Ouachita National Forest 2002

When: May 24-27, 2002

Crew: Dad, Me

Summary: Dad and I set out to hike part of Eagle Rock Loop in the Ouachita National Forest over Memorial Day weekend. It was two o'clock Saturday morning by the time we got to the Little Missouri Falls Picnic Area, after dropping off a car at the parking area on the Athens-Big Fork Trail. We had intended to camp at Little Missouri Falls, but arrived to find that camping was not allowed. There was little choice but to start hiking.

About an hour down the Little Missouri Trail we found a flat spot near the river and set up the tent. Exhausted, we slept until eleven o'clock.

The next day's hike along the river was pleasant, but we were never far from the road (which follows the other side of the river), so it was very crowded. It got worse as we neared Albert Pike Campground, where a few forest roads branch off from the one we had been following. We camped on a hill overlooking the river, cooked some delicious Couscous Burritos of the Mighty San Gabriels, and went to bed.

The next morning we hiked into Albert Pike Campground and filled up our water bottles. It started to rain, so we donned our raingear and began the steep climb out of Albert Pike. The rain lasted a few hours, but we managed to stay fairly dry.

After passing through another parking area, we left the road for the remainder of our trek. The parking area is the start of the Viles Branch Trail (marked with yellow blazes), which takes a slightly different route to Winding Stair than the Little Missouri Trail (marked with white blazes). We took the Viles Branch.

The trail crossed the river several times, and both Dad and I managed to slip and fall in at least once. What we had protected from the rain was now soaked by the river. My boots were full of water, so I changed into sandals and continued.

Around the Winding Stair area we found an abandoned campfire that was still smoking and full of coals. We stopped and began putting it out when another group arrived in the area - a few teachers who were "introducing twenty-four eighth-graders to nature." They were going to camp in that site, so we told them about the fire and they assured us they would look after it.

We turned north at the intersection of the Viles Branch and the Athens-Big Fork Trail, following the latter for half an hour until we found a likely camping spot. We cooked Gard's Glacier Spaghetti for dinner, which was excellent, and went to sleep early.

We rose with the sun Monday morning, and packed up camp. The Athens-Big Fork Trail took us up the creek, and across it several times, before turning straight up the side of a mountain. At the top we found Eagle Rock and enjoyed the view before descending the other side. We climbed up and over Brush Mountain, to arrive at the parking lot where we'd left our other vehicle.

Other: Ouachita National Forest Waypoints