Fall TARkansas ride

[troy]

I spoke to zecatfish (Terry) on the phone this past weekend to get some intel for our ride. He mentioned that we should be wary of riding that weekend if it's deer season (modern gun).

Best I can tell, we'll be riding in Arkansas' hunting zones 1, 2, 6, 7, & 8.

It's a LOT of information, but from what I can tell, Oct 11 - 13 is NOT deer season where we'll be riding. The only deer category that does intersect our weekend is called "Deer - Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun Season". I assume that we'll be OK with that? Some of you that know hunting should confirm my information.

[ajayhawkfan]

I spoke to zecatfish (Terry) on the phone this past weekend to get some intel for our ride. He mentioned that we should be wary of riding that weekend if it's deer season (modern gun).

Best I can tell, we'll be riding in Arkansas' hunting zones 1, 2, 6, 7, & 8.

It's a LOT of information, but from what I can tell, Oct 11 - 13 is NOT deer season where we'll be riding. The only deer category that does intersect our weekend is called "Deer - Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun Season". I assume that we'll be OK with that? Some of you that know hunting should confirm my information.

I don't hunt in Arkansas but I understand the gun season to be the following:
Opens: 11/9/2013
Closes: 12/1/2013

It also looks like archery season starts does start on Sept. 28th so you will have a slight overlap. Knowing bow hunters, as I am one, you will have one of two general responses. 1. Pissed, but if you riding by is bothering them, they set up too close to the road. 2. OK with it because they know they are on public land,they set up away from the roads and trails, and realize having people use the roads keeps deer moving and that will increase their change of getting one.

[troy]

I spoke to zecatfish (Terry) on the phone this past weekend to get some intel for our ride. He mentioned that we should be wary of riding that weekend if it's deer season (modern gun).

Best I can tell, we'll be riding in Arkansas' hunting zones 1, 2, 6, 7, & 8.

It's a LOT of information, but from what I can tell, Oct 11 - 13 is NOT deer season where we'll be riding. The only deer category that does intersect our weekend is called "Deer - Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun Season". I assume that we'll be OK with that? Some of you that know hunting should confirm my information.

I don't hunt in Arkansas but I understand the gun season to be the following:
Opens: 11/9/2013
Closes: 12/1/2013

It also looks like archery season starts does start on Sept. 28th so you will have a slight overlap. Knowing bow hunters, as I am one, you will have one of two general responses. 1. Pissed, but if you riding by is bothering them, they set up too close to the road. 2. OK with it because they know they are on public land,they set up away from the roads and trails, and realize having people use the roads keeps deer moving and that will increase their change of getting one.

The various folks that have warned me of riding during hunting season in the past only warn about "modern gun" season because of the sheer numbers of hunters camping in the forest. Bow and muzzle loader don't have the crowds as I understand.

And really, this ride will be primarily on real roads--not deep on unmarked ATV trails or singletrack. So no worries. THANKS!

[allkidd]

I spoke to zecatfish (Terry) on the phone this past weekend to get some intel for our ride. He mentioned that we should be wary of riding that weekend if it's deer season (modern gun).

Best I can tell, we'll be riding in Arkansas' hunting zones 1, 2, 6, 7, & 8.

It's a LOT of information, but from what I can tell, Oct 11 - 13 is NOT deer season where we'll be riding. The only deer category that does intersect our weekend is called "Deer - Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun Season". I assume that we'll be OK with that? Some of you that know hunting should confirm my information.

I don't hunt in Arkansas but I understand the gun season to be the following:
Opens: 11/9/2013
Closes: 12/1/2013

It also looks like archery season starts does start on Sept. 28th so you will have a slight overlap. Knowing bow hunters, as I am one, you will have one of two general responses. 1. Pissed, but if you riding by is bothering them, they set up too close to the road. 2. OK with it because they know they are on public land,they set up away from the roads and trails, and realize having people use the roads keeps deer moving and that will increase their change of getting one.

The various folks that have warned me of riding during hunting season in the past only warn about "modern gun" season because of the sheer numbers of hunters camping in the forest. Bow and muzzle loader don't have the crowds as I understand.

And really, this ride will be primarily on real roads--not deep on unmarked ATV trails or singletrack. So no worries. THANKS!

Remember, we will also have a local guide for most of the riding.

[Rusty Jug]

Just throwing this out, At the starting point those who would like could throw luggage that they planned to put on bike could be put on my enclosed trailer and picked up in Russellville that late afternoon. Keep the weight off the bikes?

[HanesAnizer]

This weekend I'm going to break out, for the first time this year, my very fugly 3 row motorcycle trailer to make sure it still roll's without the tires falling off. It's actually a good trailer, though it is ugly and heavy.

So for this trip, I can just throw my bike in the back of my truck and ride down solo or I can fit some bikes on my trailer and head down as a group. Just let me know if anyone needs some transportation, even if it's just your bike.

[Creekside]

Most likely a no for me at this time. Might change. I really need to spend some money on tires and skid plate before something like this...you guys and gals have fun.

next year!

[stimmer6253472]

It looks big bike friendly... I got my boys football game Saturday but who knows maybe I will try and make it.
Jim

What I've posted up route and photo-wise so far is big bike friendly for a good rider like yourself, Jim. HOWEVER, note that what I posted is not the official route....and in fact, Randy and I have talked about kicking this up a notch. So the route might get a bit gnarlier making it more of a true dirt-bike dualsport.

