A little intro

Well, I figured I better get this out of the way since Jay pm'ed me and razzed me a little. I am actually from eastern AR (a flatlander), but I just fell in love with the mts when I started my undergrad at the U of A. I have been in Springfield for almost a year and I really enjoy it here (and I better b/c I still have two more to go). Grad school doesn't allow for a whole lot of free time, so I'm really not able to get out very often. Right now I just mostly have to dream abt it.
And Jay has me pegged now, I will mostly just lurk, not a whole lot of input from me, but I do enjoy reading abt everyone's outings and seeing the pics.

Just to let you know that your not the only flatlander here! I grew up in Chicot county. That is the most southeast county in ar. I knew mainly rice fields and cotton and such. That all changed when I went to HSU in the 70's. I got my start as alot of folks by reading up on Colin Fletcher. I still have his Complete Walker III. That book saved my but when I had to ford the Cossotot river with a group on a college trip back in about 77. The river was high and we had no business going across it. Any way I survived and that got my start in bping. Well enough of my past. Glad you are here!!

I'm definitely familiar with rice, I'm from Arkansas county. We actually live just 13 miles south of Stuttgart.

He SPEAKS!

Hey buddy, I'm glad you intro'd yourself. I was just in Springfield yesterday and I ate at Hong Kong Inn (the newer one at Sunshine and Glenstone) Man I love their Sesame Chicken! I miss that area, but I enjoy being in the heart of so much outdoor activity now. I'm sure you've already gone but there's always the Conservation Center with little 1-hour trail to get you a quick hiking fix.

And if you have a whole Saturday or weekend available, I highly reccomend the Devils Backbone area down by West Plains. I used to hike there. There is 10 or 15 miles of trail and all the off-trail you can want. It's in the Ava/Willow Springs Ranger district.

Anyway, we all spend most of our time sitting around imagining and wishing we were hiking. No shame in that!

See ya on the trails. (Eventually!)