there, with holes in it, so I could make a commemorative marker to keep at my house, to help me remember this milestone!

For the last two years, the Ozarks Keystone Endowment has hosted an appreciation dinner for the First Saturday volunteers at The ArkanZEN in Cotter.  Photo below shows Mike and Deb, awaiting other guest arrivals.

As a souvenir for the volunteers, Steph made coasters with the OKT logo burned into the wooden "tree cookies".  It was such a nice surprise and greatly appreciated!

In addition to participating in the organizations listed above, I participate in a healthy living program called First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com), that teaches us how to rely on God for strength and perseverance.  One of the memory verses that we are learning, in hopes of increasing our perseverance during difficult times, is Proverbs 24:16.  It is meant to be an encouragement to not give up, even when we fall down.  You can be assured, I have fallen down many times on the hiking trails described here, as well as in the bigger picture---The Trail of Life.  But God's Word tells us not to give up.  Our memory verse from Proverbs 24:16 says, "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." 

I want to keep getting up after each time I fall, so that I can continue to hike with "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia

 

ECLIPSE AND PHOTOHIKOGRAPHY EXPEDITION!

My son came up with the word "manzineering", which he defined as using manzinita bushes to facilitate forward/upward movement on a bushwhacking trek, so I tried to come up with a term that would combine taking lots of photos, while simultaneously exploring and hiking--the term is "Photohikography".  I do not anticipate my new word to be added to the 2024 Urban dictionary, but at least I know what it means!  My son (G) and his wife (S) came from California, to visit me, and I wanted to show them around the backwoods of Arkansas, while as unobtrusively as possible, taking lots of photos of them, since I do not often get to hike with them in my home state.  Our first stop was beside what used to be an old homestead, but the weathered oak boards it was made from, finally were blown over in a storm, leaving a heap of rubble.  However, close examination shows that one can still observe the hand held ax marks, that were used for the foundation joists. But even if all the boards and rusted corrugated tin roof were gone, a trained observer could tell this used to be a homestead location,That is because of the presence of "ghost flowers", aka, jonquils.  These bright yellow blossoms are one of the few blooming flowers that deer will not eat, and, as such, are good indicators of abandoned homesteads.

The old homestead is a short walking distance from a water source.  I learned in my Ozark history classes, that the criteria the early pioneers used for building a shelter was that it had to be close enough to a water source that the wife could carry a bucket of water in each hand,  from the creek to the shelter. I remember when my father kept a houseboat at Bull Shoals Lake, my job was always to carry a big water container to the top of the hill where the Corps of Engineer campground was located, use the pump there to fill the container with water, then carefully trudge down the steep incline and across the gang plank (just a wooden two by ten board), and onto the deck of the boathouse.  It was not an easy task, but it has always given me an appreciation, for when I hear stories about third world countries, where indigenous people have to carry water (often full of pathogens), for long distances.  At least the water I used to have to carry was from a sanitary well!  My limited knowledge of landscape archaeology leads me to theorize that at one time, there was an active spring source of water, that was even closer to the old homestead.  That is based on a small wall of fieldstone that still can be seen between the homestead and the creek.  I have a cut stone, as a door step, that had "1896" carved into it, which I like to imagine, was carved by the original pioneers that homesteaded this land.

The hiking group I am in called "Women Hiking the Ozarks"  abbreviated WHO, always includes information in a hike write-up, about how many "water crossings" the hike is likely to encounter.  I knew we would probably have some on the day we set out, but the width and depth can vary from one day to the next, especially in the spring.  The photo below shows our first water crossing:

One of my favorite type of areas to explore, are the many bluff shelters that can be found in the Ozarks.  I have visited some, that would have held hundreds of native Americans seeking shelter, but this one would probably only hold one or two small families. 

If one gets as far back in the bluff shelter as possible, it can provide a natural frame for a photo:

Photo below was taken when I was under the bluff shelter, and S was standing on a boulder in the creek:

Sometimes in the winter, after a freezing rain, there will be a "wall of icicles" cascading over the top of this bluff.  That is a fun photo capture!

I am 5'2" tall, and can can barely touch the ceiling of the shelter, when standing on my tip toes. 

Judging from the amount of large rock fall here, one might thing this bluff used to be much higher, but has eroded, and fallen into the creek.

Look at the present-day explorers on the distant rock! (S is standing behind G)

Here is a closer photo of the cute couple

Of course I wanted a mother/son photo!

I like this photo of S with "God Beams" (sun beams that are captured in a photo) on each side of her!

S is a skilled knitter, and the cute cap she is earing is one she knitted herself!

Here is a photo of G and S bouldering

One can barely see a human figure in this scene.  I remember when G was rock climbing on El Cap, in Yosemite, and I was in communication with a photographer at the base of the monolith, who was photographing his ascent.  Knowing I wanted to purchase photographs of my son that he took, the photographer said he wished my son would wear a brighter colored shirt, so he would be easier to spot, as he ascended hundreds of feet up the granite wall!  (Translation:  The photographer could sell more photographs, if the climber was easier to see against the wall!)

S took this photo of my son and I, as we were climbing the bluff, to reach the top of the mountain.  I was grasping for a sapling to hang on to, to pull me forward. 

The pointed rock I am sitting on was ok for a photograph, but would not be comfortable for any extended time!

Photo below shows G and S, "putting their heads together", for a short rest, before we proceeded on our hike. 

After the trip to Australia, I learned that the Hebrew word for praise means "Hands Upward Toward God", so now I have an even better reason to make this gesture!

