Those of us who use the trails on a regular basis feel an obligation to give back to the trails in service, to make sure that the trails remain healthy for ourselves and others to enjoy in the future.  Most regular hikers soon appreciate that trails do not take care of themselves.  Trails take constant maintenance to keep them in good shape.  Trails require regular clearing of fallen trees/limbs, cutting of new growth that infringes into the trail corridor, and tread work to prevent or correct erosion of trail tread.   OMH has a regular program of trail maintenance, with monthly maintenance days scheduled and incentives offered for members to participate.  Our members are actively engaged in a variety of programs related to the health of trails in our state.

Current Commitments

            OMH has adopted 10.4 miles of the Ouachita Trail in Section 8, which is the Flatside Wilderness Area.  This adoption is in conjunction with the “Friends of the Ouachita trail (FoOT)” www.friendsot.org, an organization founded by OMH members and dedicated to maintaining the entire 223 miles of the Ouachita trail. We maintain the entire stretch at least twice a year.

            Now that FoOT has made significant progress in getting most of the trail adopted, this adopted section is the focus of our regularly scheduled Trail Maintenance Days, the third Thursday of each month.  We also hope to provide support for other trails in the Ouachita National Forest as well.  This year we hope to work at a more relaxed pace, concentrating on problem areas and opening up the corridor.  Our goal is now to return the trail to the forest standard 6 ft wide by 8 ft high trail corridor, making future maintenance easier.

OMH has a volunteer agreement with Hot Springs National Park to perform litter patrol along Gulpha Gorge Road four times a year.  This is accomplished on four Saturday mornings, one in each season.  OMH also supports Hot springs National Park by providing hike leaders for various park events during the year, such as National Trails Day (June) and the Volksmarch (in October).  In addition, OMH members, individually, assist the National Park by adopting most of the trails within the Park.

OMH also participates in Trail Management agencies.  The club has for the past decade provided active representation on the Arkansas Trails Council.  OMH members have twice chaired this state wide organization.  OMH members also serve on the Hot springs Village POA Trails Committee, managing over 20 miles of trails in the Village.

Notes from OMH Trail Maintenance Chairman, Glenn Wortham:

 

Beginning in October 2005 through June 2006, the Ouachita Mountain Hikers (OMH) continued to maintain the 10.4 miles of trail located in Flatside Wilderness of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail.  During October and November 2005, and January and February 2006, OMH concentrated on cleaning out drains, constructed new waterbars, repaired erosion problems and continued the usual upkeep of the trail. 

 

In December 2005, Tom Ledbetter, Recreation Technician, Caddo Ranger District, asked for the club’s assistance in the Albert Pike area.  On 12-13-05, 14 volunteers made up of 5 males and 9 females picked up litter on FR 512, FR 73 and FR 43 from approximately 8:30am to 2:30pm for a total of 6 hours.  Three cars were driven a total of 75 miles.  OMH completed litter pickup of all of FR 512, on FR 73 to where it intersected with FR 43 and on FR 43 for about 3 or 4 miles.   Total volunteer hours were 84.  On 12-14-05, 9 volunteers made up of 5 males and 4 females worked on the Athens-Big Fork Trail between FR 25 and FR B-15 (about 1.1 mi.) and from FR 25 south for .6 mi. to the spur trail up to Spirit Rock Vista.  OMH weedeated, removed debris from the trail, used handsaws to remove downed trees from trail, lopped, cleaned out drains and waterbars and built several waterbars.  Two cars were driven for a total of 42 miles.  There were approximately five trees down on the trail that needed to be removed by chainsaw between FR 25 and FR B-15.  OMH worked from about 9:00 am to 3:00pm for a total of 6 hours.  Total volunteer hours were 54.  On 12-15-05, 12 volunteers made up of 7 males and 5 females worked on the Little Missouri Trail between the Trailhead at FR 106 near Loop B at the Albert Pike Campground and the Winding Stairs Trailhead at FR 106 (about 2.1 mi.) and then from FR 512 beside the Little Missouri River for about 1.5 mi.  Work was from about 9:00am to 3:00pm.  OHM lopped, cleaned debris from the trail and cleaned out drains and waterbars.  Four cars were driven for a total of 32 miles.  Total volunteer hours were 72.  Tom Ledbetter stated that the U.S. Forest Service is happy to have partners such as OMH that provide a wonderful service to the forest.  He thanked OMH for our time and effort in working on the Caddo Ranger District.

 

In the spring of 2006, Robin Vaughn, Recreation Technician, Jessieville Ranger District, asked for the club’s assistance on the Little Blakely Trails.  On 3-14-06, 11 volunteers lopped and blazed on the Morgan’s Hollow Loop and also blazed the North Loop.  Total volunteer hours were 88.  On 5-17-06, 7 volunteers lopped and removed debris from Glades Loop.  Total volunteer hours were 42.  On 6-5-06, 5 volunteers completely blazed Glades Loop.  Total volunteer hours were 15.  OMH will continue to work on the Little Blakely Trails after the club’s annual maintenance of Flatside Wilderness is complete.  Robin Vaughn expressed her appreciation of our work on the Little Blakely Trails as they have been neglected for some time.

 

During the 2005/2006 Trail Maintenance season, 32 OMH’ers volunteered representing a total of 626.5 hours and traveling a total of 983 miles.  As you can see, the Ouachita Mountain Hikers have continued to work hard to maintain hiking trails in Arkansas.  Thank you for your continued efforts.

 

Trail Maintenance Awards for 2006:

Those receiving T-shirts for completing 50 hours of trail maintenance were:  Linda Agre, Bo Lea, Brenda Lea, Glen McClain and Loretta Melancon.

