Ozark National Scenic Riverways Hike to Honor Veterans

On Saturday, November 5, an eager group of hikers came out to participate in the Hike to Honor Veterans from Rocky Falls to Stegall Mountain. It was a little cool and windy, but a beautiful day for a hike.

Dave Tobey of the Ozark Riverways Foundation led the opening ceremony with participants gathering around the flag to talk about the veterans in their lives and how they were influenced by them. After the ceremony, hikers gathered on the other side of Rocky Creek before setting out. The group was thankful to the unknown person or persons who left a nice set of steppingstones to cross the creek with dry feet this year (mostly; a few opted to wade anyway).

The hike up to Stegall Mountain was uneventful, despite rocky terrain and a trail mostly covered in fallen leaves, with a short rest about halfway before continuing to the top. The view from the Stegall Mountain glade was, as always, spectacular, and the unobstructed wind on the mountaintop cooled the group quickly. There, hikers took a lunch break while learning about the glade ecosystems, the prescribed fire used to maintain them, and the elk restoration from Missouri Department of Conservation staff.

The hike back down to Rocky Falls was much easier than going up. To spice things up this year, just as the group returned to the valley floor, Mother Nature threw in a surprise. Hikers heard, rather than felt, a boom and roar that faded into the distance, and they speculated that military jets were flying over. Only after returning to cell phone service did they discover there had been a magnitude 3.2 earthquake centered about 10 miles to the east. After that, the remainder of the hike was quiet and enjoyable, and the sound of the waterfall in the distance was a welcome relief for hikers with tired legs at the end of the six-mile hike.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways would like to extend special thanks to all veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country. We appreciate Ozark Riverways Foundation (ORF) and Missouri Department of Conservation for partnering to host this event. ORF also provided tokens of appreciation for veterans who attended.