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View Full Version : Ouachita National Forest - Around Mt. Ida AR - Not safe for Dialup :)



codertimt
09-01-2010, 10:33 AM
Finally took the XJ out for it's maiden voyage. Went with my Dad down some Forest Service roads/trails south of Mt. Ida. I think I'm hooked...now just need to find some closer offroading buds...

This one ended up dead-ending at an active Crystal mine. Left it in 2wd, tires slipped once on a washed out uphill spot. I was quite pleased.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THljGeDFPrI/AAAAAAAAByE/aOqOmoe5gyg/s800/2010-08-28%2009.28.45.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THljXHG8KzI/AAAAAAAAByQ/uxSvAal01-g/s800/2010-08-28%2009.29.51.jpg

The main trail we ran...a few little creeks that always make for good pics.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THliZtipHCI/AAAAAAAABxs/A0pP19YQbik/s800/2010-08-28%2010.49.01.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THliIwXghDI/AAAAAAAABxk/bsQlmsid-38/s800/2010-08-28%2010.46.33.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THliBf6UxoI/AAAAAAAABxc/-ZQRSaOO-0o/s800/2010-08-28%2010.49.18.jpg

And after this crossing, here is where we were rejected and had to turn around. It became pretty much a washed out rock garden after this...I think the XJ could have made it, but my Dad was in a mostly stock Tracker and was having clearance problems as it was. Skids and rails in my future I think, I didn't have any issues, but didn't want to turn around for a few rocks. :)

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THllbZjNw-I/AAAAAAAAByY/E7cYV2WWn0w/s800/2010-08-28%2011.25.41.jpg

This is a little picnic area off of the main gravel road. Ice cold water flowing underground source...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THlhS24to9I/AAAAAAAABxE/iovLEFKE4vo/s800/2010-08-28%2012.20.49.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THlgrogL3xI/AAAAAAAABxA/oKO8dvbvtrA/s800/2010-08-28%2012.20.54.jpg

And finally a little lake at the end of a different little trail...there was a little bit of mud to play in on the way in...but unfortunately the pics from that have to go in the forum above... :D
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QFsKJezRHFc/THlgSQ8kuzI/AAAAAAAABww/lQ8sWYWIjvI/s800/2010-08-28%2013.11.59.jpg

Mudderoy
09-01-2010, 10:42 AM
Yep it's another world taking your Jeep off road. The Cherokee goes off road so easily that unless you have something to compare it to you might think you could have taken anything in there.

Thanks for the pictures!

:camera: :popcorn:

4.3LXJ
09-01-2010, 11:04 AM
Nice pics. What kind of crystals in the mine? I probably would have explored the creek beds for some of what they were mining if I had been along.

codertimt
09-01-2010, 11:30 AM
Nice pics. What kind of crystals in the mine? I probably would have explored the creek beds for some of what they were mining if I had been along.

Quartz crystal. Yeah, I wished we had explored a little more explored a bit more and taken more pics...

Mudderoy
09-01-2010, 11:32 AM
Quartz crystal. Yeah, I wished we had explored a little more explored a bit more and taken more pics...

I have a hard time stopping the enjoyment of the adventure to take pictures. I need to take about 10x more pictures, but I don't realize it until I'm back at home sitting in front of the computer. I guess we all learn by doing.

codertimt
09-01-2010, 12:33 PM
I have a hard time stopping the enjoyment of the adventure to take pictures. I need to take about 10x more pictures, but I don't realize it until I'm back at home sitting in front of the computer. I guess we all learn by doing.

I have a plan to combat this plus get my wife to actually accompany me offroad. She recently got a Canon T2i DSLR camera and is always looking for thing to photograph and my little cell phone pics above made her realize there are some great photo opportunities out in the woods. So I think I have her convinced to join me and as a bonus I will end up with 100s of pics from the outing.

prerunner1982
09-02-2010, 09:11 AM
Didn't come across Bigfoot while you were there did ya?


Great pics, looks like fun.

prerunner1982
09-02-2010, 04:47 PM
If you are wondering what I am talking about... bot to BFRO.net (I think) and look at the Oklahoma reports. They even do expeditions in that area of Oklahoma.

codertimt
09-02-2010, 05:47 PM
If you are wondering what I am talking about... bot to BFRO.net (I think) and look at the Oklahoma reports. They even do expeditions in that area of Oklahoma.

Ahh, I had always thought of bigfoot of a Pacific Northwest kind of guy. Will have to keep a better lookout next time. :D