Friday under a threatening sky, I took advantage of Little Rock's backyard, of course I mean Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Just barely outside Little Rock and a 25 minute trip from my house, it features stunning views of the Arkansas river valley to the east and to the west the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains ascend.
There are two options for climbing this 1000 foot rock, and both trails hold the distinction of the #1 & #2 steepest trails in Arkansas. I won't get into the debate about whether the East is steeper than the West, they are both the same length, .75 miles, with have the same difference in mean elevation, 717 feet. In years past it has been possible to take both trails and use the Pinnacle Base Trail to return to your point of departure, to make a loop. This would give you a hike of aprox. 3 miles. But a new addition to the park is a new Western Base trail that completely encircles the mountain, for a
distance of 3.5 miles.This new trail was a total surprise for me, and so I decided that I should explore. This trail features a nice rolling course, nothing too steep, and no heavy huffing and puffing, but definitely a good leg work-out. Since it follow a course around the base of the mountain it switches back and forth across the contours of the mountain. An adventuresome soul might like a post thunderstorm hike during the summer to see the gullies and washouts at work. At about mile 1.5 it meets up with the Ouachta National Trail and piggie backs until you intersect with the East Summit Trail about a half mile later. At that point you have an option, you can take the East Summit Trail to the top, or continue on the Base Trail for a mile and a half back to the western side of the mountain. I decided since I came to climb Pinnacle I better climb it.
Sorry if that turned into a travel guide there but I figured I better paint the picture of the Park for the Out of Towners.
I packed my Camel Back to a weight of 10 pounds, I was amazed when I first wore it while climbing last summer at how much it was wanting to throw me off balance, but that seems to have gone away. I intend to use it for the next little while, it is a fairly large little backpack and it is very well fitted for me.
Friday was overcast with a 30% chance of rain, and while the hike around the base of the mountain was comfortably humid. Once the climb began it another story, the humidity started to become very uncomfortable. About halfway up the rocky east side the heavens opened for not nearly enough rain, sometimes sprinkles are a big tease. I soldiered on to the top and was greeted by a strong breeze, and absolutely no people, no one. I had the Summit all to my self. This never happens, after about 5 minutes solitude was over and I chatted with a couple of new transplants from Oregon. Then it was time to leave and so I decided to just take the West Summit trail back to my Jeep. As I made my leisurely descent (actually it was all at a leisurely pace) I was greeted with a nice breeze the entire way down, the humidity just blew away while I rested at the top. When I reached the treeline on the western I decided to do something I rarely do, and called a friend on the phone. Ever since I first got a cordless phone back in 1993 I can't go back to being tethered to a wall, to me walking and talking just make sense. So I walked down the rest of the mountain and did my cool down lap of the parking lot while happily chattering away with a good friend.
So the details of this little afternoon are as follows;
Western Base Trail 2.0 miles
Up East Summit Trail .75 miles, 700 ft ascent
Down West Summit Trail .75 miles, 700 ft descent
Total Distance 3.5 Miles
Pack Weight Start 10 lbs, End 9 lbs
Departed Jeep 4:45, Returned 7:00 for a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Stay Frosty,
James
