This last weekend my brother Mike and I hiked the extended Sylamore Creek Trail in Arkansas. The original trail was around 14 miles and I have hiked that section multiple times. They have extended the trail by 9 miles to connect with the Ozark Highland Trail. We hiked from the top of the new extension that starts at Cripple Turkey Trailhead in a southeasterly direction to Allison Trailhead. I picked this direction as it is “generally” downhill. However, if you have ever hiked in the Ozarks you know you spend your time going up then down, up then down…
At Allison Trailhead the first or last thing you need to do is ford North Sylamore Creek about a mile or so before it enters the White River. I have never made the ford without having to take off my hiking boots and sometimes more. This is the same ford that Robin lost her panties while crossing, but that is a story for another time. This weekend it was only a little above my knees.
As we were getting out of the creek crossing we encountered a elderly man, a younger man and a child of 4 of 5 years of age. The elderly man made some comment basically wanting to know what we had been doing.
I replied, “We are just finishing up a 23 mile hike.”
To which he replied in his slow Arkansas drawl, “Must have been a tough one!”
Keep well.