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ploddinTod · 12-14-2006, 08:17 PM

DAY TWO

The first order of business was filtering water from a spring that the guidebook said was nearby. What we found was akin to a seep more than a spring. After brushing back the layer of leaves that had accumulated on top, we discovered about a 2 inch depth of water. I put a handkerchief around the filter intake bulb to keep the silt from clogging the apparatus. It worked and the small pool kept refilling.

Next was the long gradual trudge up the trail to Ouachita Pinnacle which was the highest point on this 22 mile section of trail. There were some very nice views of Lake Ouachita and the surrounding inlets from the top, looking to the south.

We hoped to have cell phone reception in order to contact the beagle's owner. But my buddy was having some problems with the battery. A second option was to hopefully find others at the top (there was road access) who could give the pooch a lift into Jessieville where the owner lived.

I thought I heard voices as we approached the top but found no one. As we took in the views and had a snack, the dog wandered off never to be seen by us again. Our theory was that this was where the dog had become separated from its owner and took off down the forest road in search of him.

The last mile or two of trail before reaching the Pinnacle were overgrown with weeds and hadn't seen maintenance in a while. I spotted three or four ticks crawling on my pants but was able to flick them off before any damage was done.

The trail on the east side of the Pinnacle was much improved and made for easy hiking, easy that is except for the gut busting uphills.

We pulled into Big Bear Shelter with about an hour of daylight left, filtered more water at a nice stream not more than 60 feet from the shelter, set up our sleeping pads and bags and cooked dinner.

12-14-2006, 08:17 PM	#5
ploddinTod Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: League City, Tx Posts: 457	Re: Backpacking The Ouachita Trail, AR DAY TWO The first order of business was filtering water from a spring that the guidebook said was nearby. What we found was akin to a seep more than a spring. After brushing back the layer of leaves that had accumulated on top, we discovered about a 2 inch depth of water. I put a handkerchief around the filter intake bulb to keep the silt from clogging the apparatus. It worked and the small pool kept refilling. Next was the long gradual trudge up the trail to Ouachita Pinnacle which was the highest point on this 22 mile section of trail. There were some very nice views of Lake Ouachita and the surrounding inlets from the top, looking to the south. We hoped to have cell phone reception in order to contact the beagle's owner. But my buddy was having some problems with the battery. A second option was to hopefully find others at the top (there was road access) who could give the pooch a lift into Jessieville where the owner lived. I thought I heard voices as we approached the top but found no one. As we took in the views and had a snack, the dog wandered off never to be seen by us again. Our theory was that this was where the dog had become separated from its owner and took off down the forest road in search of him. The last mile or two of trail before reaching the Pinnacle were overgrown with weeds and hadn't seen maintenance in a while. I spotted three or four ticks crawling on my pants but was able to flick them off before any damage was done. The trail on the east side of the Pinnacle was much improved and made for easy hiking, easy that is except for the gut busting uphills. We pulled into Big Bear Shelter with about an hour of daylight left, filtered more water at a nice stream not more than 60 feet from the shelter, set up our sleeping pads and bags and cooked dinner. __________________ PloddinTod Last edited by ploddinTod; 12-14-2006 at 08:39 PM.