albert pike

[wgonfan]

We are thinking about making a short notice camping trip to the albert pike area this weekend. I haven't been up there since the spring and don't know if that area is suffering from the same dry drought conditions that we are having here in texas. Does anyone know if they have had rain recently and if there is still enough water in the creeks for the kids to play in. Also do y'all know if the natl forest is under burn ban?

[Roger]

Pike County has burn ban as does Howard County (to the west). Montgomery County is not. The CG is right on the county lines. May need to ask around if you go.

CG itself is closed to camping but you might go to Shady Lake CG:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 194286.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.arkfireinfo.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Drove through there back in the spring and the CG is not in very good shape. Should be some water in some stretches to allow for kiddie splashing.

[wgonfan]

Thanks for the info on the burn ban. Yea, its a somber reminder when driving through there. We were not planning on camping in the campground, but about a mile past it further up into the forest. I haven't been over to shady lake in years, that may be a good idea.

[Jim Krueger]

Just for a follow-up to this thread, Marlo and I decided to get out for a day's outing today, and we decided to head to Camp Albert. It's been about eight years or so since I've last been there on a picnic, like today. I knew before-hand the area has been closed since the tragic loss of life there last year but sure hated seeing one of the former 'jewels' of Arkansas in such a state of neglect. The flood plain certainly looks mangled from the flood, as expected, just like on the Upper Caddo, it will take nature some years to recover, but the 'original' campground and swimming area simply look the worse, with NFS signs threatning arrest for tresspassing plasterd everywhere, rotting construction fences, and overgrown weeds, it's a crying shame! I can only figure nothing will be decided or further action taken until any litigation ongoing is addressed, but it's so sad. It's a sorry state of affairs that I don't feel either honors the loved ones lost, or respects the use this special place has had so many countless others for many, many years.
I can certainly understand the Forest Service taking more time to decide how to better utilize the camping aspects in this area again, but I don't understand why the former campgrounds, pic-nic, swimming areas haven't been cleaned up and at least reopened for day use in the mean time.
Marlo and I were able to wedge into a fromer camp site to eat lunch today, afterwhich we toured the 'loop D' RV site where so many lost their lives, then back to Lawoury's (SP) campground to survey the site of a 1940's cabin some friends family once had along the river. From there we took the road over to Shady Lake, a really nice drive today, not much traffic except horse campers and a very few hikers on the Athens-Bigfork trail. Shorthly before we arrived at Shady Lake, I was also somewhat dismayed to note the road to Tall Peak, it's historic fire tower, and one of the best vistas in the Ouachitas was gated...
We did get to Camp Albert today, could travel on to Little Mo. Falls area, or Shady Lake as we pleased, and had a very nice afternoon out but it will be my utmost wish that the area can one day return to the beloved place many have known, with all due respects.

Jim

[wgonfan]

I agree with Jim. I can understand not rebuilding and not repening the campground to camping, but there is no reason to not go in there and clean it up, to remove the damaged picnic tables and such (it does looks like they have removed some). Had I lost of friend or family member in the flood I would not be happy with the current state of the park.

we ended up not going this weekend but probably will in a few from now. Jim, did you notice if there was water in the creeks? just enough to add ambiance to sleep with and for the kiddos to play in?

when i was there earlier this year Tall peak was open. I always enjoy driving to it and hanging out a little bit. had we gone this weekend it was one of our things "to do". I would had been slightly irritated had we left out campsite and made that drive just to find the road locked. O-well, it happens. I'll scratch that one off our list next time we head out there. Also, the past two times we have been up there the sherriff and forest rangers have been heavily policing then blue hole area. Apparently that is private property. The LEO's were ticketing people attempting to get over there. i grew up with at least 1 trip to albert pike & the blue hole every year or two. I was never aware that it was private property as I had always just followed Dad or an uncle over there so I never really paid attention. I'm all for land owner rights and would never trespass intentionally; Still, I will miss semi-annual trips to the blue hole. I'm not complaining about not being able to get over to the blue hole, just passing the info along.

[Jim Krueger]

Wgonfan,

Yes, even with the prolonged dry spell we've had, there is enough water in the river and creeks for the kids to splash about it. On the way over to Shady Lake, we stopped at Bard Springs CG and noticed kids doing exactly that. Nothing is flowing enough to really hear it 'babbling' from a camp but with a little scouting I'm sure one can find some of the streams depressions to lounge in
I'm not sure sure about where or what Blue Hole by name you mentioned, I do know of the main swimming area, the large hole of water
just below the bridge at Camp Albert. Why it's now fenced off by the NFS, or why it could be considered private is beyond me. It looks like any other part of the river in that respect and as far as I know the Little Mo. should be open to anyone wanting to fish, swim, float, etc. I don't get it.
On Tall Peak; Maybe a call to the Mena ranger office could yeild some info. on those times one could expect the gate to be open. Next time I'm over there I may leave Marlo to kayak around Shady lake if she likes while I walk up the road if the gate is still closed. I remember going up to the top back in the 70's when the fire lookout was still manned by the forestry dept. (in that case it was a nice lady from Athens) In later years I drove up there only to see the historic structure vandalized... It's still a great view and a favorite spot for me.

Best Regards
Jim

[bryanpin]

it's true the campgrounds are in bad shape. but the river is still as awesome as ever. and taking advantage of the bedrock in the Ouachita's (no loss of water to underground caves like the ozarks) the lil mo remains one of the best swimming holes in the state, the best on being in the winding stairs area to me. hike into the staircase, the river is as pristine as ever. great swimming and be sure to hike up raven branch creek that comes in river left below the staircase. it's prolly 2 miles or so to hike in, but totally worth it. My boys 12 and 6, made the hike fine. but they are pretty solid trekkers....in summary, the camground wasn't ever close to coolest spot around the lil mo water shed, even before the tragedy.