Photo below shows S, with her uplifted hands:

Even though this was the first week of April, the photo shows that these deciduous trees have not leafed out yet. 

I remember the first time I ever raised my arms like photo below,  for a photograph.  It was in 2001, and I was standing on the steps of the famous landmark---the gleaming white Opera House, beside the water, in Sydney, Australia.  I had just finished watching hours of Olympic gymnasts in the 2000 Olympic games in Australia.  Each athlete would complete their routine, then at the end, give the gesture of both arms lifted up.  Having made it to Australia (as a result of a generous gift from my son of a round-trip airline ticket), and climbed the many steps of the Opera House, I felt like I had just completed a "mini" Olympic feat, and raised my arms like the Olympic gymnastics athletes did!  After that turning point moment, I started doing the same gesture , whenever I completed an item on my bucket list, or completed a particularly difficult hike. 

S and I, stretched out on a flat rock in the creek, after the day got warmer. 

These two triangle-shaped rocks, when placed with their tips together, remind me of the shape of a man's bow tie!

So thankful I could get my handsome son to flash a smile for this photo!

 

Couple illustrating "Love on the rocks"!

Here I am, trying to look glamorous, while balancing on this very narrow rock, above the water!

Rock Solid Creek Explorer!

We encountered a waterfall on the second creek we explored, so I used the long exposure feature on my iphone to "fuzz out" the waterflow.  Back in the olden days, one would have to put their 35 mm camera on a tripod, set it for a long exposure, with low speed film, then hope the "fuzz out" effect turns out.  It is much easier with a smart phone to get the same effect!

Here is the couple in front of the same waterfall, but without the long exposure feature.  The newly-sprouted green tree leaves, give a bit of color to the scene. 

Our last water crossing on the hike, was a bit deeper, and there were not any stepping stones.  So G took off his shoes, and carefully walked across, with the help of a fallen limb he found. 

S crossed the creek with no problems whatsoever!

Did you know that the next time G and S come to visit, this waterfall will be farther away from where they are wading, than it is at present?  That is because waterfalls "walk" backwards, as the water erodes the rock surface they tumble over, moving it back slightly with each drop.  (But don't plan on seeing a difference in this lifetime---the process takes eons!)

This photo shows a California couple, who are exploring in the Ozarks,  "outstanding in their field"!

I made a photo prop for the eclipse, after seeing some ideas on line, and this photo shows the "Umbraphiles", wearing their special eclipse glasses, holding the prop. 

And here are the Umbraphiles, just wearing regular sun glasses.  (The root of this phrase means "shadow lover" and "umbra" is also the root word for umbrella!)

 

We put the camera on "automatic", so all three of us could be together for the eclipse photo below.  I guess you could call us the framed "ecliptomaniacs"!  On April 8, 2024, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, these three people, joined millions of other Americans, and gazed at the sky to behold the Creator's majesty!  It was a total solar eclipse and a very memorable point in time!  (But just in case my memory starts to fade into nothingness, these photos, and this blog post, will preserve the celebratory occasion!)

After we returned from hiking, we relaxed a bit on the back porch .  The green bench where you see six feet propped up, was

made by my grandfather Grover.  The white wicker couch G and S are sitting on, is one I purchased when I was in Graduate school at the University of Arkansas in 1971.  It was used, and purchased at a second hand shop, so I am totally amazed that it is still able to be of service, considering it is well over fifty years old!

In photo below, I am standing in front of "Marriage Rock", where Fred and I had our Lakota Sioux marriage ceremony, performed by a "certified" member of the tribe, who brought along a Lakota Sioux peace pipe, to make it complete.  I told the native American before we started, that I was not going to smoke from that thing, as I have avoided smoking all my life.  He assured me that the pipe was used to "tap" each of our shoulders during parts of the ceremony, and we would not be actually smoking from it.  Afterwards, we made a pyramid of field-stones, on top of "Marriage Rock" as "Stones of Remembrance".  By the way, we were not wearing traditional wedding attire; rather, we had on our black leather chaps, jackets, and boots, as we sat on our Harley-Davidson motorcycle, during the ceremony!

My son has a type of soda named in his honor!

The green, vintage metal lawn chairs G and S are sitting in, are the same ones G's grandparents, Grover and Effie, sat in, almost 100 years earlier!  The footstool is one made by my father for his boathouse. 

For viewing the eclipse, we hung out in the front yard, partially in shade, and partially in the sunlight.  Although it was not especially troubling to me, whenever the sun was totally covered by the shadow of the moon, the darkness automatically triggered the bright security light in the front yard to come on, as well as the solar lights.  So future eclipse viewers may want to seek a location away from "automatic lights"!

I wanted to make a stone souvenir of G and S visiting here for the eclipse, so I tried mixing concrete, for the first time ever.  The results are shown below.  If these cement souvenirs last as long as the wooden chairs behind me (made by my grandparents, Grover and Effie) I will be amazed!  (The vintage, push lawnmower behind me also belonged to them, and the brown bench beside them was the wash stand in use, with the old wringer washer they used.  I put my hand between the roller ringers, when I was a little girl, which may account for my weird shaped fingers today!)

 

The idea of "Stones of Remembrance" has been around for thousands of years.   I first read about them in my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) class.  The Bible verse in Joshua 4:21-22  talks about Joshua making  "Stones of Remembrance" and states, "In the future your children will ask, 'what do these stones mean?' ".   The commentary on this phrase says, that a stone monument was commonly useIf that happens regarding these concrete "stones" I made, I want it to be known I am praising God for having the eclipse come over the place where I live, and making it possible for my son and his wife to view it with me!  This gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia