Rivers
and Events
From the January 2004
Park Update mailing:
Other improvements to
the park include an extension on the Canyon Trail to Blue Hole. This enables
hikers to utilize the all weather crossing at Blue Hole and linking up the Boy
Scout trail on the north side of Cedar Creek. If you have not hiked this
section of the park, we highly recommend it. Some of the prettiest scenery on
Cedar Creek can be found on the Canyon Trail.
Another trail project we will be working on is the replacement of the lower
bridge on the Cedar Creek trail. The previous bridge was washed away in the
torrential downpours of last May. Funding and the relative inaccessibility of
the area to equipment have slowed this project. We intend to have the new
bridge in place sometime this spring.
Two beautiful days of
hiking followed by an "over the hill" birthday party for Mike Doyle.
We just will not say which "hill". These trips always have something
for everyone. The last two trips (Thanksgiving and this last trip) have had
members from 17 to 70. From newlyweds to birthday boys.
Hiking
down to the base of Cedar Falls
The
start of Seven Hollows Trail
Natural Bridge,
..Wild
Flowers
Our
Group,
.The only wildlife other than 2 snakes
.
Waiting
for Sunset at the overlook:
.
SUNSET
.Birthday Boy, Mike Doyle
and
.."the cake"
.
.
Typical
Camp Site
with 4
camping loops, some are heavily wooded and some are lakeside.
2003 Trip report
Petit
Jean April 4-April 6, 2003
There are two things I have learned in
planning a trip "dont try to outguess the weather" and "never
believe your weatherman".
We arrived at Petit Jean on Thursday afternoon
with weather close to 80 degrees and the help of a strong tailwind. John and
Sharon Adams had already arrived, had set up camp, and were relaxing under the
tall pines.
Karen and Bill (Hopkins) rolled in around
nine-thirty or so Thursday night and on Friday morning we woke up to cloudy skies
and the wind howling through the trees. Since this was our maiden voyage, we
had to rely on John and Sharon to fill us in on the activities that are
available in the park. For those who have never been there, the park offers an
antique car museum, Lake Bailey, Mather Lodge,
Winthrop Rockefellers farm and home place, jeep trails, scenic overlook areas,
and numerous hiking trails.
Our warm-up hike was to Cedar Falls, a Class I
trail with Class III hills. The sun had come out, the dogwood and redbud trees
were in bloom, and the walk was invigorating to say the least. We returned to
camp and found Jack Chambers setting up camp. We all went to Mather Lodge for a great meal (nobody had to do dishes).
Shortly thereafter, Angela Cook and her group arrived. As evening approached we
sat around Karen and Bills "fire in a can" and let our taut muscles
relax a bit. (burn ban in effect, thus no campfires)
Saturday proved to be an even more beautiful
day. We "put-on" the Seven Hollows trail around 9:30 a.m. under sunny
skies and cool weather. This is a 4-½ mile trail that meanders through large
rock formations and along small streams with wildflowers in abundance. After
returning to the campground I was surprised with a birthday cake that was
prepared Karen and Bill. This wasnt your ordinary cake; it contained a shrimp
for each year, which I wont disclose how many at this point. Let it be
understood that I was full when I finished eating all the candles (shrimp). We
topped off the evening by watching a beautiful sunset at one of the park
overlooks and then returning to camp and sitting around the "fire in a
can" at Karen and Bills campsite.
We woke on Sunday with the threat of severe
weather, so all started to pack up and leave for home. We were on our way home
and had to pull off the road due to the hailstorm and strong winds. This was a
weekend that had any type of weather you could want.
This was a great trip and we all decided to go
back to Petit Jean later in the year when the weather isnt too hot. Maybe we
can work up the energy to hike the Boy Scout 12 mile trail.
Mike Doyle
Links:::::::::::::::::
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
1-800-NATURAL
www.arkansas.com
www.arkansasstateparks.com
www.arkansaskids.com
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