A Hike Along Mill Creek
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It was a darn nice week and the weekend of Halloween was nice. We had a bit of rain on Saturday, but the evening was fine and the upcoming week looked like great weather. I had made plans to take another rehab hike with a friend of mine. He picked me up on Tuesday, Nov 3 and we headed down highway 7 south towards the Pruitt access. Our plan was to hike the Mill Creek trail.
This trail is a 2.2 mile loop trail which is flat, and runs along Mill Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo National River. I had forgotten the memory stick that goes in my camera, so David has kindly sent his for me to use. I had a Sony Handyman cam along and once I learn how to edit videos I will put up the video of this hike. |
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We started our hike about 11am, parking at the Pruitt access and headed out. We went past the Pruitt bluffs and turned down the trail to follow Mill Creek. It has been very dry here the past several weeks and the creek was pretty dry in some spots but up and moving in others. It was a glorious morning with the sun shining brightly and a very slight southerly breeze. As we made our way up Mill Creek we stopped occasionally to admire the view or look at a few fishing holes and I adjusted my knee brace.
We approached the low water slab at Spring Valley and decided to stop and take a rest. Both of us are trying to get ourselves back into the best hiking shape we can. With my brace adjusted I was feeling good. When we were ready, we continued over the slab and towards the old Shaddox Cabin. We decided not to hike up to the family cemetery. The Shaddox Cabin is an example of an old Ozark family homestead. Close to a year round water supply (I would not be surprised to find out there was a spring nearby) and with several cultivated fields , the original inhabitants were able to live off the land and prosper. The Shaddox family is well known in my home town of Harrison, and I have a razorback quilt made by Grandma Shaddox which I won in a raffle.
Once we left the cabin we decided to climb down a small bank and walk back to Pruitt via the Mill Creek creek bed. There was water from time to time but for the most part we were able to scoot around it. The only time we ended up getting our feet wet was at the very end where Mill Creek joins the Buffalo River. we were on the wrong side and had to cross. I was amazed and saddened when we passed a sign with a water quality alert. It is a shame that we have allowed the clean and clear flowing Buffalo River, a place where you could always take your kids for a swim, to become polluted. Neil Compton, Harold and Margaret Hedges, and all the other original members of the Ozark Society who have passed away must be throwing up in their graves.
It was a really beautiful day for the hike. I had a good time and my knee did not hurt much till the next day. I think 2.2 miles is about all my knee can handle right now. The good news is we know plenty more spots that are within hobbling distance, I hope to bring more pictures back soon.
We approached the low water slab at Spring Valley and decided to stop and take a rest. Both of us are trying to get ourselves back into the best hiking shape we can. With my brace adjusted I was feeling good. When we were ready, we continued over the slab and towards the old Shaddox Cabin. We decided not to hike up to the family cemetery. The Shaddox Cabin is an example of an old Ozark family homestead. Close to a year round water supply (I would not be surprised to find out there was a spring nearby) and with several cultivated fields , the original inhabitants were able to live off the land and prosper. The Shaddox family is well known in my home town of Harrison, and I have a razorback quilt made by Grandma Shaddox which I won in a raffle.
Once we left the cabin we decided to climb down a small bank and walk back to Pruitt via the Mill Creek creek bed. There was water from time to time but for the most part we were able to scoot around it. The only time we ended up getting our feet wet was at the very end where Mill Creek joins the Buffalo River. we were on the wrong side and had to cross. I was amazed and saddened when we passed a sign with a water quality alert. It is a shame that we have allowed the clean and clear flowing Buffalo River, a place where you could always take your kids for a swim, to become polluted. Neil Compton, Harold and Margaret Hedges, and all the other original members of the Ozark Society who have passed away must be throwing up in their graves.
It was a really beautiful day for the hike. I had a good time and my knee did not hurt much till the next day. I think 2.2 miles is about all my knee can handle right now. The good news is we know plenty more spots that are within hobbling distance, I hope to bring more pictures back soon.
Bonus Gallery
These images are frame captures from the Sony Handycam that I was carrying along on the hike. The resolution is not nearly as good as the ones David took and shared with us. I wanted to include it to give another perspective on the Mill Creek Loop Trail. I hope to make a video of the hike.