Begin MM 39.5 ---9:05 a.m.
End MM 45.5 ---4:50 p.m.
How nice it was to be camped right beside the Kiamichi River last night! I really enjoyed being able to get into the river last evening and wash the day's grime off my body. Also, what a great source of water this morning! As Tundra and I walked to the River's edge, we saw another large black snake as it slithered away into some brush at the edge of the water. He probably was watching us as we dipped our water bottles into the River to get water!
I slept so soundly last night....12 hours horizontal once again! Amazingly this morning I am feeling very refreshed! Yesterday was quite exhausting, walking so slowly on challenging terrain, stopping so often, experiencing dehydration from taking so long to get to a water source.
While I am feeling refreshed and ready to hike, I can tell that Tundra and Titmouse do not share my enthusiasm. Tundra said she did not sleep well again last night. This is so not good because our bodies really needs restful sleep each night to sustain ourselves for another day of lugging a heavy backpack over challenging terrain. However, I truly admire Tundra's spunk and tenacity as she goes about the routine of breaking camp. She is packed and ready to go soon after 8:00 a.m. (before I was even ready!) Our goal for today was to be hiking by 8:00 a.m. Then we waited for Miss Titmouse who was moving slower this morning. We were finally on the trail hiking at 9:05 a.m. I feel like Titmouse is deciding that thru-hiking is not for her. Even though we are hiking less than one mile per hour, Titmouse wants to go even slower and stop for longer periods of time to "smell the roses". That's fine, there are many ways to backpack, something for everyone, that is what this Shakedown Hike is for, to explore options, to find out if either Tundra or Titmouse want to Thru-Hike the entire 223 miles of the Ouachita Trail next Spring.
The trail followed the Kiamichi River for the first few miles of our hike today. Easy walking.
The trail winds back and forth across the River, 7 or 8 river crossings which added some variety to our day. I loved it! We could mostly rock-hop our way across if we were careful. {So much easier than all the rivers I crossed in Maine on the A.T.!}
Yea! We reached our first water crossing....piece of cake!
Tundra begins carefully (with her one short trekking pole) across the first crossing...
The trail continues to wind back and forth across the Kiamichi River several more times, the water level being low enough that I rocked hopped my way across all the crossings, never getting my shoes wet. The trail also crossed many secondary streams while we were walking in the Kiamichi River bottom land. What a nice change from yesterday! Water, Water everywhere today! And mushrooms!
This is only the first river crossing, but Titmouse insisted on loading up on more water (she doesn't look like she is having fun at all), thus carrying more weight in her backpack for all the upcoming river crossings.
I loved this fascinating cluster of mushrooms!
Can you tell that BooBoo loves the water? Just lounging!
Tundra is resting also, tired from lack of sleep the last two nights on the trail.
This is our second river crossing...Titmouse is tentatively stepping out....planting her trekking poles ahead for extra balance...
Around noon we reached the 7th and 8th river crossings and stopped for a lunch break in between the two crossings.
Soon after leaving our nice lunch spot on the River we came to this Trail Sign....
We then start climbing. The Trail is well marked and very well graded with plenty of switchbacks to ease the climb. There was lichen covered rocks and mushrooms along the way.
I was in the lead for most of the day, trying to keep our pace up and Tundra and Titmouse were trudging along behind me.
I realize almost immediately that Tundra is dragging, showing general fatigue, while Titmouse is really falling behind. Titmouse is a much slower hiker than Tundra or myself, but we are sticking together and watching out for each other on this Shakedown Hike.
Have I mentioned what a pretty trail the Ouachita Trail is? I like it a lot!
I continue walking, getting a little ways ahead, then stop and wait for Tundra and Titmouse to come into view, then go a little ways further, and stop and wait again, repeating this throughout the afternoon.
Along the steep climb up Rich Mountain, we encounter a lot of overgrown trail. We wade though weeds, poison ivy, briars, and brambles. It will be a miracle if we don't all get a rash from all the poison ivy we are wading thru. We also encounter several blow downs that we have to make our way around. But the trail and the woods continues to be pretty.
In the late afternoon I round a bend in the trail and almost step on this rattlesnake!
Woohoo! Another mile behind us!
BooBoo is having a grand time just hanging out on the back of my pack!
We continued our trek up Rich Mountain. After passing MM 45, I realize we likely will not make it to the new Stateline Shelter today. After waiting for Tundra and Titmouse to catch up, again,
So that is what we did. At almost 5:00 p.m. we were up on a ridge, and there was a slight breeze, when we spotted a tiny flat spot, just big enough for all three of our tents. Home Sweet Home for night #three on the Ouachita Trail!
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