Lost In Rural Arkansas
Summer 1998 - Wow, we had some rain this past two weeks, and it sure did cool things off for a few days! Unfortunately, that also meant I had to mow my lawn. After that was done, my good friend Bill stopped by and asked if I wanted to do something, so we decided to try and find Sam's Throne. I had been there once last year with Alf Carter, but had not tried to find my way back by myself. We took off around 1:30 or so to see if we could find it.
We crossed over a series of one lane bridges, and then began a steep climb up a mountain. Once we got to the top, I found that the road had been completely changed, as they were getting ready to pave it. I could not recognize any of the landmarks I remembered from my previous trip. We finally found what appeared to be the parking area, and began our hike.
We crossed over a series of one lane bridges, and then began a steep climb up a mountain. Once we got to the top, I found that the road had been completely changed, as they were getting ready to pave it. I could not recognize any of the landmarks I remembered from my previous trip. We finally found what appeared to be the parking area, and began our hike.
We finally broke out of the woods and discovered that we had found a wonderful view of the valley and mountains around us. It was quite spectacular. The temperature was about 80, the sun was shining, blue skies were overhead. We could hear the sounds of the forest coming from deep below us. We decided to take a break and have a light snack and some water. The wind was out of the northwest and cooled us as we sat high above the valley floor. Behind us was another series of bluffs and what appeared to be a huge rock outcropping, which we vowed to explore someday. After lunch, we continued to walk around and see what we could see.
It turned out that we could walk completely around the top of this large rock. We strolled along a small path, and at times, did a bit of rock climbing to get where we wanted to go. We made the turn and started down the south side of the rock when we saw this very large point. Of course we just had to stop and go look. It gave a totally different view of the valley below us, and it appeared this was mostly national forest.
We made our way all the way around the top of the rock, and then were lucky enough to find a trail across the top that took us back to the road, which lead back to the truck. We decided to take one last look at the magnificent area before we headed back down the mountain. Bill said he felt like he was standing on top of the world and I agreed. We both agreed that we were very lucky to be living in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, where we had the opportunity to do this every weekend, rather than just one or two weeks a year.
After returning home, I called up the best guide in Northwest Arkansas, excited to tell him I had found my way back to Sam's Throne. After describing our adventure to him, he chuckled and said, "You were not at Sam's Throne, it was just across the hollow." I was a bit let down at first, but then perked up right away as I realized that yet another adventure was ahead, since we still have to find Sam's Throne. I think that is part of the fun I get out of hiking in the Ozarks, sometimes you have a great hike, and still don't make it to your destination.
It turned out that we could walk completely around the top of this large rock. We strolled along a small path, and at times, did a bit of rock climbing to get where we wanted to go. We made the turn and started down the south side of the rock when we saw this very large point. Of course we just had to stop and go look. It gave a totally different view of the valley below us, and it appeared this was mostly national forest.
We made our way all the way around the top of the rock, and then were lucky enough to find a trail across the top that took us back to the road, which lead back to the truck. We decided to take one last look at the magnificent area before we headed back down the mountain. Bill said he felt like he was standing on top of the world and I agreed. We both agreed that we were very lucky to be living in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, where we had the opportunity to do this every weekend, rather than just one or two weeks a year.
After returning home, I called up the best guide in Northwest Arkansas, excited to tell him I had found my way back to Sam's Throne. After describing our adventure to him, he chuckled and said, "You were not at Sam's Throne, it was just across the hollow." I was a bit let down at first, but then perked up right away as I realized that yet another adventure was ahead, since we still have to find Sam's Throne. I think that is part of the fun I get out of hiking in the Ozarks, sometimes you have a great hike, and still don't make it to your destination.