Details to come...

Just found out Friday I have to be in Toronto for meetings from the 6th-9th. So I can't leave town again the following weekend. Oh well. Have fun guys.
Jim

[MoRidin]

Still "IN"...and since I believe I am unemployed until our elected officials start working, I may actually have some time to get prepped and ready!

I (in all honesty_ have not punt any effort into planning for this - I have no pants (ripped them basically off exposing my bare buttocks in Colorado) I have no packing solution and I have no idea how long my new bike will run on a tank of gas. Sounds perfect!!!

Hoping to have these things sorted out.

So...do I need to bring anything for food etc or are we grabbing food and gas where available. I assume we still plan to hotel each night???

[troy]

Guys, I deleted my really long route explanation post and my route photos post because Randy and I decided to change things up--those routes are not the plan for this ride. I don't like to delete posts because it can confuse folks, but there was not any discussion around those 2 posts really and it would be very confusing to have that info in this ride thread since those routes are not for this ride. I chose the lesser of 2 evils.

THE ROUTE WILL NOT BE BIG BIKE FRIENDLY
I don't think anyone was planning to bring a big bike, but I do want to make sure everyone knows to expect rough dirt bike trails on this ride. The routes will be shorter but MUCH rougher with LOTS of trail rather than roads. Of course there will be many miles of roads and even some highway involved--no way around that. You can't run singletrack and pop out of the woods right into the parking lot of a Best Western next to a restaurant! I wish it worked that way.

See the first post for important details.

[allkidd]

Sounds like a great plan!

Lets think about car pooling. From my house, and I'm on the very southeastern side of Lees Summit, mapquest indicates that I'm 3:30 minutes from Fayettville. Add another 45 minutes to get through town and to the camp and we are looking at 4:15...round to 4 1/2 hours. Without the zip line that puts us leaving my house at 5 am or around 4 am with the zipline. My thought is that if I want to zipline then I should probably go down some time on Thursday. This means either staying in Fayettville or camping near the camp. If I don't zipline then I would probably just wait and go down early Friday. Thinking of going down on Thursday, I start getting greedy and contemplating how to get in some additional pre riding on Thursday. Not even sure I could make it happen, but just a thought.

So, when is everybody thinking of leaving:


Early Friday for the 9:30 ride start?
Earlier Friday for the 8:45 zipline?
Later Thursday?
Earlier Thursday for pre ride?

Something to consider if we get back to camp early on Sunday is riding single track at Mill Creek. Mill Creek riding area is really close to the camp....I think there are trails connecting the camp to mill creek. Of the places I've ridden single track, mill creek has the easiest trails. Might be fun to take some time and ride some ST.

[troy]

I'm a morning freak who does not mind going to bed at 8PM. So my current plan is to wake up about 3AM Fri morning and drive down. It should take me 4.5 hours with a gas/coffee stop.

However, I'm flexible if it works to carpool with someone. Sharing gas plus a Thur nigh motel room is about the same cost as me paying 100% of the gas without motel room.

With my 4 door truck and borrowed trailer, I can haul 4 bikes & riders.

I'm also open to having a roommate at the Clarksville Best Western. Seeking someone with soft hands who likes to work out.

[allkidd]

Motel Update:

Reserve your motel...see the link for updated information:

http://rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=13 ... 681#p13681

[troy]

My double room is reserved!

[allkidd]

My double room is reserved...only 4 left!

[gagnaou]

How many miles between gas stops?

[kendall_smith]

I think Alissa and I are out of this one now. With the government shutdown we're not sure when Alissa will get paid again since she is a government contractor and we are still recovering financially from my 9-day trip to Colorado that I just got back from. Not to mention, my 350 needs new fork seals (I don't know if there is any oil left in the right fork ) and I wasn't planning on riding it on this ride until it changed to big-bike-unfriendly anyway.

You guys have fun though! Sounds like it will be an awesome gnarly dual sport ride!

[troy]

How many miles between gas stops?

As long as you can run 45 miles on a tank, you will be fine. That is--no gas issues on this ride.

[troy]

I think Alissa and I are out of this one now...

Crap

With my wife and I planning to move out of the flat Midwest at the first of next year...

Double crap

[kendall_smith]

I think Alissa and I are out of this one now...

Crap

With my wife and I planning to move out of the flat Midwest at the first of next year...

Double crap

Thanks for the CRAPS- wait a minute, that didn't sound right!

It pains me to be responsible and cut out riding trips in the interest of being financially smart, but I have to do it if we are going to follow through with our plans of making a big lifestyle change. This is just the latest small sacrifice in a long line of sacrifices we've already made in order to move on. Living in a crappy one-bedroom apartment after selling our house and all the stuff that went in it, selling our beloved camper, and now having to sell my truck will hopefully all be worth it in the long run.

I'll see you guys at the TARKC meeting though. I'm bringing some interesting stories from my trip in Colorado, too! Just a hint- it involves mountain top blizzards, search and rescue and narrowly escaping hypothermia, frostbite, and possible death! And that's not an exaggeration!