Odyssey 2011 Videos

The Nomad carries a small digital camera (see Gear List) with him to capture the people, places and breathtaking scenery found along the trail. Every couple of weeks he sends home his camera media card so online photo albums and videos can be created to share with you. Be sure to check back often to view these images and experience the journey through his eyes.

Nimblewill Nomad – Odyssey 2011: Triple-O (Part 1)

May 4, from Onondaga State Park to May 14, Van Buren, Missouri

Follow the Nimblewill Nomad as he begins his Odyssey 2011, a thru-hike of the “Triple-O”, being the Ozark Trail, Ozark Highlands Trail, and the Ouachita Trail. This video segment covers his trek along trail and roadwalks, specifically pertaining to the Ozark National Recreation Trail in Missouri. He hikes the trail around the eastern leg (to Van Buren) where he then hitches a ride back some 70 miles to the fork, to prepare to hike the western leg.

Nimblewill Nomad – Odyssey 2011: Triple-O (Part 2)

May 15, from Big Spring to May 21, Stegall Mountain, Missouri

Still in Missouri, the Nimblewill Nomad begins this segment by capturing video of an awesome natural wonder called Big Spring. Finished with his hike of the eastern leg of the Ozark Trail, he has returned some 70  miles back up the trail, to the Trace Creek/Middle Fork section, where he then begins another southbound trek along the western leg, considered the official loop of the trail. The Nomad stops often to share scenes at Sutton’s Bluff, Bee Fork, and the simple, peaceful tranquility of the site and sounds of nature along the way. Moving on down the trail he comes to Blair Creek and the Blair Creek Raised Fen, Rocky Creek, and the old Klepzig Mill, finishing with a scenic view of his climb to the summit of Stegall Mountain.

Nimblewill Nomad – Odyssey 2011: Triple-O (Part 3)

June 11, from west of Van Buren to June 13, Eleven Point River, Missouri

After nearly 3 weeks off the trail, due to time needed for doctor and recuperation with his knees, the Nimblewill Nomad is back out on the trail. He comes back to the trail from where he had left, a little west of Van Buren, Missouri. Pacing himself, and taking it easy on his knees, he makes his way on down the Current River Section of the Ozark Trail, sharing some wonderful video of Hurricane Creek, then leaves us with a look at the Eleven Point River, for which the Eleven Point Section of the trail was named.

Nimblewill Nomad – Odyssey 2011: Triple-O (Part 4)

June 13, from Hurricane Creek, Missouri to June 20, Cole Fork Creek, Arkansas

With his knees growing stronger, the Nomad treks on to finish the Eleven Point Section, then heads into the North Fork Section to complete the Ozark National Recreation Trail, at the Collins Ridge Trailhead. At this time it is with heavy heart the Nomad must go on, without Gordon’s continued support. The Nimblewill Nomad now begins his connector roadwalk down Shoal Creek Trail Road, toward Lake Norfork, to get to the start of the Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail. However,  he didn’t get very far down that road before he found it under water and had to turn back. The video ends with the Nomad making his connection, and the Ozark Highlands Trail is under foot. Unfortunately, only 530 miles into the planned 1,111 mile hike, while trekking the Sylamore Section of the OHT, the Nomad suffered a broken leg and is again off-trail. God willing, and with proper healing time, the plan is to return yet again, to this amalgam of trails that form the backbone in a system of trails spanning the Ozark Highlands of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Nimblewill Nomad – Odyssey 2011: Triple-O (Part 5)

Aug. 13, from Cole Fork Creek to Aug. 14, Buffalo National River, Arkansas

After a second time off the trail, this one for a more serious broken leg injury, and taking a little more than 6 weeks to heal, the Nimblewill Nomad, undaunted, is again back on the trail. Returning to the same location in the Sylamore Section, he heads out with an even greater determination to finish this odyssey, The Triple-O. Now making his way along the Ozark Highlands Trail, he treks through to Cap Fork Creek, stopping to chat awhile with a fellow trail-mate (a noisy rattle snake), and then on to Spring Creek Trailhead. The Nomad continues his hike with a roadwalk, taking him through downtown Big Flat, and eventually to the Buffalo Hiking Trail, next the Buffalo National River.

Nimblewill Nomad – Odyssey 2011: Triple-O (Part 6)

Aug. 16, from Marshall to Aug. 24, Spirits Creek, Arkansas

This segment begins with roadwalking, along US 65, through Arkansas, where the Nimblewill Nomad pauses to take some video at Marshall. He continues his “tarmac trek” north until crossing the bridge on US 65, over the Buffalo National River. Then, by the time he reaches Richland Creek, there are trees overhead and softer tread under foot. Soon the Nomad  stops at Gee Creek, which is not far from Haw Creek, to test our knowledge a bit and see how many of us know how to talk to a horse or mule. Crossing paths with another trail-mate (snake), the Nomad eventually finds himself standing in front of the Ozone Registration box, waiting in line for his turn to sign in. These trail-mates were of a different variety (wasps); the kind that chased him to the end of the line where he could only watch and wait for his turn. The video comes to a close at Spirits Creek.

Nimblewill Nomad – Odyssey 2011: Triple-O (Part 7)

Aug. 29, from Talihina, Oklahoma to Sept. 9, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

This is the final segment for Odyssey 2011: The Triple-O. The Nimblewill Nomad roadwalked from the end of the Ozark Highlands Trail, to the western terminus of the Ouachita Trail, in Oklahoma. From there he begins his west to east trek through the Ouachita National Forest, passing through Talimena State Park, Lake Fort Smith State Park, and then crossing back into Arkansas to traverse the Ouachita Mountains through Queen Wilhelmina State Park and the Flatside Wilderness, on to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, and the end of the Ouachita Trail. A 60-day journey, traveling 1,111 miles through Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma; linking the Ozark Trail, the Ozark Highlands Trail, and the Ouachita Trail together; thru-hiking this amalgam of trails he has named “The Triple-O”. With Odyssey 2011 finally under his belt, the Nomad made his way to Little Rock, to catch a well deserved Amtrak ride back home to Missouri.

Missouri Waltz