Calendar

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

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

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

We stay close to home and will explore the state park north of Conway. We will hike the 3.5 mile Huckleberry Trail around the lake and then take a half mile walk over to the Woolly Cabin, built in 1832. Bring good shoes and a snack. Should see some early wildflowers and migratory birds. Be at the park visitor center by 9 am. Take US 65 north of Greenbrier and follow the signs.

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.

Spend a spring day walking on a historic bridge and having lunch on Beale Street. Its been one of our favorite hikes even though its urban. We will start from the West Memphis end of the bridge and cross over the big muddy and make our way to Beale in time for lunch. We will meet at the trail head off Exit 1 of I-55 in W. Memphis. Take I-55 towards Memphis. After exiting, take a left to Dacus Lake Rd. to the parking. Be there by 10:45. It is a 2 ¼ hour drive from Little Rock. Hike begins at 10:45, bring good shoes and some water. Great Hotels nearby in West Memphis.

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.

Steve Heye is organizing a trip to Baxter State Park, Maine for Mid June, 2021. The goal is to climb Mt. Katahdin via the Chimney Pond Campground and the Saddle Trail.

We will hike three miles to a lean-to at Chimney Pond and spend the night. The next day we will day hike two miles up Katahdin and two miles back to Chimney for the night. The next day we hike out and start exploring other parts of Baxter or New England.

The final dates for the trip will be based on what permits are needed and issued. Plan on a two week period any time after June 12th. You can get in on trip planning at this time as we figure out how we get there and what other things we see.

Contact Steve if you have any interest in exploring New England this June. Heye@aristotle.net

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.

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.

Middle Fork of the Salmon River – July 29-August 3. 2021

OS Members can participate in a 100-mile trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho from July 29-August 3^rd, 2021 with Aggipah River Trips.  We have until January 1, 2021 to fill this 24-person trip, after which Aggipah will open the trip to others.  For those riding with Aggipah the on-river cost is $2399 per person.  For those riding in a private boat the on-river cost is $1686.50 per person.  A 25% deposit ($600 or $422) is required before January 1^st to hold the reservation.

More information on the trip and the address to send your deposit is:

Aggipah River Trips

PO Box 425

Salmon, Idaho 83467

Bill Bernt

www.aggipah.com

208-756-4167

bill@aggipah.com

Feel free to contact Stewart Noland at 501-831-8809 or stewartnoland51@aol.com with questions as well since he plans to participate in the trip and will help coordinate off-river logistics such as pre-trip lodging and vehicle shuttles.

Middle Fork of the Salmon River – July 29-August 3. 2021

OS Members can participate in a 100-mile trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho from July 29-August 3^rd, 2021 with Aggipah River Trips.  We have until January 1, 2021 to fill this 24-person trip, after which Aggipah will open the trip to others.  For those riding with Aggipah the on-river cost is $2399 per person.  For those riding in a private boat the on-river cost is $1686.50 per person.  A 25% deposit ($600 or $422) is required before January 1^st to hold the reservation.

More information on the trip and the address to send your deposit is:

Aggipah River Trips

PO Box 425

Salmon, Idaho 83467

Bill Bernt

www.aggipah.com

208-756-4167

bill@aggipah.com

Feel free to contact Stewart Noland at 501-831-8809 or stewartnoland51@aol.com with questions as well since he plans to participate in the trip and will help coordinate off-river logistics such as pre-trip lodging and vehicle shuttles.

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

Steve Heye is organizing a week long backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail in early August. The target start date is August 4th but is dependent on permits yet to be issued. This is a rescheduling of the trip from last summer cancelled due to Covid.

We will gather at the Onion Valley Campground a couple of days before the start to acclimate for the high altitudes of the hike. From Onion we will cross Kearsarge Pass and join the trail to head south.

Over the next six days we will make our way toward Mt. Whitney. On day six we will hike up to the Portal Crest and drop packs to day hike up Whitney. Whitney is the highest point in the lower 48 at 14,500 feet. We exit the next day at Whitney Portal.

This Hike takes place at altitudes above 9000 feet. We will have 3 big climbs of 2000 feet or more on days one, three and six. We will be averaging six to seven miles each day. The trip total is forty three miles.

Planing for this hike is still underway and you can still have input on our trip. There is a maximum of six persons in our group.

Contact Steve for more info. Heye@aristotle.net

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.