Welcome to the Ozark Trail!

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Wind Storm Damage Update - 12/9/2009

Steady progress continues on clearing the wind storm damage from last May.

Here are some Recent Openings:
- Hwy A north into Bell Mountain Wilderness, Lindsey Mountain, and south to the State Park Boundary. Thanks to the USFS and Americorp for all their hard work.
- Marble Creek Trail and Crane Lake Loop. OTA Sawyers finished clearing the rest of this section on 12/5/2009.

The following sections of the Ozark Trail are still effectively CLOSED from the May 8th windstorm:
The Taum Sauk Section from south of Hwy A at the State Park Boundary through Goggins, Johnson's Shut-Ins, and over to Devil's Tollgate is CLOSED. This section suffered severe damage with the highest number of trees down per mile. Currently the Department of Natural Resources, with help from the OTA, is working to get the section from Johnson's Shut-ins to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park open by late spring.

While this is in progress, if you have your mind set on the Taum Sauk Section, please visit one of the following:
Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park
The new Scour Loop Trail and Scour Overlook off Hwy N
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
The eastern portion of the Taum Sauk, from Hwy 21 over to Mina Sauk Falls Loop and Devil's Tollgate.

On the Blair Creek Section, there is still a 2-mile section in the middle within Pioneer Forest between Holmes Hollow and Little Blair Creek that has about 40 trees down. If you plan to visit the Blair Creek Section, make sure you have a good map or GPS. From south of Midridge heading north to the Hwy P Trailhead, and the southern 5 miles near Powder Mill are OPEN.

As we receive more information, we are posting updates HERE and under Trail Conditions.

OTA volunteers, agency staff and contractors are doing their best to get the trail reopened. You can help by volunteering at a future OTA event. You can also send donations to cover our fuel, oil, repair and administrative costs by sending a tax-deductible check to the Ozark Trail Association at 406 W. High St. Potosi MO 63664 or by calling the office at (573) 436-0540 to find out about other funding options.

Ozark Trail through Peck Ranch Closures

The following dates the Ozark Trail thru Peck Ranch will be closed because of managed hunts:
December 11, 12, and 13.

October Mega

A good time was had by all at the last Mega event of 2009. The weather was great, 118 people showed up, 3/4 mile of trail was built, everyone filled up on burgers and brats, and the bon fire was a great back drop to the bluegrass band. We are working on our winter / spring schedule now, so check back in a month or so for more trail construction and maintenance outings. [pictures]

Huzzah CA Maintenance

You know fall is really here when the construction and maintenance plans include "grubbing on the trail". This past Saturday morning was cool but promised to be a beautiful day as twelve volunteers, including a couple of grandkids, made a wet crossing to the bluffs along the Courtois Creek to do tread work and lopping in the Huzzah Conservation area.

As we worked the trail along the bluffs, several canoeist and kayakers passed by exchanging greetings of what a great day it was. We were also fortunate to have David Stonner, a well known MO Department of Conservation photographer, hike though the area and the remark was made that the trail looked much better than when they began earlier that morning. After some small talk, an invitation to join us trail building sometime in the future was extended. By mid-day, Robert declared the section done and then all enjoyed a great meal topped off with some great conversation and camaraderie.
[pictures]

September Mega Recap

The Ozark Trail Association torch continued to burn brightly as 154 people turned out to build trail at the first Mega Event of the 2009-2010 season on Saturday, September 26th. The OTA would like to thank Stephan and Julie Bass of Bass' River Resort in Crawford County for hosting another fine outing and for providing free camping to OTA volunteers. And thanks go to REI for again sponsoring our Mega Event. read more
[pictures] [more pictures]

Credit Card / Paypal Your Membership!

The Ozark Trail Association is membership-supported. Your membership fees equip volunteers with tools, chainsaw supplies, signage, hammers, nails... a whole host of things to keep the trail open and to build new trail. There's also a newsletter! And free online maps! Your membership is important to the ongoing success of the trail.

And now: you can pay for your membership or make a donation using your credit card or PayPal account! Visit our main membership page today for an easy way to renew your membership, start a new membership or to make a contribution!

Adopt-A-Trail

225 miles of through-trail opened for use in 2006, part of the 360 total miles of Ozark Trail in Missouri.  That's a lot of trail to keep clear of trees and brush.  You can help out by maintaining a short section of trail through our Adopt-A-Trail program.  Adopters work on two- or three-mile sections a few times a year, lopping back limbs, putting up new signs and reporting on trail conditions.  It's a good way to give back a little to the OT.  And it's a great excuse to get away for a day on the trail!

Interested?  Learn more by visiting our Adopt-A-Trail page or contacting our
Adopt-A-Trail coordinator.

Trail Angel Program

The Ozark Trail Association is proud to present the Trail Angel Program or TAP for short. The phrase "Trail Angel" refers to a generous individual or group of individuals that provide acts of kindness to participants of many outdoor events. The TAP is aimed at those not quite ready to commit for three outings each year, or who would rather work on a variety of trail locations. In a nutshell, it is a maintenance program that is meant to complement the Adopt-A-Trail program. We need you, and, if you are willing to give just one day of your time, we will find a place for you to work. For any adventurous souls wanting to make a greater contribution of their time, we can find locations needing multiple days.

The TAP Program falls under the umbrella of the AAT program, but it will be coordinated by Gwen Fuehring. Gwen, as many of you know, is an adopter herself and maintains the foot trail at Barton Fen. Gwen and her husband, Dave, were the 2008 recipients of the National Hiking Society's Volunteers of the year, and she is now ready to assist you in finding the best place for your maintenance efforts.

In the weeks ahead, this new program will be developed more fully. However, we are ready with assignments now. The trail could really use your help, the trail could use a few good Trail Angels. For additional information, contact us at tap@ozarktrail.com.