 

Those receiving the 100 hours of trail maintenance award:  Glenn Wortham.

 

Those receiving the 200 hours of trail maintenance award:  Billy McMillen and Kris McMillen.

 

2006 Trail Maintenance Schedule:

OMH will do trail maintenance on the third Thursday of each month beginning September 21, 2006.  On 8-29-06, Jim Gifford and Glenn Wortham hiked from MM168.8 to MM 173.5 in Flatside Wilderness.  Between MM 168.8 and MM 170.6, there is a lot of debris on the trail as well as 10 trees down that will require using the crosscut saw.  Considering that approximately 5000 acres were burned in Flatside Wilderness, the trail was in good shape.  Meeting sites vary.  Contact Glenn Wortham at theworthams@cox-internet.com  or 922-0924 to participate.     

 

             

            Meeting sites vary.  Contact Glenn Wortham at ( theworthams@cox-internet.com ) to participate.

Thursday, 9-21-06, OMH had l5 volunteers work in Flatside Wilderness from MM l68.8 to MM 170.6.  It was a beautiful cool morning that was just right for trail maintenance.  We worked four hours and lopped, cut weeds, removed debris and about 10 trees from the trail.  We also had to use the crosscut saw on 7 trees that were down across the trail.  There were two large trees at MM 170.2 that could not be removed by crosscut saw that will require help from the US Forest Service.  Also, three first timers participated and indicated they would be willing to do it again.  Hooray!!  Those three were Pam Harrison, Jack Newman and Judi Patronagio.  Regular maintainers were Linda Agre, Chuck Dumas, Ben Glazer, Rex Greer, Cliff Harrison, Cheryl Kapella, Glen McClain, Marie Michalets, Anita Moore, Steve Rittenmeyer, Dan Wingard and Glenn Wortham.  OMH is keeping its adopted section in good condition so that others can continue to enjoy the fun of hiking.  Thanks to all who helped out.

Thursday, 10-19-06 Trail maintenance was cancelled because of rain on.  Fourteen Ouachita Mountain Hikers showed up at Jessieville District Work Center to do trail maintenance.  However, the closer the vehicle caravan got to Flatside Wilderness, the harder the rain fell.  Work was cancelled and many of the volunteers enjoyed breakfast and camaraderie at the Home Plate.  Those volunteers who came out to work were Linda Agre, Maria Boston, Chuck Dumas, Jim Gifford, Ben Glazer, Rex Greer, Cliff and Pam Harrison, Glen McClain, Jack Newman, EJ Pangle, Judi Patronagio, Steve Rittenmeyer and Glenn Wortham.  A big thank you to all who came to work.

 

            Gulpha Gorge clean-up days:

                        

            Meet 9:00am at Gulpha Gorge campground in Hot Springs National Park. Contact Ken Schultz
(  bmschultz@sbcglobal.net )  to participate.

Trail Maintenance 101

Guidelines:

By:  Martha Doty, Trail Maintenance Expert and Your Lop-Till-You-Drop Prez, Kris McMillen

 

Golden Rule:              Cut to the source

Crucial Question:  Will this be in my face next year?

 

First Priority is a tread way clear and free of tripping and/or scratching hazards.

***IF YOU ARE ABLE TO, Cut all tread way woody vegetation into the surface of the ground and remove to the downhill side.  Step off the trail and cut woody plants that in one season will grow into the trail.

For ground-hugging grapevine, etc. work in pairs:  one pulls and the other cuts it back at the source.  Spend some time at each patch and clear it away from the trail.

***Cut non-woody annual weeds only if they are thick and four-five feet tall.  Otherwise, stomp ‘em.

***Remove debris—loose rocks, leaf clogs, downed branches.

***Size permitting; drag downed trees, cut or broken end first, off downhill side of the trail.

***As far as possible, repair water bars and minor tread damage or note for next work session.  For immediate repairs use rocks or available materials if you can.

***Note and report location and type of major tread damage. 

***Note and report location of downed trees too large to handle and dangerously leaning dead trees.

***Note and report location and content of any downed directional signs along the trail.

***Report location of any illegal vehicular intrusion.  (Remember, much of the OT is open to Mountain Bikes.)

*** The location of Items being reported for future work should be identified as specifically as possible.  Use flagging material to highlight these for subsequent work crews. 

 

Second Priority is a corridor in which the eye sees a forest hallway 6 feet wide and 8 feet tall. (See attached diagram.)   Note: Not all material is stripped from the corridor.

***Off tread, leave annual weeds that should be drying up by fall maintenance time.

***Off tread, leave trees that are 3 inches DBH, but lop off limbs to top growth terminal.

***Leave perennial plants like fern under approximately 12 inches high.

***Cut tree branches growing less than 8 feet high on both sides of tree if possible.  Cut sprouts at the tree trunk.

***Cut any bramble bearing plant into the ground if possible.

***Cut grapevine back as far as possible.  It advances three feet or more seasonally.

***Cut any woody stemed plant with your loppers.

 

Third Priority is blazes.   Most of the Ouachita Trail is marked with blue blazes painted on trees.

***Note and report location of missing blazes.

***Note and report the condition of blazes: fading, chipping off, or clear and visible. 

 

Fourth Priority is mile markers.

 In general, the Ouachita Trail miles are marked with metal disks that stand about 12 inches above the ground on re-bar or by numbers on carsonite posts.  Be aware of the mile numbers on your adopted section.  Use them to give approximate locations and report any that are missing or in bad condition.

 

Finally, assess and report the condition of other trail markings (such as trail head signs)

 

Thank you all for your priceless contribution to Arkansas trails.

 

The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.   ---John Ruskin