Natural Fate in the Natural State: Rock Creek Canyon

Hiking the Ozarks and Ozark Mountain Trailblazers group headed up by Dan Nash bushwhacked 15 of the 21 mile hike. We left with 19 hikers; one returned on Day 1, the other 18 went on to discover scenic spots by zig zagging Rock Creek. The highlights a pedestal climb and a slot canyon. At the headwaters we ascended a saddle on the ridge thick in brush, eventually crossing a dirt road with a goal of dropping into Greasy Creek. Several hundred yards of following an intermittent mountain stream downhill we find Greasy Creek, this is a classic Ozark area several unnamed waterfalls, a slate canyon with walls of 50 to 70 feet on both sides. Exploring for a second day we worked our way towards the OHT to eventually find ourselves near the Big Piney Creek. The next morning four in our group actually took a wrong turn this final day three, two Carmen and Brian dropped pack and took off after them, thankfully an hour later we heard over the walkie talkie they had been found heading the wrong way. After getting all 18 back together we started making time back to the cars, I surged ahead on the trail and spooked two very large mountain deer, white flags in the air they made my sweaty ascension look like a snails effort.