Hiking Companions

I am looking for someone who don't get in a hurry. I would like to hike the Eagle Rock Loop. I am 59 and would like to hike about 6 miles a day. I have done a lot of hiking but the thought of going alone gets less appealing with age.

Dfieldhiker,

The name here is Tom, I live just south of the loop in Dierks. I would be possibly interested, possibly my wife also and possibly one other hiker here, ED but he will have to speak for himself. I don't realy want to attempt it till possibly March. I need to get some physical conditioning under my belt and also I am commited to clearing up the Caney Creek wilderness. We do volunteer work in there. Right now clearing blowdowns. We are going into the wilderness from the West on Feb. 7th. When I have that trail clear I will consider the ERL. Any way you can look under wilderness and see my posts and also at my photo album.

OH (Tom)

Welcome to the forum D!

There are quite a few of the fellas around here who live close to the ERL and would probably love to connect up with you. I'm sure they'll post something soon.

By the way, you're my kind of hiker; no need to get in a hurry out there!

Thanks for the welcome. Ricky here. I too am training now and rethinking my equipment.

I am originally from Hope and I served as Host at Albert Pike last June. I have hiked the entire ERL but in pieces. I have hiked the entire Caney Creek Trail and the Buckeye Trail a few times. We got lost on a day hike there once and had to spend the night without equipment. Both funny and embarassing.

My Wife and I cleaned and re-paited the trail from Albert Pike to Winding Stair in June.

I am glad I found this sight.

Dfieldhiker:
Welcome to the site. Glad that you found us. Hope to see more of you on the site and hope to see you on the trail someday.
Again, welcome-
UL

Ricky,

Ididn't mention it earlier but yes glad to have you on the site! My wife and I and a host of others have been working on clearing the Caney Creek Wilderness since the Huricanes hit last Sept. We started on the Buckeye last spring. We have cut out more trees than I can count! We are going in from the W. on the 7th like I mentnenioned. Still have underbrush to cut out. We are going to check out the W. side today. Any way it sounds as though we should link up. I am 56 and have had a knee replaced (right) and am over weight. So I am on the slow side! Also we are the campground hosts at Horshoebend campground below Dierks lake.

OH (Tom)

Six miles a day is certainly more my speed. Hiking the ERL in three days was a bit of stretch for me so I'd love to tackle it again with a slower pace. The only problem I have is that I won't get another chance for 4-5 days off until the end of May. If you are up to some summer hiking I'd like to coordinate a trip with you. What are your thoughts about starting at Little Mo Falls and travel clockwise? That would put the mountain stretch on the tail end when the packs are lighter.

Sean

Sean,

PM me and we will discuss the prospects of hiking the ERL.

OH

RedBuffalo,

I have toyed with many arrangements in my mind as for starting and stopping. I had always thought of spending the night in Albert Pike before the start. Also that gives you a little more secure place to park. I have given much thought to the direction also. If you head north you will lighten your pack by one day before you hit the ridges but if the river is up you will have a long day gitting to the falls. I am not one who gets very upset about anything so what ever works for others works for me.

As for May I had hoped to get it done before it gets hot. It mays still be good in May and I may just want to go twice. I think it is good to hike a trail both directions. I am a teacher and have saved up two personal days to combine with a weekend.

I am also a teacher. I have one more personel day I can use. I am close to any of the area. I hope I get to hike the loop at the end of March/early April, this is our spring break. Now I am open to hiking it again. When you narrow your dates down contact me.

OH

June, 1, 2, 3, 4? Could be an interesting hike with three teachers...

Lets keep this conversation going. This might work for me even if I do get to go earlier.

Well guys a June hike won't work for me. I am on a 11 mon. contract and I must be on campus thru June. Don't know I would want to tackle that trail in the June heat anyway. I am planing on hiking it some time in the next two months.

On my spring break i am thinking about hiking some of the OT in OK.

OH

The above comment was from me, ouachita hiker. I forgot that the wife had used this computer to post her trail milages! Sorry...

OH

Yeah I was sure planing on getting done before then but I was just saying I might like to try again then or at least part of it.

Anyone interested in backpacking the loop from June 2 - 5 averaging approx. 6.5 miles / day? If so, let me know and we can start planning the details.

Sean

I am very interested. I am not sure I can commit to a date yet. I will keep looking and talking to family.

Sounds good. Keep me posted.