Daniel had been making plans for a last "free time" hike before his big move to Texas. He and Sam attempted a hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) early in January a couple of years ago. They didn't complete the entire trail, so Dan thought this would be a great opportunity to make a 9 or 10 day hike. Going solo, from Woolum, AR to Lake Ft. Smith, near Mountainburg, AR.
I was REALLY bothered by him going solo. In the winter. In an area with no phone services. With an ice/ snow storm predicted for two to three days this coming week. (And, as we were to discover yesterday- the National Forest, is technically "closed" due to government shut down. They said it was "use at your own risk, no help available.)
Sam and I drove Dan over yesterday morning, leaving the house a few minutes past 6 in the morning. We stopped at the half-way point, to hide a resupply of food in a 5 gallon bucket hidden in the woods. It was a short while after 10 when we got to the Woolum Campground Trailhead. There was supposed to be a shallow ford across the Buffalo River to start the trail.
Here is the ford:
Off we went. By the time we reached the highway, Mom was trying not to let hangry get the best of her. Sam found a Dollar General, and we got a couple of snacks, with the promise of "real food" as soon as we came across anyplace open. The second location Daniel had found was about 25 miles or so from the Woolum Campground. We found the "highway" to turn on. It may be somewhat disconcerting to be on a "highway" made of stone and dirt, where two vehicles cannot pass one another without one pulling off the road. The "highway" ended onto a narrow dirt trail... It may of been designated a "road"... but my driveway is more of a roadway. There had obviously been somewhat of a storm that had downed trees across the road. Someone had chainsawed their way through. Sam squeezed his Subaru between the sawed off tree trunk and the barbed wire fence. Twice. We forded shallow low water crossings. Twice. Finally we came to the place where Dan was going to wade across. It was pretty deep. Dan stripped off his pants and put on shorts. He tied his shoes to his pack, and set across. He wasn't even 1/4 way across, when it became obvious the swift running water was going to be closer to chest high than knee high if he went much farther. He waded back, and re-dressed. Back to the maps. Some miles down, there was a place where the road crossed the river about four miles before the OHT crossed the road. We got back to the cow path, and wended up and down and around a mountain. We were halted by not another "ford" of the river. It looked shallow enough Daniel might wade it. It didn't look safe enough to drive across.
The video of Daniel crossing this was more than 4 minutes long. (It was declared "too long" for Blogger.) Dan had NOT changed back into his shorts, and the rolled up leg of his pants unrolled into the water. It was icy cold on his bare feet. Sam waded partway with him. Sam came back, and we watched Dan safely make his way all the way across. There were four miles to the spot where the trail crossed the road ahead. It was just starting to sprinkle.
Dan yelled something at us. We couldn't make out what he said. He sat for a minute as we tried cell phone service. None available.
Then Dan picked up his pack and waded back across to us. He said that as he set foot on the other side of the water, he heard the quiet, small voice tell him he should not go. So he listened. He waded the ford back to us. We drove back to the cache of food in the forest, and then on home.
I was so relieved. We got home eventually, and discovered Tom had been praying hard as well. It is wonderful to know our children can and do listen for that voice to guide their steps.
Dan's crossing on YouTube.
