Monthly Archives: November 2013

A Special Place Somewhere in the Ozarks

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Mirkwood Cabin

Mirkwood Cabin

This is a special place located in the Ozark Mountains.  Several guys went in together back in the 70s and purchased a piece of land located in the Ozark National Forest that had been designated as a wilderness area.  They spent years building this cabin using timbers from a cabin close to Siloam Springs, Arkansas.  The timbers date to around 1852.  While planning where to locate the cabin, they discovered footings for a previous cabin located exactly where they determined to place this cabin.  They also discovered a well located a few feet away from the kitchen area of the cabin.

The owners of this cabin are generous in providing hospitality to others.  Those who are guests see it as a  treasure and show respect for this special place.  There is no electricity or plumbing but there is a surplus of quiet and beauty.

Front porch of the Mirkwood Cabin

Front porch of the Mirkwood Cabin

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Window in the loft.

Window in the loft.

View from the front porch.

View from the front porch.

Dining table and lanterns.

Dining table and lanterns.

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Looking up into the loft.

Changing Seasons Along the Trails

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Lake Alma Trail at sunset.

Lake Alma Trail at sunset.

I love the changes in season.  New colors always seem to surprise.

Fall leaves along the trail

Fall leaves along the Lake Alma Trail.

Season change often brings beauty right under your feet if you’re noticing.

Old roadbed on the Ozark Highlands Trail.

Old roadbed on the Ozark Highlands Trail.

What might be an ordinary roadbed that follows the path of the trail glitters with color.

Sweet gum leaf at a wet crossing on the Ozark Highlands Trail

Sweet gum leaf at a wet crossing on the Ozark Highlands Trail

Little scenes of beauty surround you and are easily overlooked.  Following the crossing of this little creek in the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area, I was captured by the beauty of the path I’d just traveled.

Hurricane Creek

Hurricane Creek

Progress down the trail was slow because my camera kept calling to me to please stop.

Hurricane Creek

Hurricane Creek

Hurricane Creek

Hurricane Creek

Lake Alma Trail

Lake Alma Trail

Back home again.  We’ll end where we began with the evening sun lighting up the 3.8 mile trail at Lake Alma.

Walking the Sun Down

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Lake Alma Trail at sunset.

Lake Alma Trail at sunset.

An evening walk can relax the mind and spirit.   What to pack? Water, headlamp, and your thoughts.  This evening’s walk began at sunset  so the last couple of miles were in the dark except for the headlamp. Enjoyed the night sounds and chilled air.  Recent rains have the creeks flowing again.  The cares of the week fell along the trail and I ended the walk feeling lighter and stronger.

My “miles matter” self-challenge continues.  I’ve hiked just over 500 miles since July 1.