let's talk ARK

[REV]

Ok I know there are miles of trails in ARK...  You can pick up the ouachita trail in OK, and it will take you to little rock.  Any others ?

[sherpaxc]

Ben,
I'm doing a trip in a few weeks up there.  We are using the Ouachita and Womble to create a long trail and we'll also be using some dirt roads to connect us.  When I get back I'll send you the beta.  We plan on riding for 3 days.

[REV]

Cool, I have done that loop great riding, with the womble being the best.


So ...who is we? and when are you going?

[sherpaxc]

I'm going with a few guys down here.  One guy that lives up there who is helping with the mapping of the route.  At first we wanted to do all the Ouachita but found out that a lot of it is hike a bike.  Since we are on a limited schedule we wanted to do the most riding possible.  We're shooting for around 150-200 miles.

[manimal]

Keep us updated on the OC I am planning on doing it this December after Im done with finals.  Im sure you have found the trail map broken into segments with water points.  In case anyone else wants to see here it is:

http://www.friendsot.org/PDFforms/TR-01DETAIL_ONRTSegmentMapsa_000.pdf

[kbabin]

Here is a link to Tim Ernst's trail guide.  It is geared to the hiker, but his book has good details and info.

http://store.cloudland.net/merchant.ihtml?pid=5&step=4

Kevin

[gray rider]

I'm very interested in hearing about your trip combining the two trails.  I used to backpack but would like to try bikepacking.  Live in MS so this is probably the closest place for me to do something like this. 

[kbabin]

OK, I've wanted to do a trip on the OT for a while...

Here is the plan

Date: Nov 14-16

Section of the OT: HWY 27 to HWY 7 - Segment 8 & 9 of map below
http://www.friendsot.org/PDFforms/TR-01DETAIL_ONRTSegmentMapsa_000.pdf

Here is an example of the shelters.
http://www.friendsot.org/images/Sheltercomplete-sm.jpg


Option 1

Day 1
We are going to park at 298 trail head and ride roads to HWY 27 trailhead and ride the trail on of the 3 shelters before 298 trail head. 

Day 2
Ride past 298 trailhead to last hut before HWY 7.

Day3
Backtrack on trail to 298 trailhead.


Option 2

Day 1 & 2
Park at HWY 27 and ride trail until we are tired. 

Day 3
Make way back to car via roads.

[sherpaxc]

I'm leaving Thursday night and will get to the trailhead Friday afternoon (I'm stopping to see a friend Thursday night).  We are parking at the Hwy 27 fishing Village and doing an out and back on the Womble then will continue on the Womble then head over to the Ouachita.  I don't know the exact route because I'm not the one doing the planning.  We'll be riding until Sunday night.  Weather looks perfect.  I'll probably bring my GPS to make a track of it.  At least, I think that's what it is called, I'm not in the least bit GPS savvy. 

[sherpaxc]

The weather turned out great.  I've got lot's of pics I just need to figure out how to post them up in a fancy report like the others do on here.  This is what we did:
Parked at Hwy 27 Fishing Village and road south (I think?) on the Womble until dark and camped.  Got up and kept riding to the begining of the Womble then turned around and headed back to the other end of the Womble.  We made it 3/4 of the way through before it got to dark so we made camp.  Got up the next morning and took a spur trail hike a bike up to the Ouachita trail.  Headed north (or East?) on the Ouachita for a few miles and reconnected with the Womble and made our way back to the Fishing Village.  2 1/2 days of full riding and millions of smiles later we were done.  Totally exhausted from the effort but so happy.  Have fun up there.  I'll be back that's for dang sure.  To much exploration to do up there.