Snow hike in Winter Hollow to the North Fork Illinois Bayou
2/5/22
It's been said that winter is a time for discontent. I disagree, for I have content...and it's winter style. At three in the morning, breakfast options included the Waff Ho and nothing else. I ate there, but would have preferred Denny's, had they been open...but no. A snow event had recently occurred, and all my intel gave the impression that the ground would be well covered...but no again. The roads were essentially clear on the drive up, but that's good. My starting point had around an inch of snow with crunchiness below. I entered the Ozark National Forest from Hwy 7 near Moccasin Gap at 5:00 oh clock. An old road was followed. It was pretty damned steep, man. The snow surface provided adequate traction on the decline. After a time, the North Fork of the Illinois Bayou was before me. It was still well before sunrise, so I waited. The temp was 22°. Skies were quite clear and the wind was absent. The river was flowing well, but not floatable. I beheld the rising of our sun and found it to be quite refreshing. Beavers and otters and geese and ducks and wading birds were not observed.
The creek of focus was the one that cut its way down Winter Hollow. It merged with the North Fork right at my present location. I followed it to the northwest, then west...sometimes it moved in other directions as well. The snow revealed a myriad of animal tracks. Most are never seen under typical conditions. Deer, coyotes, bunnies, squirrels, field mice and killer cats...these were the wildland creatures that were hidden from me. Their spoor was all that remained, and that was enough to create an adequate mental image of just how deadly the forest is. The creek flowed well and had many interesting amenities. Two waterfalls were passed and each imbued their own special ambience. The second was where luncheon was partaken of. The food items consumed provided my carcass with much needed nutriments. As I reclined above the falls, my loins recovered from the, so far, quite perilous journey through the shrubbery of death. The forest hath given forth the succor that is precious to behold. I did savor all its gootniss. After the consumption, I moved up the slope. The snow now hindered my advancement at every turn. I endeavored onward and after many near slips over precipices and such...the ridgeline was achieved. Arrival was made back to my ORTU (Outdoor Recreation Transportation Unit) at 1:10 with 36°. The hike covered approximately 4.5 mileage units.
