Feral Hogs Destroying Missouri Public Lands

An article in the All American Patriots and also on the Missouri Department of Conservation's website describes the growing challenge of Missouri Public Land Managers to control feral hog populations. These wild hogs can carry diseases, destroy crops and devastate ecological areas. Ecological damage includes: native plants and wildlife by rooting up roots and eating anything they can catch, including quail and turkey nests and young mammals, including deer fawns. Indirect damage includes competition for food, such as acorns, and erosion that takes place after hogs root up large tracts of ground. Feral hogs seek out springs, seeps and fens destroying ground cover and contaminating streams with their feces.

Weighing in between 100 and 500 pounds, these piggies are not easily intimidated and the article states that several hunters have been treed by hogs. While I haven't heard of any hikers being chased by wild hogs I have heard hiker reports of individual and groups of feral hogs around Taum Sauk and Johnson's Shut-Ins. The Missouri Conservation Department has seen signs of hogs at popular areas as Lake Wappapello, Pomme De Terre Lake, Fort Leonard Wood, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, Table Rock Lake and recently, north of the Missouri River. The Missouri Conservation Department has more information about these hog populations here. If you do see feral hogs or signs of them you are urged to contact wildlife officials at (573) 449-3033 ext. 13.

2005 OT Trail Map!

A new color trail map of the Ozark Trail is now available. To request copies of the 10 x 15 inch map brochure write to or stop by the USFS in Rolla.

Mark Twain National Forest
401 Fairgrounds Road
Rolla, MO 65401
(573) 364-4621

Mark Twain Forest Plan (revised)

A new plan was released 1/27/2005 by the Forest Service that will be used as a guide for the next 10-15 years. The Forest Plan list 5 alternatives, the best "allows National Forest managers to work with nature to conserve important plant and animal species, create and maintain healthy ecosystems, and provide a variety of products that local communities and the nation as a whole consider important. Among these products are recreation opportunities, timber products and clean water and air."

Stay tuned on how these changes to the Mark Twain National Forests will affect the Ozark Trail.

Online OT Resources

Here is a collection of links with OT and other trail reviews, journals and pictures:

Danny's Missouri Backpacking & Hiking Trails Review
Ozark Backpacking
The McKeel's Ozark Trail Information
Rich Bauer's Trips
Dale Garrison's Gallery

The Palmer Ghost

Hiking near the Courtois section of the Ozark Trail? Watch out for "The Palmer Ghost!" Quietly resting in the woods not far from the trail are a few grave markers including Rose Wingo who died March 16, 1872 at the age of 14 years of fever. This small slave cemetery also known as The Wingo Cemetery is just outside of what use to be Palmer, Missouri, now part of the Mark Twain National Forest and deep in Civil War history. The Palmer Ghost is said to belong to a woman who died in 1850.

If you are brave enough here is how to get to the few remaining stones according to Robert Smith:
Head north from Hazel Creek campground. There is an unnamed creek that feeds into Snapps Branch. As the trail takes a right turn to cross this tributary, there are two ORV trails going left, leading up the same hill that you just came down. Take either of these trails up the hill approximately 1/8 mile. The gravestone would be very hard to find, but the tacky plastic flowers around it is a dead giveaway (pun intended). I didn't notice any other gravestones, but I wasn't looking for any.

A stream...

"A stream is a living thing. It moves, dances, and shimmers in the sun. It furnishes opportunities for enjoyment and it's beauty moves men's souls." - Harold Alexander

Ozark Trail receives grants

This came across Google News on 12/28/04 - The South Missourian News - Ozark Trail Receives Grant. However I think this is the same money given by the Recreational Trails Program in this press release and shared by three counties. Either way several notable OT projects were allocated money through this funding. The Rock Hollow Trail which will eventually become part of the OT also recently landed a grant.

Backpacker magazine

There was a nice article on the Ridge Runner Trail in Backpacker magazine. Other nice articles in the past have included Buford Mountain and the Hercules Glades. I find it odd that not much attention has been given to the Ozark Trail. Actually, not much attention is given to the Midwest at all. A few weeks ago I picked up the current issue (February) and it was titled "Midwest Hiking Edition." Umm, where in that issue do they talk about ANY Midwestern trail?

The Ozark Trail

With almost 400 miles of completed trail in Missouri, the Ozark Trail very easily holds my interest. A few years ago, I lived in Maryland and very quickly became involved with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. I've always enjoyed hiking but the idea fascinated me of starting a walk on a trail in Georgia and not having to stop until you reach Maine. I began researching the Appalachian Trail. I read a couple of books, got involved with trail maintenance, and took a few hikes. I was hooked. Now I call Missouri home and I find the same kind of fascination in the Ozark Trail. Although in its infancy, the OT has the same rising support that the AT once endured.

Welcome to Showme Hiking

This blog is dedicated to collecting news, resources and history surrounding hiking areas in Missouri. I will concentrate on the Ozark Trail but will add information about other hiking locations in the midwest as I find interest (such as the Ozark Highlands Trail and the Buffalo River Trail).

From the Ozark Trail Association's website:
The Ozark Trail is a part of 25 year-old vision to build a scenic and varied route through the Missouri Ozarks, stretching from the St. Louis metropolitan area southwestward to the Arkansas border, eventually connecting to the Ozark Highlands trail-- creating a 700 mile through-trail. Almost 550 miles of trail have been completed, with 350 miles in Missouri.