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June 26 2002

Distance Traveled: 1.1    Total Miles: 25.8

Location: Little Missouri River - Trail Head, then home.

Entry:

Today was the last day of our hike. I got up at 0600 and was ready to go (again) before 0700. But I had to get the kids up an moving again, and they were definitely dragging butt. I finally got them up and rolling by 0800 and on the trail moving. I'm carrying Matt's hammock and sleeping bag again, and Donald has Karen's sleeping bag and pad. If it weren't for all this stuff in my pack, I would be under 20 pounds.

Matt and I moved in front, going up the hill to the top of Lost Mountain without stopping. At the top we waited for Karen and Donald who arrived about 20 minutes after we got there. Like the previous day, the top was so badly overgrown that the side trail to Spirit Rock Vista was lost in the briars and brush. Unless someone with tough clothing and a machete was willing to do some labor for about an hour, I doubt the trail could be found.

We started moving down the mountain to the trail head and I pushed out to the front while the kids stayed together. I got to the car before 0900 and waited for everyone else. The kids were so happy... maybe relived is a better word. We took an "after" photo of the hikers coming off the trail. We had planned to take it in the same spot, but there were two cars there this time, and one was blocking the place we did the "before" photo.

We drove down to the Albert Pike Recreation area and made use of the free showers and trash cans. The hot water felt great, and it was nice to be in clean cotton clothing again. Then we drove to Hope, AR for an AYCE buffet at Western Sizzler. After a few plates of food and generous re-fills on ice cold ice tea - we headed on home to get ready for our next trip, Fair Hope, AL.

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