Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12
  1. #1
    Senior Member ^shane^'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Arlington, TX
    Hammock
    WL Light Owl/Dangerbird
    Tarp
    WBBMJ Spinn+doors
    Insulation
    HammockGear Down!!
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    705
    Images
    13

    Eagle Rock Loop - Sept 29-Oct 2

    Yeah, I know it's not Oct 2 yet, but some of the guys are still out on the trail and will finish tomorrow. Work made me come home early.

    We ended up with 10 guys getting together for a backpack on the Eagle Rock Loop in SW Arkansas. We had guys from all over the DFW area (Pat, Hampton, Keith, Jacob, Andy, Eves, Paul, and me), Missouri (Burningcedar), and Arkansas (Smokehouse).

    The group from DFW met Burningcedar at the Winding Stair trailhead Thursday afternoon and camped there Thursday evening. We had some non-hangers in the group, and I brought along my SBLH, netless SB, and WBBB for them to play around in Thursday evening. Burningcedar also had his DIY hammock and they tried it out to. Great design. Smokehouse joined us early Friday morning.

    Friday morning, we drove down FR106 to the Blaylock Creek trailhead and began the hike. 11 miles later, we had 4 big ups and downs behind us and had passed the Little Missouri Falls area. We all tried out Smokehouse's 11' hammock - still the flattest hammock lay I've ever tried out. Smokehouse is a hammock ambassador deluxe, and I think he converted a couple of my non-hanging buddies over to the dark side. We had a great evening around the campfire ring - no fire - just telling stories. It's pretty cool how a group of guys who just met can bond so quickly. Weather was PERFECT. Not too warm. Nothing but blue sky. Nice breeze. The creeks were low, but running, and water was never an issue.

    It cooled down nicely overnight to around 40 degrees Saturday morning. Our plan was to hike down to the winding stair area that day - a hike of about 9 miles. We moved quickly, and were back around at the Winding Stair parking area around 10:30am. That left just another mile and a half to the campsite. Weather was even better Saturday. Temps hovering in the 70s, a slight breeze, and nothing but blue sky. We walked by the Little Missouri River all day, so again, water was never an issue.

    We had a couple of guys with hurting knees, and they decided to stay at the trailhead. The rest of the group decided to hike another 3-4 miles past Winding Stair, either onto the Viles Branch or on to the Athens-Big Fork trail. I had planned on camping at Winding Stair with the group Saturday night and hiking back to my car at the WS trailhead early Sunday so I could get back home in time for a mid-day flight. Since the group decided to hike on, I decided to call it a trip, come home, and get some work done. There is always next year.

    I'll post some pics later. I hope David and Mike post some pictures, too. They took a lot more pictures that the rest of us. UncleMJM & Alan - you guys were missed. We'll plan on another trip to ERL next spring (and a possible long Colorado hike in 2013).

    Gear shout outs:
    TtTTG SBLH - Love my hammock. 'Nuf said.
    Hammockgear.com summer Phoenix & 3S Incubator - used the Phoenix the first night and the Incubator on the trail. Nothing but warm, downy goodness.
    ULA Catalyst - I can't stop saying "Wow!"

    Gear let down:
    My Keen Newport H2s finally died a wicked death. The right heel strap gave way on the third climb Friday. I stitched it back together with some para-cord and made it the rest of the way. Had to. My only other option was a pair of Crocs with no heel straps. I think I'm going to move on to actual trail runners now.
    "One of the best things you can do in this world is take a nap in the woods." ~ Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

    "While it may be a lot of work, the view is best from the summit." ~ an anonymous staff member of Philmont Scout Ranch

    Enjoy the day
    Shane

  2. #2
    Senior Member clb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    North East Texas Pineywoods
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    HG 4 season cuben
    Insulation
    Yeti UQ/Burrow TQ
    Suspension
    Whoopie slings
    Posts
    177
    Shane,
    Thanks for the report, I was waiting for Mike to post something on BPA so I could get an idea about water in the ABF area Now I know!
    Leigh
    aka LookinUp

    He who would travel happily must travel light.
    Antoine de St. Exupery

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Spring, TX
    Hammock
    WB Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    WB Superfly
    Posts
    1,530
    It totally sucks that I missed this trip with some great folks.

