[at-l] Ozarks.

[hkrtrash at mindspring.com (Jim Sneed)]

t.
I hiked the Ozark Highlands Trail through northern Arkansas a few years back.  It's around 185 miles long if my old memory is correct.  The hiking was easy in some areas and extremely hard in others.  There are no bridges across creeks along most of the trail, and crossings can be tough if the water is up.  Expect knee deep fords with very strong currents and very slippery rocks in normal conditions.  Hiking poles or a good strong stick will be more useful than you can imagine when fording. There are a couple of high water blue blazes that should be used if the water is high. ( I learned this lesson the hard way, but that's another story. ) Also, whoever laid out the trail has no idea what a switchback is.  In many places the trail just climbs straight up the mountains.
What I remember most was how cool the rock formations are.  Since the Ozarks are mostly limestone, the weather has worn the rocks away in layers, leaving really pretty formations.  Due to the minerals from the disolving limestone, the water is a beautiful shade of green. There are also quite a few caves in the area. 
There are not nearly as many places to get off the trail and resupply as on the AT, so plan accordingly.  There is a great guide book by Tim Ernst that includes resupply info and even some phone numbers of locals that provide shuttles.  Any good bookstore should have it in their outdoor section. Maps can be obtained from the Forest Sevice in Clarksville, AR.  Feel free to contact me if there is any other info that I can help you with.

Good Hiking,
Jim