On Saturday,  April 20, 2024 Mike McKinnon will lead a hike to Thunder Canyon aka Fantasy Falls.  We will meet up with Mike at JB’s Trading Company in Compton, Arkansas (this is on Highway 43 nine miles north of Ponca) at 10:00.  When parking at the JB Trading Company at Compton, please park on the left of the parking area. We will take as few cars as possible down to Broadwater Hollow.  On this hike we will visit Broadwater Hollow Falls, Paige Falls, and will then follow the Cecil Cove Trail crossing the creek several times to get to where we will go to find Thunder Canyon.  Please note that the trail to Thunder Canyon, aka Fantasy Falls, is difficult and usually very slick-but Mike has a plan for the slick parts.  This will be an exciting day.

Date:  Saturday, April 20, 2024

Name of Hike:  Thunder Canyon, aka Fantasy Falls

Location:  Cecil Cove in Buffalo National River, between Compton and Erbie

Type of Hike:  Trail and social trail

Hiking Distance: 6 miles

Elevation Gain:  400 feet

Rating:  Moderate to difficult due to distance, stream crossings, and slippery terrain.

Features:  This hike will take hikers past Paige and Broadwater Hollow Falls, then to Cecil Cove Trail, there will be creek crossings, and on to Fantasy Falls.  There is a lot to experience on this hike-waterfalls, cave entrances, wildflowers and Cecil Creek.

Hike leader:  Mike McKinnon

Telephone and email:  479-806-2652  or  mikemckinnon@gmail,com

Meeting Place and Time: 10:00 AM JB’s Trading Post in Compton AR on Highway 43

Comments:  Bring water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, gloves, and a hiking stick, and wear comfortable hiking boots/shoes.  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 sheet at the trail head to take part in any Ozark Society outing.  Everyone is welcome to hike with the OS, whether an Ozark Society member or not.    See:   http://www.ozarksociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/OS-Sign-Up_Sheet_re

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

Judi Nail

Outings CoChair

870 421 6824

jnail1113@gmail.com

Highlands Chapter April Meeting

Our speaker, David Eddy of Russellville, is a Sassafras Hiking Award recipient, an award given by the Ozark Society to individuals who have hiked all four major regional trails. They are the Buffalo River Trail, the Ozark Highlands Trail, the Ozark Trail and the Ouachita Trail.    David has hiked numerous other places including the Appalachian Trail and has some favorite areas.   His enthusiasm for hiking is so infectious we may feel we’re on the trail beside him.

Because some members have expressed an interest in knowing more about the Ouachitas, I asked David to speak about the Ouachita Trail.   He has hiked it now 6 times, knows the shuttle possibilities, and recently took pictures of each shelter along the way.

So mark the date on your calendar and plan to join us Tuesday evening, April 30th.   All are welcome for social time at 6:30 PM and the meeting, starting at 7:00.  Visitors and guests are welcome.

WHEN:

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

6:30-7:00 pm social time

7:00 pm announcements

Guest Speaker immediately following announcements

WHERE:

First United Presbyterian Church

Witherspoon Hall

695 E. Calvin Street

Fayetteville, AR 72703

SPEAKER:

David Eddy, Russellville

Sassafras Hiking Award Recipient

“The Ouachita Trail and More”

Feel free to call me if you have questions. If you want to respond to me from this announcement, please use “REPLY”, not “REPLY ALL”. We have over 200 members in the Highlands Chapter of the OS. We’d love to see many of you at our meetings. If you have interests that you’d like to have a program about, please let me know.

Hope to see you at this last meeting of the season! 

Peggy Bulla

OSHC Vice-Chair

(479) 586-2493