Category Archives: Brady Mountain

Parks & Tourism Filming at Traildog Vista – June 4, 2013

On Tuesday, June 4, the Traildogs hosted a film crew representing the Arkansas Parks & Tourism Commission for a visit to the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT). The Womble Office of the USFS and local Traildogs Al Gathright and Jerry Shields provided logistical support to the seven person crew, leading them up onto Bear Mountain. The crew was lead by Director Chris Cranford, supported by Lyle Arnett and Gary Jones. Chuck Haralson served as the still photographer. Parks & Tourism travel writer Zoie Clift and actors Ben Stone & Alyssa Journey provided the biking and hiking action shots. The new Traildog Vista is located about six trail miles east of the Crystal Springs Recreation Area on Lake Ouachita.  This new vista is located at the highest point of the trail as it traverses the north slope of Bear Mountain.  The slope of the mountain drops sharply away from the rock outcropping that … Click to read the full article

National Recreational Trails Grant Approved – May 3, 2013

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Friday, May 3rd, the Traildogs received notification of approval for our National Recreational Trails Grant in the amount of $95,000, as requested. This grant will provide 80% of the $95K,  or approximately $74,000, needed to complete the final 5.4 mile section of the trail from Brady Mountain Road to the Blakely Mountain Dam. The 20% matching requirement will be covered by in-kind volunteer support and trail donations. This eighth addition to the LOViT, when completed, will extend the Trail to its planned 45 miles of developed mountain biking and hiking trail.  Our current plan is to begin construction of this final phase in the late fall of this year.  We plan to put construction of this section of the Trail out for bids within the next 60 days. Congratulations to all who have contributed to the eight-year-long effort to develop the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail. Jerry   … Click to read the full article

Finishing Touches – Feb. 27, 2013

Neither Rain, snow, wind, or even sunshine could chase us off the mountain today.  Four Traildogs met today at the Brady Mountain Road trail entrance to the Bear Mountain trail segment to install a temporary direction sign designating trail mileage, 10.0 miles, from The Brady Mt. entrance to Crystal Springs Road.  Not so surprisingly, we encountered a few rocks digging the post hole but did finally mange to get it installed. We also utilized some of the large stones found at the switchback located in the newly-dubbed “Saddle” of Bear Mountain to create a natural stone bench for users to take a rest from the long uphill climb and enjoy the great view of the valley and lake to the north.  This area of the trail is a great example of trail building through a very rocky ridge.  The trail weaves very naturally through this boulder-strewn area, and, after all … Click to read the full article

Completion of the Bear Mountain Trail Section, Feb. 14, 2013

We had five seasoned Traildogs join us on the trail today.  We were able to finally complete the finish work on the east end of the seventh section;  the “seventh section” runs across Bear Mountain from Little Bear Creek on the west to Brady Mountain Road on the east. The work today included armoring the wet crossing at the east end trailhead on Brady Mountain Road and completing the final finish work of cutting roots and raking out the new tread on the final 1/3 mile of the new tread. The east end of the Trail at Brady Mt. Rd. is seeing a great deal of usage as the word spreads about this new section.  Parking is becoming a safety issue, with folks trying to find a spot near the trail to leave their vehicles.  This road is a very busy road, so all users should especially careful when parking … Click to read the full article

Cajun Manna – Dec. 17, 2012

It was a windy day on the mountain as five Traildogs began the final days of finishing work on the mountainous seventh section.  We are working just north of the massive tornado blow-down area of May 2011.  Tens of thousands of trees were ripped, torn, twisted and destroyed along the northern portion of Brady Mountain Rd.  Finding a usable route for the trail was a real challenge, but thanks to the tenacity of U.S. Forest Service personnel, we successfully have threaded the trail between tornado damage and private property.  Job well done! The wind today blew in another treat as we working.  Suddenly, the air was filled a distant aroma that could only be described as manna from Louisiana, when up the mountain an apparition bearing a foil covered pan of smoking hot Cajun Sausage Bread appeared.  Georgia Cavanaugh, Cajun Cook Supreme, brought the Traildog volunteers and the Progressive Trail … Click to read the full article

