Ouachita Trail (AR)

[Peter Bakwin]

Steve Kirk and Greg Eason hold the FKT, 3d4h34m, in December 2005.

The Ouachita National Recreation Trail stretches 223 miles through the Ouachita Mountains, from Talimena State Park in Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Arkansas. More information and maps are available from the Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT) and from the U.S. Forest Service Ouachita National Forest site.

Back in 1991, Bill Laster of Bailey, CO, did the the OT in 5d2h23m. The same year, Lou Peyton and Jim Schuler did the route in a slightly slower time, 5d8h7m.

Laster, Peyton and Schuler's times were crushed December 14-17, 2005, by Steve Kirk and Greg Eason of Little Rock, AR, who ran the trail in 3d4h34m. The pair reported sleeping less than 2 hours during their run. They had full crew support and pacers. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette did a detailed story on their trip. Kirk and Eason previously set the FKT for Arkansas' Ozark Highlands Trail.

Ouachita Trail near Jessieville, Arkansas

[razor]

Anyone know of an unsupported and or self supported times? Planning on giving this one a go in a month..

cheers.
jamie

[Jacob Evans]

Any update on this current record?

I've also never heard of an unsupported speed record?

Anyone have any idea what the unsupported record is?

Thanks!

[Brock HIme]

I've made contact with Steve Kirk and he and I plan to discuss this record over the phone. Rodney Sasse and I plan to give this trail a shot in the January/February time frame. We are currently working on assembling a team.

[runlikethewindle]

I will be making an attempt on this FKT on Sunday 11/13/16. I'll be covering the distance in reverse starting at Pinnacle. I have contacted FoOT with the start date and direction.

[runlikethewindle]

My name is Randy Windle (Hot Springs, Arkansas).  On November 13, 2016 at 9am I set out on the Ouachita Trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.  I arrived at Talimena on November 18, 2016 at 3:55am.  4 days 18 hours 55 minutes.  I ran this route solo.  I placed drop bags with food/water/etc. every 30~ miles at road intersections.  This proved to be a good plan until arriving at Foran Gap where I found that my drop bag and water had been taken.  I managed to flag down a truck driver that had a water jug and he gave me enough water to make it to a "spare" bag that I had dropped for a "just in case scenario" at the Hwy. 270 crossing 11 miles away.  I had additional aid provided by my wonderful mother and sister who assisted in bringing me additional food/water/moral support later in the excursion.  
I slept several times along the trail in short segments totaling 12 hours. 

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