Eagle Rock Loop Oct 9 - 13

Hi, im new here and this is my first actual post on this site. Im from Memphis TN and my son and I and a friend and his son plan on doing the Eagle Rock loop on October 9 - 13. We are taking 5 days because it is for the boys Backpacking merit badge for Boy Scouts and we have to do a minimum 30 miles and days.

We plan on starting at Albert Pike Rec Area and hike clock-wise so we can camp at winding stairs the first night.

Can anyone tell me some other good camping spots around this loop ?

Is there a good spot on top of any of the higher mountains such as Brush Heap Mountain ?

Thanks so much,
J

jcramin

Let me be first to welcome you. Good plan. Winding stair is a must for the boys. You may have trouble getting them to leave. The trail is full of great camp sites. I think the worst place to camp is on top of any of the peaks because of water but there is a good campsite at the bottom of each ridge. If you have water there is a good campsite at the top of the first ridge (clockwise). It is at the over look. Give plenty of time for those six ridges. They can kick a good mans butt.

Haul water up and stay at Eagle Rock Vista. Seeing a sunset from up there is worth every step you take packing water, IMHO.

From the campsite on the trail, there is a manway winding back to the point.

chili wrote:Haul water up and stay at Eagle Rock Vista. Seeing a sunset from up there is worth every step you take packing water, IMHO.

From the campsite on the trail, there is a manway winding back to the point.

Where is the closest water to the Eagle Rock Vista when going clockwise ? Is it at the junction of Athens Big Fork and Viles Branch ? or is there water closer ?

Thanks,
J

I think I have the plan ready. Maybe someone can tell me if this sounds like a good scenic doable trip.

Starting at Albert Pike Rec. First night camping at Winding Staircase. Second night camping at Eagle Rock Vista. Third night camping at Straight Creek between McKinley Mountain and Hurricane Knob. Fourth night camping someplace around Little Missouri Falls area or on one of the river crossings just past the Falls area.

Thanks,
J

Sounds like a good plan, but I am sure you see day two is going to be tuff. There is a considerable distance and two climbs. The boys will sleep that night.

The last time I was there I found water at the Athens/Viles Branch junction.

What kinda of hiking speed can a average backpacker figure on doing on the Athens-Big Fork Trail with all the mountains ?

Hi and welcome to the forum jcramin. I just sent answered your PM. Let me know if you have any other questions.

jcramin, I guess the answer to that question depends.....


Assuming all members of the hiking party have "trail legs" and are moderately fit, then I would expect you can make 1.5 to 2 mph without a lot of strain.

On that kind of terrain, when I am in halfway decent shape, I expect to clock about 2.5 mph for the day, including stops. If I were leading a troop, I would plan on regrouping stops and extended breaks. You probably want to be conservative. In '04 I hiked that section with the slowest hiker on the planet and we managed just short of 1 mph.