Post by Sharon Faulkner on Oct 1, 2006 12:04:03 GMT -5
Again, nothing to do with caving, but one item briefly mentioned in the article caught my attention. A little background for anyone who may not know: The folks who plan, build, and maintain trails all over the southeastern U.S. are similar to cavers in that they basically like to give back to the activity they are involved in, namely hiking and enjoying the outdoors. In this article, a woman and her family had traveled from Tennessee to help with Ozark Trail work. She mentions that they had tried to work on the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee, but they were made to feel unwelcome. 
BTW - Similar Trail Associations can be found across the U.S., not only in the Southeast.
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ALONG THE OZARK TRAIL, Missouri
Rugged, backwoods beauty
Ozark trail not for those who like pampering on their vacation
By Cheryl Wittenauer -- Associated Press
October 1, 2006
The Ozark Trail would not be the ideal destination for say, the pampered among us, whose idea of a fab vacation includes shopping, a noisy amusement park, or a spa resort with creature comforts.
But for heartier folks, who like to unwind with physical activity against a backdrop of magnificent natural beauty, Missouri's Ozark Trail may be just the tonic.
The trail, not nearly as famous or as long as the Appalachian Trail, nonetheless offers 563 kilometres of rugged, backwoods country through the biologically diverse Ozarks.
The peaks of the Ozarks lie at an altitude of just 366-548 metres, but they constitute the only significant highlands between the Appalachians and the Rockies. "For Missouri, it's the closest thing to a Colorado experience you can get," said S. Scott Whitaker, president of Gateway Off-Road Cyclists. "It's very secluded, a true wilderness experience with great big hollows and creek bottoms.
Entire Article
BTW - Similar Trail Associations can be found across the U.S., not only in the Southeast.
-----------------------------------------
ALONG THE OZARK TRAIL, Missouri
Rugged, backwoods beauty
Ozark trail not for those who like pampering on their vacation
By Cheryl Wittenauer -- Associated Press
October 1, 2006
The Ozark Trail would not be the ideal destination for say, the pampered among us, whose idea of a fab vacation includes shopping, a noisy amusement park, or a spa resort with creature comforts.
But for heartier folks, who like to unwind with physical activity against a backdrop of magnificent natural beauty, Missouri's Ozark Trail may be just the tonic.
The trail, not nearly as famous or as long as the Appalachian Trail, nonetheless offers 563 kilometres of rugged, backwoods country through the biologically diverse Ozarks.
The peaks of the Ozarks lie at an altitude of just 366-548 metres, but they constitute the only significant highlands between the Appalachians and the Rockies. "For Missouri, it's the closest thing to a Colorado experience you can get," said S. Scott Whitaker, president of Gateway Off-Road Cyclists. "It's very secluded, a true wilderness experience with great big hollows and creek bottoms.
Entire Article
