Magazine Mountain
| Arkansas |
Elevation: 2,753'
Vertical Gain: 225'
Vertical Gain: 225'
Date: April 5, 2009
Time: 1:36 PM
Time: 1:36 PM
Weather: Cloudy, windy, cool
Party: Bob, Kevin
Party: Bob, Kevin
This was the first state of a five state highpointing trip that was quite different from the last
ones. After getting a notification that our American Airlines frequent flier miles would soon
expire due to lack of use I started planning the next trip. The summer would be short for Kevin
due to his late high school graduation, a planned cruise with the extended family, and the need
for him to head off to Binghamton University early for soccer training. This meant that his
spring break was a good time to go which also ruled out most of the northern states as a
destination. So the clear answer was ... the deep South! This would also provide the
opportunity to make the long talked about visit to Pam's Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Tom in Hot
Springs Village.
A long wait in Chicago meant we would get into Memphis pretty late but upon the insistence of
Tom and Ruth we still made the drive to their place after landing, arriving very late at night.
After a leisurely breakfast, while the others went off to see historic Hot Springs, Kevin and I
made the hour and half drive through the Ozarks to Magazine Mountain. We left in shorts and
short sleeves but as we drove and gained elevation, the clouds rolled in, the wind picked up,
and the temperature dropped to 43 degrees. It was a good thing it was a quick (and deserted)
.6 mile round trip to the summit where we celebrated with our traditional Fig Newtons.
ones. After getting a notification that our American Airlines frequent flier miles would soon
expire due to lack of use I started planning the next trip. The summer would be short for Kevin
due to his late high school graduation, a planned cruise with the extended family, and the need
for him to head off to Binghamton University early for soccer training. This meant that his
spring break was a good time to go which also ruled out most of the northern states as a
destination. So the clear answer was ... the deep South! This would also provide the
opportunity to make the long talked about visit to Pam's Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Tom in Hot
Springs Village.
A long wait in Chicago meant we would get into Memphis pretty late but upon the insistence of
Tom and Ruth we still made the drive to their place after landing, arriving very late at night.
After a leisurely breakfast, while the others went off to see historic Hot Springs, Kevin and I
made the hour and half drive through the Ozarks to Magazine Mountain. We left in shorts and
short sleeves but as we drove and gained elevation, the clouds rolled in, the wind picked up,
and the temperature dropped to 43 degrees. It was a good thing it was a quick (and deserted)
.6 mile round trip to the summit where we celebrated with our traditional Fig Newtons.
At least we brought jackets.
Although not obvious, the rock
"patio" form a map of Arkansas.
"patio" form a map of Arkansas.
Not only did Kevin forget his
hang glider, he didn't register
at the visitor center.
hang glider, he didn't register
at the visitor center.