Going up Mount Magazine, Paris, Arkansas

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Mount Magazine State Park is located near Paris, Arkansas, and is only a few miles from our camp site in Ozark, Ar.  The peak of Mount Magazine is 2753 feet above sea level and is the highest peak in the Ozarks.  It boasts 14 miles of trails that connect with the Ozark National Forest Trails to offer nearly 60 miles of back country paths.  This sounds like a hikers paradise to us.

In preparing for our ascent up this mountain, we did our research first, like most experienced hikers always do.  Our research revealed several warnings that all hikers should be aware of before setting out along any of the 14 miles of trails.  First, stay on the trails.  Getting off the marked trails can cause confusion and hikers can become disoriented.  It can also destroy rare and delicate wildflowers. Second, watch your step.  Some trails take you to the brink of bluffs and can be very dangerous when walking on loose or wet rocks.  Wear proper hiking gear, use a walking stick, and take plenty of water.  Don't pick wild flowers or leave any litter behind.  The last warning made me really anxious. Watch out for Bears!  Since I am a Chicago Bears fan, I was hoping we come across one.  Then Kitty explained that warning was for the four legged bears, not the two legged ones!  I still was unafraid and confident in the knowledge that I could out run Kitty!

Feeling comfortable we were properly prepared, the three of us began our long arduous journey up Mount Magazine.  Stopping along the way, we took some pictures.

Kallie, Kitty, and I stopped to catch our breath.  I could tell Kallie was a little winded since she refused to look at the camera.

This view is actually looking back toward our campground in Ozark several miles away.

I felt safe walking out onto this bluff to take some pictures since it had a fence!

There's no fence on this bluff to protect me.  Looking down at that dead tree was a reminder of what could happen to me if I was to slip on these rocks!

We're near the top of Mount Magazine looking down at the lodge.  The original lodge was built during the great depression, but burned down in 1971.  It took about thirty years to replace it with this beautiful lodge.  It was built in 2004 and offers spectacular views of the valley below.

This shot was taken from the rear balcony of the lodge looking down at Blue Mountain Lake.

Here's Kallie, Kitty, and me near the lodge.  Looks like Kallie finally caught her breath!

 Now you kids at home, don't try hang gliding off this ridge!  You have to be certified...crazy!

This is what it looks like when you step off the ledge!

Well that's it for us.  We really enjoyed our adventure up Mount Magazine even though we didn't see any Chicago Bears!  All of this exercise getting in and out of our truck has really tired us out!  So, we are heading back to our camp in Ozark.  Tomorrow, we are heading to Table Rock Lake in south eastern Missouri.