Author: Matthew

June 9:  In hindsight, there was really no reason to worry but when you are 2 hours into your hike, its 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon and you can’t find your final destination, your mind starts running numbers like you are calculating the re-entry velocity for the space shuttle.

“Well I’ve gone 2 hours, sunset isn’t for another 4 so I should be good.  But I need to get back, setup my bed, make dinner, jump in the Gulpha Creek to wash all this sweat off.  So I should probably be back 2 hours before sunset.  Maybe I can book it back and make up 30mins?  Maybe I only need an hour at camp? Should I just turn around now…  I just hiked all this way and I’m not gonna summit this thing?  I have to be close at this point, right?  Who cares if I summit? I do.  When was the last time I saw another human?”

These racing thoughts are what were going through my head and even though I generally strive to avoid other humans on my hikes, it was a little disconcerting since this park is not that big and I didn’t think the Music Mountain Summit (high point in the park) was that far.  After running the calcs in my head I told myself I would turn around at 5PM but I also really wanted to hit the high point in the park so I started running down the trail.  The high point is only 1405ft but running along the ridge line led to a lot of ups and down which can be disheartening when you are running up a hill only to see it lead you back down.  At 5pm I was running what was supposed to be my last uphill which again just lead to another downslope.  As I debated with myself whether I could fudge another 30 minutes then sprint back down the mountain, I took my phone out to see if I could use my gaia gps app to see if I could tell how far I was from the summit.  The gps worked and said the summit was just over the next uphill climb.  I’m off and running…  And I find this piece of shit sign…

Not specifically a summit sign but according to my GPS and based off the distances on the sign and my visitor center map, I had made it.

I briskly walked back and made it to my car by 7.  Plenty of time before sunset.  What was I worried about?

June 9:  I drove from Magnolia to Hot Springs, AR this morning to experience Hot Springs National Park.  I walked into the visitor center (got my stamp, Woot, I remembered) and jumped on a tour of the Fordyce Bathhouse as it was starting.  The tour was interesting enough to 1.) give a little history of the city (Al Capone loved it here), 2.) learn the different techniques the bathhouse used to relax/heal their patrons (passing a low voltage current through the water to stimulate your nerves and muscles was one, would not advise), and 3.) step back in time to see what a spa was like 100 years ago (check out this gym).

After the tour, I walked down Central Avenue and it reminded me of an Old Western town.  Quaint but busy with classic western architecture, both sides of the street lined with shops, restaurants and bars.  I stopped in at Superior Bathhouse, the local brewery, for a beer and Cuban sandwich.  The brewery is actually in the National Park and it uses the thermal water to brew its beer.  The Outlaw IPA was very good.

Factoid for the day:  The water discharges out of the ground at ~143 degrees F

Bonus factoid:  The thermal water that is coming out of the ground today, fell to the ground as rain 4000 years ago.

I wanted to get to my campsite and go on a hike so I forwent actually experiencing the hot springs.  Maybe at the end of my trip I’ll find some hot springs to relax in.

The campsite is about a 5 min drive from the visitor center and brewery.  I parked my car, put some essentials in day bag and headed out on my hike…

You can’t start a road trip without an appropriate soundtrack to set the stage as you disembark.  I decided to go with the RHCP’s “Road Trippin'” straight into “Born to Run” followed by listening to the whole “Born to Run” album.  After all, Bruce Springsteen is my spirit guide and will be my co-pilot through these travels.

The first 320 miles of the trip are behind me and the ride could not have been easier today.  Eighty-five degrees and crystal clear blues skies the whole way as I passed through the backwoods of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.

Spending time in Magnolia, AR with some old friends has been a great first day for the trip.   Tomorrow I will be in Hot Springs National Park.

 

 

June 8:  Today is the day.  After several weeks of planning, preparing, moving, crashing on couches and building my car into something I could live in, it is time for me to dive into this adventure.  First stop is Magnolia, Arkansas.