A group of 6 maintainers of the Ozark Highlands Trail gathered at the Woolum Rec Area on the Buffalo River for Lopsterfest ’17 – good fun, good food, custom t-shirts, and a chance to give our loppers a good workout.

The OHT between miles 155.5 and 160 had not been properly maintained for several years and was getting so overgrown in spots that the trail pretty much disappeared.  We worked at it all day Saturday and got about 3.5 of the 4.5 targeted miles taken care of.  A return visit will be needed.

A special dinner was planned for Saturday night – a shrimp boil and grilled lobster tails.  The grill didn’t work so we had no lobster but it’s just as well since we couldn’t even eat all the shrimp.

On Sunday, we spent a couple hours clearing brush and putting more blazes at the Richland Creek crossing where the OHT meets the BRT.  This area is going to need more frequent attention as well.  A lot of the Buffalo River Trail between Richland Creek and AR-14 is looking for an adopter to keep it well-trimmed and looking respectable.  If you’d like to be the proud parent of some very scenic trail contact the OHTA.

Daytime temps were good but Saturday and Sunday morning both bottomed-out at 15F, which was a bit uncomfortable in my 20F sleeping bag.