Hey everyone,
Just did a little backpack trip to Black Fork Mountain in Ark. We knew it was going to be cold but we did not know there would be ice! Anyway, it was a great trip with good friends. The forest was beautiful with the ice. If you do not know of BFM. it is near Rich Mountain, AR. The trail goes up the ridge into the edge of BFM Wilderness. It stops at on old homestead on top of the ridge directly north of Queen Wilhelmina SP.The homestead has an eerie feel to me. Why would anyone build a house directly on top of the ridge? I was told they had orchards in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The neat thing is an old mule trail gets you down the mountain much quicker and right in front of the Rich Mountain Country Store for a wonderful breakfast and tales of big bears ripping down the bird feeder's and eating the seed. I guess it was not a tale . The owner had to get Fish and Game to trap and remove the bear so it would not hurt campers at the store. We did not see a bear though. I have wanted to, but have only seen bear tracks on trails in this area. The photo of the bear is the one at the store. Much larger than the typical AR bear.
Anyway, take a look at the photos
http://community.webshots.com/album/266055020mewfGK?445