Drove from Memphis to the Ouachita Trail (Maps) parking area at FS Road 93 at mile marker 179.3. The last 8 miles was all on FS dirt roads so buying the Subaru paid off again. Started hiking West to Campsite 3 at 178, so only did 1.3 miles, and downhill at that.
Went off trail a bit, following the inlet creek up stream a bit to find a campsite off trail, but by the creek. I Set up the tent and did a few chores before sitting down to type this. Georgeous day today. Must be around 75 to 80 Deg out. even though the drive here was cloudy, with a bit of rain, it is sunny, hot and brezzy here.
This was my first time on the Ouachita Trail, and I must say i am impressed so far, it seems to be well maintained, the blazing is sparce, but the trail was obvious so that might be the reason. the FarOut app and trail map were bang on the money for the small section i hiked today, although i would agree with the users who said the 1st water source (a very small pond) would be a pass unless you were very desparate. This is probably a good time of the year to hike it, i think it would be miserable in the summer (and even the stuff i read online said spring and fall were the times to hike the trail). Wish i could see one of the shelters, but not in the cards for this trip.
5pm
just cooked dinner, which was an accomplishment without silverware (oops). Beef Ramen Noodles with a can of tuna thrown in..we shall see.
Cant remember if have used my jetboil before...maybe at the cabin when Camped for the night, well anyway, first real backbacking trip with it..dinner done lickidy split, but now to hot to eat (especially without a fork).
did get a bit of a nap, just a half hour when i went inside the tent to prevent sunburn (its a bright day and the trees have yet to totally leaf, so little shade, even in the forest.
hope whit is not going to panic when i dont call...no cell service here.
dinner not bad, although hard to eat. having some tea "memphis after dark - chocolate mint" from our wedding gift bags....i wonder what Whit is doing right now.
did find a small tick on my clothes, but that was it so far...that and some house flies, no mosquitoes yet! Yea!
it is so quiet here. all i hear is the gurgling of the creek, the wind and an occational bird. Did see two, very, very small birds. By the size, i thought they were humming birds, but they went from tree to tree and perched on branches. Couldnt get a clear vew of them to see coloring, just to small.
6:20pm
shadows are getting long . i need to get things put up for tonight, but its so nice just sitting here contemplating stuff....i dont do this enough!
last night i went to sleep with stars in the sky, whip-o-wills singing and fireflies flickering.
did have a visitor, not sure what it was, but it sure make a ruckus walking through the dried leaves. It was getting too close for compfort so I bolted up, unzipped the doors and shined a flashlight in the general direction of the sound and it made a haste retreat. Have no idea what it was.
got cold at maybe 2ish (didnt check time) and struggled the rest of the night with possitions to keep warm and comfortable, so not much sleep after that.
did check the time once...4:30am...same time i wake up at home...lol.
got some sleep after that. woke at 7am and had to go really bad (been holding it since 4:30, but just too damn cold to get up). Took care of business, after realizing I had the trash, not the tp and having to retrieve it quickly befor proceeding Lol.
cooked and eating breakfast while doing this log. sky looks pretty clear thus far...hoping for a good show!
equipment for the trip (26 lbs wth water/food - does not include camera)
rei sleeping bag
big agnes tent
ground cloth
jetboil stove
rei lookout backpack
convertable pants
grey hiking shirt
columbia long sleeve shirt
2 pairs of smartwool socks
Merril boots
bandanna
raincoat
2 liter plattapus with hose
tripod
camera
reg and telephoto lenses
solar filter
2 pairs eclipse glasses
headlamp
first aid/repair kit
cell phone
4000mAH battery pack
hiking hat
food bag
tp
5 bags of gorp
1 pack peanut butter crackers
2 chocolate covered granola bars
tea (6 bags by mistake)
small can of tuna
1 pack ramen noodles
2 maple brown sugar oatmeal packs
hot chocolate mix
sawyer water filter and 32oz bag
[ed note: following entries written After getting home]
had a quick breakfast, packed up and then off to Flatside Pinnacle. i did stop off at the car, dumped camping gear and my hat (which i should have taken). there were already quite a few cars at the trailhead, and when i reached the top it was more crowded than i expected for hours before the eclipse begins. Picked a free spot and set up. more and more people came, some real pros, some it was obviously their first eclipse.
i forgot how boaring and hot waiting for the eclipse to begin. ate some snacks, read a bit on my phone, took some pics and texted them to Whit and others, and waited.....
The eclipse began right on time, but i was surprised only the real enthusiasts took note and started taking photos, only when totality occured were there oohs and ahs (although before that we were given a rousing rendition of the ASU cheer).
you really cannot describe what experiencing totality to someone who has not seen it, but i will try. when totality nears, you do notice it getting just a bit darker, but more intresting, colors change just a bit. you really cant see it in photos but it is there. at the moment of totality, for a moment the sun goes out (really it is probably your eyes going from sunlight, to almost twilight in a fraction of a second), but then you will see the ring apear. you can see red promiences around the ring, if you look closely and whispy white plazma around the wring jetting out. the feeling of instant twilight, a cool breeze and a very aw inspiring feeling comes over you as you look at the moon, covering the sun. at the instant the eclips is over, you get the "wedding ring" - one bright spot that looks like a diamond on the ring (this lasts only a second or two, before the suns brightness once again makes it impossible to see the rest of the eclipse without glasses.
Here are some shots I tried to take of the suroundings during the eclipse. They were taken with my cell phone and taken in a hurry most of the time, to get back to photographing the eclips, but here they are:
got some great photos, as well as took more time to enjoy the experiance as well. camera did well (zoom lens and eclipse filter). couldnt get the camera to cooperate after totality so i gave up after several attemps, so i packed up and left (along with most others ..i stuck around longer than most)
Got back to the car a little before 3, leaving at that time, i should have been home at 6pm, but no! traffic was stop and go 40 miles from memphis, to the bridge, and i do mean stop, go 2ft stop repeat! got home at 10pm!
the last few miles were painful, literally. My groin and upper thigh went into spasm and cramping. Ive never been so glad to get on poplar ave in my life!
