Name of Hike:  Cecil Cove Loop Trail

Date:  Saturday, January 23, 2021

Location:   Buffalo National River at Erbie between Compton AR and Marble Falls (Dogpatch) AR

Type of Hike:  Dayhike, trail.  Be prepared (water shoes) for wet crossings of Cecil Creek.

Hiking Distance:  7.4 miles

Maximum Elevation Difference:  600 ft gain, then 600 ft loss on return.

Rating:  Moderate

Features:  This hike starts on Compton-Erbie road near the Erbie church and follows Cecil Creek Trail upstream through a level, pleasant valley with interesting geologic formations, including Mud Cave.  The trail then ascends along the Cecil Cove Bench Trail.  It passes Jones Cemetery and the Jones homestead site.   We will cross Compton-Ernie Road, then descend on rough trail to the historic Farmer homestead buildings close to the Buffalo River before returning to the trailhead.

Hike Leader:  Norma Senyard

Telephone & Email:  479-966-7009 or  norma.senyard@gmail.com

Meeting place and time:   Saturday, January 23, 2021

• Meet at the King’s River Country Store in Marble AR at 8:45-9:00 am for a car-caravan; or,
• Meet at the JB Trading Post in Compton at 9:35 am; or,
• Meet at the Cecil Cove Trail Head in the Buffalo Nat’l River Park at Erbie AR at 10:00 a.m.
• Car caravan means we drive as a group in our own cars to the trailhead.

Comments:  Wear a mask and plan to social distance.  Bring water, lunch, rain gear, gloves, and wear hiking boots. May be some wet crossings.  No pets are allowed on any hikes.  Children under 12 years are discouraged and minors must be accompanied by a guardian.   Participants are required to sign a “liability release” http://www.ozarksociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/OS-Sign-Up_Sheet_rev4.pdf  at the trailhead to take part in any Ozark Society outing. Everyone is welcome to hike with the OSHC, whether an Ozark Society member or not

Links to Pictures of recent OSHC hikes can be seen on the Ozark Society Website atwww.ozarksociety.net  Go to Chapters & Activities/Highlands Chapter and look for Frank Millett’s and Luke Parsch’s  Flickr websites links.

Thanks for volunteering to lead hikes!  If you would like to lead a hike or have ideas for future hikes please contact me.

Judi Nail

jnail1113@gmail.com

870 421 6824

The Ozark Society Highlands Chapter is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting on January 26, 2021 starting at 6:30

Our guest speaker, Lisa Orton, is a steadfast opponent to overdevelopment of the Markham Hill Nature Preserve. In a recent email she wrote, “Our opposition is not opposed to development altogether, but we would like a zoning that guarantees protection of the Markham Hill nature preserve belonging to the City on the south boundary of the Marinoni property, protection of the RSF-4 low-density residences and Temple Shalom in the neighborhoods on its east and southeast, and protection of our neighborhood streets. We would like a more compatible and appropriate rezoning so that our nearby historic, wooded, low-density neighborhoods and urban forests are not forever damaged or even destroyed.” Let’s find out more about an issue that affects our community, it’s people, ecosystems and wildlife.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8989393019?pwd=eDRQUVNMZWxCTTFWZmJFUmZlZDRudz09

Meeting ID: 898 939 3019
Passcode: 892088

Topic:  Friends of Markham Hill

Speaker: Lisa Orton

Where: On Zoom (see below)- If you need support, please email the Zoom host Chris Kline ckline901@gmail.com or call 479-409-0394.

Time:

• 6:30pm is Social Time – grab a snack, a nice drink and chat with friends before the presentation!
• 7pm: Guest Speaker Presentation
• 8pm: Short Chapter Meeting

See you there,

Chris Kline

Event Coordinator

Ozark Society Highlands Chapter

479-409-0394

Future meetings will be announced through email and our Newsletter Paddle Trails.

We will spend some time exploring the Pedestal Rocks and then head down the hill to the North Illinois Bayou to bushwhack upstream to Kings Bluff to get back to our cars. This has a steep downhill but the rest is fairly easy walking. Be at the Morgan McDonald’s at 7:30 or Pedestal Rocks Trailhead by 9:30. You will need boots, lunch and water. This hike will not need a shuttle.

Our monthly meetings are now being held at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge 150 Eagle Bend Point, Bossier City, LA 71112.

Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month (except December).   Program starts at 6:30 pm and business meeting follows.  Plan to join us after the meeting for pizza and socializing.

Future meetings will be announced through email and our Newsletter Paddle Trails.

The water was too high last year, lets see if we have better luck. We will follow the Little Missouri Trail down to the Winding Stair. The area is an exposed rock river bottom where Native Americans made hard rock products that have been found all over the South. Be at Chik-fil-A near Bass Pro at 7:30 to carpool down or be at Albert Pike by 9:45. You will need boots, lunch and water. You may want to bring water shoes as well. This hike will not need a shuttle.

Our monthly meetings are now being held at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge 150 Eagle Bend Point, Bossier City, LA 71112.

Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month (except December).   Program starts at 6:30 pm and business meeting follows.  Plan to join us after the meeting for pizza and socializing.

The reroute at Little Rocky Creek was approved right before Thanksgiving so that construction will be the primary focus for the spring work session which is scheduled for March 26-April 2.  We’ll be camping at Tyler Bend, as usual, but will be following a pandemic protocol like we did for the Fall ’20 work session. Whether you join us for a day, the weekend, or the whole week, there is a wide variety of work to be done so there’s something for everyone.  Contact me at mereed@runbox.com for additional information.

Michael Reed, Buffalo River Trail Coordinator