Spring In Arkansas : Gear Shake down in Petit Jean State Park

Exploring Arkansas’s first state park that almost went national.

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
Marcus Aurelius

              So, as things go change is natures delight, and we should revel in it the ancients might say, but really? Should we? Philosophy says yes, and as it can be rather uncomfortable, we humans today are crippled by our expectations of comfort, and therefore our delight can actually be long term suffering for our species let alone you and me. My thru hike of the Ouachita National Trail has been moved to the fall. Taking advantage of this however I can train further and test gear more thoroughly for the remainder of spring and into the summer. It seems summer in Arkansas never ends however, last year we had a 100-degree day in December. I decided on a decent first shake down after acquiring my pack the Swift V by Six Moon Designs and having it packed to about 90% of what I will have on the OT and set out before first light for Petit Jean State Park. Catching the sunrise from the top of the bluffs as the first order of business I reflected on things of past present and future and took in the sights and sounds of the valley and Arkansas river below before stepping out on the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail leading with extensions into a section of the Seven Hollows Trail, Bear Cave trail and Cedar Falls Lookout trail.

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Walking into a forest and awakening with it is always special. The silence is slowly roused to life and your joined by a variety of flora and fauna, annnddd webs, lots and lots of webs. Those coming after me this day you are welcome! The trail is rocky and has quite a bit of elevation change down into the cedar creek valley leading to the falls and down to its lowest point with a water crossing, then back up the valley to the start. A big reason why I choose this trail over many others to try out every bit of terrain type possible in about ten miles or so, a good fit for the new weight I was carrying, not to the delight of my knees, which I imagine the Army ages them by about ten years past the tail end of my thirty-ninth time around the sun. As a history buff let’s not forget to mention some things about this place, nestled in between the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests, this place was originally championed to the National Park Service to become just that. With its forests, bluffs, caves with Native American art and the highest waterfall between the Appalachians and the Rockies it was nearly a safe bet, however due to its small size it just missed the blessing, but in the process becoming our first state park in 1923. Back to the here and now, stopping to explore a few dead drop bluffs along the way (not in any way shape or form a fan of heights) but ill tolerate them with respect when the experience trumps the fears of tumbling off into the green abyss. Strange to consider thinking back to roping out of helicopters, ha! As the temperature rises, I reach the water crossing and fill up my canteen with newly filtered water using my Sawyer, first time by the way for that which went well (I have a Lifestraw as a backup). I begin to make my way out and come face to face with a fairly large cottonmouth snake, highly venomous and often aggressive as you can see. Looks like we all use the trail systems to get around these parts! He or she wasn’t going to budge, and this being its home not mine I made my way around and was back on my way. My first shakedown hike doesn’t need to also be the first time I get tagged on the leg and have to use my Garmin SOS button, ha (yeah no cell service here to speak of)! 

More gems on the trail are the caves and narrow rock walkthroughs. Makes you feel like a kid all over again finding these places and exploring them. Making my way I can feel the miles now reminding me of lack thereof of cardiovascular fitness. Not sure if I’m stoked or not about knowing this in planning more shake downs like this, and a few overnights to test tents and trail food. On the plus I get more miles to keep myself conditioned and ready for the OT, and on the down its more miles of risk in regard to injury or illness that could affect my future plans, or worse my professional work. Finishing up this hike I find that gear wise, my pack choice was spot on. The Swift V is all what its glowing reviews on The Trek and Backpacker Magazine to name a few say that it is. Award winning is no surprise. My old Merrell boots help up well on my feet, however I did not plan to take them on the OT. I think my next move will be to slide into a local outfitter and get some new ones to break in over the next few months. To be perfectly honest, this is the most miles (9.5) I’ve done in at least four years! I’m a day hiker whether I like it or not, but this is changing! Also let’s not forget the reason I am out here, for those veterans like me who never returned, returned severely injured, or returned home as the person war changes you into. How dare I fall into a trap of a wasted life to disrespect that gift I was given that others were not. I will give every mile for them as they are in my heart and thoughts daily. This Memorial Day as we spend time with our families let us remember them and live our best lives within the liberty we covet. Stay tuned for more shake downs towards our OT trek, one at the famous Eagle Rock Loop and many others. Cheers all! Doc out.