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Recent Posts
- New Bridge Near Tompkins Bend Trailhead on 1st Trail Segment – April 2012
- Wildflower Planting at Watchable Wildlife – March 31, 2012
- Arkansas Governor’s Conference – Parks and Tourism Henry Award for the LOViT Traildogs
- End Of Trail – Mapping Section 8 – Feb. 27, 2012
- Homestead Interpretive Site Cleanup – Feb. 22, 2012
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Category Archives: Crystal Springs
Rained out Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 9-10, 2012 …
Looking at the incoming rain today (Monday) we are canceling planned construction both Monday, Jan. 9, and Tuesday, Jan. 10. We have also been informed by the Corp that the barge we have been utilizing is in for repairs. The weather map shows heavy rain approaching from the south. If we had to hike out suddenly, it is a six mile hike back to our vehicles. We will further evaluate the weather on Tuesday and will let everyone know of any changes to the construction schedule. Sorry for the delay. Jerry
Resumption of Construction of the Seventh Section Across Bear Mountain
We will restart construction of the seventh section of the Vista Trail Monday January 9th at 9:00 am. We will meet at the Crystal Springs Resort Café located at the end of Crystal Springs Road. We will once again utilize a barge to ferry our volunteers to and from the construction site just across the bay from the marina. This is our seventh consecutive year of construction resulting in over thirty miles of new hiking and mountain biking trails.
Notes from December, 2011, Construction on Bear Mountain
This post combines a number of messages and photographs from Jerry Shields and other Traildogs to document the work done on “the seventh segment”, which began along Bear Creek in the valley between Little Bear and Bear Mountain, and which will extend up Bear Mountain and along its summit eastward to Brady Mountain Resort. The following picture gallery contains photographs from each of the updates below. Dec. 1, 2011 Crisp morning, warm afternoon as we climbed the southern flank of Big Bear Mountain today with two new volunteers joining us. We had eight volunteers today: myself, Al G., Robert C., Mike C. back from Colorado, Chuck D., Derwood B., Dan W. and Doug P. We especially welcome Doug, our newest Traildog. Best weather yet, and by 10:30 we were all stripping layers of clothing as our efforts, plus the warm southern sun, had us sweating.
Strong Women Exercise Group Hikes Crystal Springs Trail Segment – Nov. 9, 2011
Nov. 9, 2011, was a beautiful fall morning, trees aflame in color, wildflowers in bloom. Fourteen fitness fanatics from the Montgomery County Strong Women program were in awe of the landscape as they hiked a total of just over five miles out and back on the Crystal Springs Trail Segment of the LOViT.
Bear Mountain
Our first day constructing section Seven started with a 27 degrees day as we rallied at the Crystal Springs boat launch. A clear sky was a welcome sight as we loaded all our tools and equipment onto the work barge the US Corps of Engineers had loaned us, saving the volunteers a four mile hike in and a four mile hike out from the newly dug trail. We motored by barge up Little Bear Creek, and thanks to the recent rains, Lake Ouachita has risen several feet, allowing us to motor to within a quarter mile of where section seven begins. We had six volunteers today and made good progress up the south slope of Big Mountain, finishing approximately 2/10’s of a mile of new tread. The Forest Service dig began roughing in the trail late Monday afternoon, and by Tuesday evening had roughed in almost a half of a … Click to read the full article
Plans and Map for Crystal Springs Trail Segment
Fellow Traildogs and Friends We are moving closer to our planned Nov/Dec dig on the southern face of Big Bear Mountain, just across the bay from the Crystal Springs Resort, where will begin construction on the scenic seventh section of the trail. The final plan calls for the Traildogs to join in the construction on Wednesday, November 30th, at 9:00 am. Our rally point will be at the parking area next to the Crystal Springs Resort Café. The Corp of Engineers have generously offered to loan us one of their barges to serve as transport to the work site, and the good folks of Crystal Springs Resort have offered a boat slip for the barge, both of which will save of hours of hiking into and out of our planned work site. This section of the trail will challenge all our trail building knowledge and skills but in the end … Click to read the full article