Jubilation – Dec. 14, 2012

Today was a day of accomplishments as five Traildog volunteers pushed the trail finishing work over a half a mile west where we joined with the finish work that was completed last month when we were coming in from the west by barge. After a mile and a half hike up the mountain this morning, we set our goal of reaching the point where we ceased operations November 30.  A great deal of the tread we were working required only minimal finishing, but there were several extended areas we describe as “gravel pits” that are covered in small to medium stones after the machines finish the new tread.  These gravel pits are a pain to finish and require a great deal of fire rake work, followed by root pruning.  We did take time to build two rock cairns from some of the moss covered boulders the machine crews had uprooted. … Click to read the full article

Another 1/3 Mile Groomed On Big Bear – 12/12/12

We completed another 1/3 of a mile today on Big Bear Mountain, continuing to work our way back to our previous stopping place Nov. 29 when we were coming into the work area from the west. The Progressive Trail Design team has now pushed the trail to within eye-shot of Brady Mountain road.  There remains another quarter to a third of a mile before the trail is expected to exit the Forest onto the road, and this last bit of tread will be steep, rocky, and difficult to cut.  But, it’s getting there! Today’s work was often in very rocky areas, but toward the end of the day, we broke into an area where the going was relatively easy.  The views remain spectacular as we continue to climb, but we will soon be back to “moguls” as we traverse the north side of the mountain just below its summit. Along … Click to read the full article

A Cold Day on Bear Mountain – Dec. 11, 2012

Only seasoned trail builders show up when the day starts at 19 degrees.  Today our four Traildogs competed another 1/4 mile of finish work on the seventh section.  We parked on Brady Mountain Road, just north of where the seventh section will intersect the road, and hiked up to where our machine crew from Progressive Trail Design were busy carving out the final mile of the seventh section.  It only required a hike of about 25 minutes to intersect the roughed in trail. We are working back west toward where we stopped last week while the machine crew continues on east.  The trail is mostly soil, clay, and small stones and is not difficult to work.  We’re hoping to make good progress tomorrow.  We are about a mile east of where we stopped last week.  The machine crew is less than a mile from Brady Mountain Road. We will meet … Click to read the full article

Bear Mountain Construction – Nov. 30, 2012 – The Halfway Point

Friday we reached a key milestone for this fall’s dig – the halfway point of the planned 4.2 miles of new trail, along the northern face of Big Bear Mountain. The portion of the seventh section is a rolling, winding trail that snakes along just below the northern summit of Big Bear Mountain as it goes around large rock outcropping, boulders and old growth hardwoods.  The completed product, as you look back on your finish work, has a beautiful, natural patina of fresh earth and fallen leaves. The new trail looks like it belongs there and is an enhancement to a serene stretch of remote woodland overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Ouachita. The new Traildog Vista that peeks through a wide break in the forest canopy is a must stopping point for any user and will be one where a million Kodak Moments will be shot. At the end … Click to read the full article

Bear Mountain Construction – Nov. 28-29, 2012 – More Progress

Nov. 28 It was an eerie start to the day as a dense fog hung low in the Crystal Springs Marina Basin. Capt. Dan expertly steered us to our destination. Four Traildogs groomed .27 miles. The total distance of new groomed trail is now 1.41 miles. The Traildogs also removed a dead tree near the new bench at Traildog Vista. The crew from Progressive Trail Design is about a mile ahead of us. Now that the crew is back on their pace, they predict a Dec 7 completion date. They have about 1.5 miles remaining. USFS staff, Tom Ledbetter, Jake Raines and Chris Ham were on the trail today. Their mission was to replace trial course flagging that recently disappeared. Thursday and Friday will be the last work days until the dig crew reaches Brady Mtn Road. It is currently a 4 mile ATV ride one way to our work site. … Click to read the full article