  4. #4
    Senior Member UncleMJM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    College Station, TX
    Hammock
    Freebird, HHExUL w/zip mod
    Tarp
    HM Suite, UGQ, HG
    Insulation
    WB Yeti, 5n1 Jerry
    Suspension
    Whoopie Sling
    Posts
    2,697
    Images
    6
    Quote Originally Posted by Alan View Post
    It totally sucks that I missed this trip with some great folks.
    Me too. As an act of penance I hiked some at Enchanted Rock then headed to Colorado Bend State Park to camp for the night then hiked around there Sunday morning. I couldn't swing the time off to make ERL but did get some time in the woods. Definately want to make if there one day.

  5. #5
    Senior Member BurningCedar's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Missouri
    Hammock
    DIY Gathered End
    Tarp
    HG Cuben w/Doors
    Insulation
    Yeti or JRB Quilt
    Suspension
    Whoopie Sling
    Posts
    519
    Images
    9
    First of all -- thanks very much to Shane for setting this whole trip up. Even though I was one of the two "cripples" who skipped those last few miles, I had a really great time! And even better, I made some new hiking friends!

    I brought a new camera on this trip and took a total of 113 photos with it. But a lot of the photos were "just playin' around", out of focus, boring, etc. So I selected the top 27 photos and published them to Flickr.

    I hope everyone had as great a time as I did!
    David

    The road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with weary feet, Until it joins some larger way, Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.
    -Frodo Baggins, The Fellowship of the Ring

  6. #6
    Senior Member SmokeHouse's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Arkansas
    Hammock
    my 11' ers
    Tarp
    many of my tarps
    Insulation
    yeti, Incubators
    Suspension
    DIY Whoopie
    Posts
    1,211
    Images
    49
    Here are a few pic's of the trip. It was great times and the weather and temps were perfect. All the hammockers went tarpless... wink

    https://picasaweb.google.com/1041111.../October22011#

  7. #7
    New Member Zac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Tulsa, OK
    Hammock
    DIY by Smokehouse
    Tarp
    DIY by Smokehouse
    Insulation
    Burrow/Incubator
    Suspension
    whoopie sling
    Posts
    48
    Looks like you all had a great time. Sorry I missed out. I will catch the next trip.

  8. #8
    Senior Member ^shane^'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Arlington, TX
    Hammock
    WL Light Owl/Dangerbird
    Tarp
    WBBMJ Spinn+doors
    Insulation
    HammockGear Down!!
    Suspension
    Whoopies
    Posts
    705
    Images
    13
    Missed you and frank too. Would have been great to have a real crowd. NEXT YEAR!
    "One of the best things you can do in this world is take a nap in the woods." ~ Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

    "While it may be a lot of work, the view is best from the summit." ~ an anonymous staff member of Philmont Scout Ranch

    Enjoy the day
    Shane

  9. #9
    Senior Member sturgeon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Toronto ON
    Hammock
    WB Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    WB Thunderfly
    Insulation
    WB Lynx, HG Burrow
    Suspension
    Dutch Cinch Bugs
    Posts
    965
    Images
    2
    Wow. Good pics of some beautiful and interesting country. Thank you!

  10. #10
    New Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Northern Va
    Posts
    46
    Very cool.
    I actually passed you guys on the trail going ccw on saturday just south/east of little missouri falls (I was solo)
    It was a great wekend to be out there. Great weather, no bugs, plenty of water, but not too much and awesome scenery.
    Nice pics too!

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Ar > Ouachita Forest > Eagle Rock Loop 14/15
      By OgtheKing in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 23
      Last Post: 12-11-2014, 15:16
    2. Eagle Rock Loop Adventure 12-27/12-28
      By Caveman in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 12
      Last Post: 01-22-2014, 23:17
    3. Eagle Rock Loop in Dec,Jan, or Feb
      By hitec4you in forum Southwest
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 12-28-2013, 08:58
    4. Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas
      By Jaker in forum Southeast
      Replies: 20
      Last Post: 06-05-2013, 08:30
    5. Eagle Rock Loop Vetrans I need answers
      By hammocksonlyplease in forum Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning
      Replies: 18
      Last Post: 07-29-2012, 19:45

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •