 Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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on: February 15, 2015, 08:35:51 AM
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pro_out
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 165
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« on: February 15, 2015, 08:35:51 AM » |
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Started working on this loop last year, thought it was time to get back at it. It consist of most of the legally bike-able Ouachita Trail( I say that loosely because there will be lots of hike a bike), the Old Military Trail, the Boardstand Trail, most of the Womble Trail (an IMBA Epic) and some of the Indian Nation Trail, National Forest roads and some paved connectors.
Starts in Oklahoma at the OT trail Head in Talihina State Park.
I have it as "outgoing" and "return" so one can toggle between the 2 routes for clarification. There are several areas that I need to confirm and plan on doing so soon. If anyone has any input (especially those in Arkansas) please contact me.
Tony
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Lone Wolf
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #1 on: February 16, 2015, 04:08:28 AM
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THenne
Posts: 20
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« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2015, 04:08:28 AM » |
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Looks good!
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #2 on: February 19, 2015, 07:30:48 AM
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JosiahM
Posts: 131
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« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2015, 07:30:48 AM » |
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I really want to try part of this loop sometime before the azt to shake down my bikepacking setup.
Are you familiar enough with the terrain to know about how many miles the average rider could do in a day? compared to azt or ctr miles?
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #3 on: February 28, 2015, 12:27:46 PM
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KeithG
Location: Texas
Posts: 24
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« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2015, 12:27:46 PM » |
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Oh man, oh man. That will be awesome. My buddies and I have done several 3 day loops out there.
In regards to the miles per day, some of them will be quite slow. The OT can be quite chunky and steep at times. 40-50 miles per day is pretty ambitious for even a strong rider/experienced bikepacker. At least for the OT part. The womble is significantly faster. Don't know about the other trails.
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #4 on: March 05, 2015, 08:15:05 AM
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mr clean
Location: Crosby, tx
Posts: 23
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« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2015, 08:15:05 AM » |
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im thinking this fall for some of this greatness.
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"Did you see the size of that chicken"
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #5 on: March 05, 2015, 08:27:33 AM
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sherpaxc
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 577
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« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2015, 08:27:33 AM » |
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Don't underestimate the difficulty if the ot bikepacking. It has major chunk and will involve a lot of walking next to your bike. Personally I think the route should be adapted to include the new LOVIT trail. I'm going to be doing a lovit/Womble/ot loop in about 7 weeks with that dorky douchebag Keith. Should be good fun. Arkansas is a total gem for bikepacking.
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #6 on: March 05, 2015, 10:30:21 AM
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THenne
Posts: 20
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« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2015, 10:30:21 AM » |
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We include Lovit also for some easy miles and recommend spring in AR as it takes most of the fall for trail adopters along with a few serious frosts to tame the vegetation on the OT.
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #7 on: March 18, 2015, 07:00:21 AM
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kbabin
Location: Fayetteville, AR
Posts: 36
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« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2015, 07:00:21 AM » |
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Not sure if you know about the huts on the OT trail. Here is a list of all the huts on the sections open to bike. You can use this map to help find the locations ( http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_039448.pdf) I don't know where to find the lat/long for each hut. Shelter Name Mile Marker Rock Garden 9.4 (Not listed on map) Holson Valley Vista 16.8 (Not listed on map) Winding Stairs Shelter 25 (Not listed on map) Foran Gap Shelter 68.9 (Not listed on map) Fiddler Creek Shelter 100.9 (Not listed on map) John Archer Shelter 122.6 Bill Potter Shelter 127.5 Big Branch Shelter 134 Blue Mountain Shelter 143.2 Big Bear Shelter 150.8 Moonshine Shelter 158.4 Thx Kev |
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #8 on: April 30, 2015, 07:47:13 AM
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tjwilly
Posts: 2
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« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2015, 07:47:13 AM » |
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Don't underestimate the difficulty if the ot bikepacking. It has major chunk and will involve a lot of walking next to your bike. Personally I think the route should be adapted to include the new LOVIT trail. I'm going to be doing a lovit/Womble/ot loop in about 7 weeks with that dorky douchebag Keith. Should be good fun. Arkansas is a total gem for bikepacking.
