Black Fork Mountain trail, anyone interested??

Depending on if this Baby ever comes, I think I will try to talk Momma into lettng Burritto and I coming down Friday, hiking a little bit, and then hiking a bit with yall on Saturday and coming back home. Especially if everyone is going to be at the Trail Head Friday night. Momma can do without 2 of her boys 1 night don't ya think Prayfor us

Yeah come on P..

FYI the 270 Trailhead is 7.2 miles on the right from the 270/71/59 junction which is about 4 to 5 miles North of Mena. Drove by the trail head coming back from a FoOT meeting at QWSP. Trail head is great shape. The sign
in box needs to be replaced but otherwise in great shape.

Trail Monkey-are you going to post this trip on Southern Backpackers? Mark

uh.. yeah guess I could... doubt anyone there would show up though..

I think I will have that weekend free and I would like to go, but it looks like about a 6hr drive for me so I'll have to think about it.

No.. hell its only about a 5 hour drive for me.. would be something like 3 for you. I can pick u up when I come through LR if you want.

Maybe he's talking about round trip, right East?

No, I'm in Jonesboro now doing my family medicine clerkship. I thought I told you that, TM.

I remember you saying that. Eddie must have been apoxic and couldn't remember. Just kidding Eddie!

To many drugs hahaha

Well guys I am out of this hike too. Amanda had to have a c-section, so she can't drive for another week and a half. I better not leave her without a way to get around.

I talked to a couple yesterday hiking on the Caney Creek Trail from St. Louis, MO that had hiked the
Blackfork Wilderness Trail on Fri. They mentioned that the trail had recently been accessed by
ATV's and that some one had taken a chainsaw up there and cut some trees. If you guys encounter
anything like that you should report it to:
Mena/Oden Districts:
District Ranger: Jim Zornes jzornes@fs.fed.us 479-394-2382
or
Law Enforcement and Investigations:
Jimmy D. Hicks, Patrol Captain jhicks02@fs.fed.us 501-321-5357

Rodger Doger.. will do OH

The folks in St. Louis are supposed to email me when they get back home. I will try to get more details then.
One thing that I hate worse than briars is ATV's on hiking trails! That Blackfork trail is so remote it is easy to
get away with going up there on a ATV.

Weather looks like it may hold out. If it continues to do so, I am sure I will be going. Nate- if you are interested, I would be happy to meet with you in LR and we can car pool from there.

Mark

Tenn... , are you going fri. or sat.?

Ed.. I just talked to Tenn a little while ago.. he will be coming over fri night as well. I think I am still picking up Jeff fri and he and I will be over late fri as well.

So right now its still:

1 Eddie
2 Ed
3 Jeff
4 Mark T
5 ?

Checked the weather for Mena, 21 deg. fri. night and 25 sat. It will probably be colder up on the ridge with a little wind to boot!!

Eddie, tested that new down blanky in those temps yet?

Take into account that when you get to the top you will be close to the elevation of the QWSP. I have seen a temp drop of 15 degrees or more from the valley floor to the lodge in the winter time. And you can bank on the wind, it will be there!

Heck you might have snow up there!!

Have not been to that temp yet but been down to about 28 deg

The forecast changed overnight (24 fri. night 31 sat). If the wind will just be nice it should be a nice weekend.

Hey Ed.. did you do a plan on this hike? Just wondering.. Guess I should DL the tracks for it and print off a few maps just in case.

Printed the map off of (ouachitamaps.com) and it is already in my pack. I think that should be good, unless you have another suggestion?