Sherpaxc... I was wondering if you did your loop yet? If so could we discuss it? Also, Pro-Out - Thanks for the files! I am in Wichita Falls now and native of AR. Mtn Biker... but new to bikepacking save a Telluride to Durango trip last year. Anyway... How goes the progress? Any updates? Glad to have found this site!! |
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« Last Edit: April 30, 2015, 07:59:30 AM by tjwilly »
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #9 on: May 01, 2015, 01:12:34 PM
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sherpaxc
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 577
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« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2015, 01:12:34 PM » |
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We got rained out  The rain this spring has been crazy! Will be doing the trip in the fall. I've done all of it before as a bikepacking route other than the inclusion of the LOVIT. Very fun. |
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #10 on: May 04, 2015, 09:18:41 AM
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tjwilly
Posts: 2
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« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2015, 09:18:41 AM » |
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Cool. Thanks for the reply. We are headed out May 20 to ride Womble. I think we may have a buddy drop two of us off at easter end of LOVT and then bikepack (one night) to the other end where the rest of our crew will be camping. Then move over to our site near the middle of womble for a couple of out and backs.
Later, I may start the OT solo from Talimena.
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #11 on: August 09, 2015, 10:02:34 AM
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honez1414
Posts: 17
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« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2015, 10:02:34 AM » |
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Anybody planning on bikepacking the ouachita national in the next few months?
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #12 on: August 09, 2015, 04:20:41 PM
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THenne
Posts: 20
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« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2015, 04:20:41 PM » |
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I'll be doing some once temps drop and some of the volunteer work starts getting things in order. It'll be a jungle out there after all the rain this spring!
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #13 on: August 10, 2015, 04:39:55 AM
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honez1414
Posts: 17
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« Reply #13 on: August 10, 2015, 04:39:55 AM » |
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kbabin,
how do you get all the unlisted shelter info?
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #14 on: August 19, 2015, 09:05:40 PM
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Moyo
Posts: 74
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« Reply #14 on: August 19, 2015, 09:05:40 PM » |
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Can anybody comment on the condition of little blakeley trail? I can't find very much data regarding reviews and upkeep but the reviews I can find are all very conflicted.
Edit: sounds like my route is pretty similar to sherpa's
Just wondering if connecting eastern mtb-able ONRT and eastern end of LOViT via dirt and little Blakeley is worth it or if I should just do the ~20 miles of pavement.
Anyway, any input regarding little Blakeley are much appreciated.
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« Last Edit: August 19, 2015, 09:12:01 PM by Moyo »
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #15 on: August 20, 2015, 01:16:39 AM
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THenne
Posts: 20
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« Reply #15 on: August 20, 2015, 01:16:39 AM » |
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I'm local and use LB seasonally. It's a great trail to add to the loop and I have a cool "back way" in from Jessieville. The problem with it and most of the OT is there is so little use the during spring/summer overgrowth/P ivy/ticks/chiggars take the fun out of it. It really takes a couple good frosts and cooler weather for volunteers to be able to get a handle on it. We ride everything from Hwy 71 to Hwy 7 but do it primarily from Nov. thru May. I've bikepacked the loop you guys are looking at and also include the Little Mo/ Albert Pike area. Cheers Todd
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #16 on: August 20, 2015, 05:26:20 AM
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honez1414
Posts: 17
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« Reply #16 on: August 20, 2015, 05:26:20 AM » |
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So early October bikepacking trip for ONRT is a bad idea? I'm trying to avoid rifle and muzzle loader seasons and had sort of settled in on Oct 10 weekend.
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #17 on: August 20, 2015, 06:11:13 AM
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Moyo
Posts: 74
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« Reply #17 on: August 20, 2015, 06:11:13 AM » |
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Todd, thanks for the info.
I think I'm just going to try to limit my bikepacking time on the ouachita and avoid little blakeley for now as I'm not sure how hairy it gets yet and what my tolerances are.
Either before or after though I want to test the waters and just do day rides on what I leave out. If I get covered in PI or something, at least I can run home.
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #18 on: August 20, 2015, 08:12:59 AM
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THenne
Posts: 20
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« Reply #18 on: August 20, 2015, 08:12:59 AM » |
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So early October bikepacking trip for ONRT is a bad idea? I'm trying to avoid rifle and muzzle loader seasons and had sort of settled in on Oct 10 weekend.
Not necessarily a bad idea but just be aware conditions won't be optimal as most trail work around here begins about then as temps break. Opening weekend of modern gun is really the only crazy couple days. I've seen some good sections and some jungles out there as it's been a really wet summer. |
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Topic Name: Ouachita Trail 400+ loop
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Reply #19 on: August 31, 2015, 08:36:27 AM
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