223 Mile Ouachita Trail Thru Hike!!

I'm so excited to finally share this video! I hope you all enjoy it.

[@steveswaby1776]

Thank you so much for taking the time to film and share.

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you for watching! It's was one heck of a hike and we were excited to share it with everyone.

[@dan393]

Hi JG! Congrats on completing the OT! Hope you are doing well. Thanks for sharing, Take care and god bless

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you Dan! It was quite the experience fun and tough and amazing and painful all at the same time. 😂

[@L_yeah]

Congrats!!!! Great video, as usual. Hoping next year is my time. I'll be picking your brain about all the nitty gritty details.

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you! You may pick my brain as much as you like, I'd be more than happy to help.

[@papadoug2898]

Great video gals !… the OT is my favorite hike …I remember meeting you once at the Blue bell cafe, and thanks for the trail maintenance you do!

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Hi!! Thank you and I'm excited to hear that we've met at the ever famous Bluebell Cafe! It's such a great trail, have you hiked the whole thing?

[@lattegems]

This is a great video!! Thank you!!

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you so much. I'm excited that you enjoyed it!

[@hammerwrench1]

Congratulations,, and great job on sticking with it. Could not have been easy coming back from your injury.

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you so much!! I did have some difficulties related to the ankle injury/surgery, but soaking it in cold creeks, biofreeze and ibuprofen really helped things. Thank you again and thanks for following my antics. 😂

[@hammerwrench1]

@@jetgirlhikes9155 A nice soak in a cold stream is like magic

[@lizstrailsandtravels4624]

Yes ! Done … big Congratulations!!!! 🍾🎉🎈 one more thru long distance trail in the books. So excited for you, what is next ? We just got back from Cozumel where I flunked OW certifying. Looking forward to some AT miles. Will continue this summer work with scuba diving. Sending hugs !

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you so much! I'm excited to finally have it completed. I'm sorry to hear your OW cert didn't go so well, but you can always achieve that goal when the time is right. Not sure what was going on, but I know it can be very tough to pass if you're not super comfortable in the water. You'll get it though, I have faith in you!

[@lizstrailsandtravels4624]

Thank you ! :)

[@davidchisham]

Great video. Happy hiking . I used to like to hike but unable to now.

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

I'm sorry you aren't able to hike anymore, but do you find other ways to get outdoors?

[@DixonHikes]

Well damn, Jetgirl. We all knew you could do it! You just had to go out & prove it to yourself! Congrats! Met a few of your friends on the OHT….

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you Dixon!! I knew I wanted to, but I first had to win the argument with my ankle. (I won) 😂 I love your channel and can't wait to see what you get into next!

[@triagirl]

Great job! Looks like you had a blast 😀

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Hi Tria!!! It was fun, but definitely that "Type A" kind. I'm excited that you watched my video. ❤️

[@ADudeADogHiking]

Glad to see you getting out with new content! Great video! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Hi!! Happy to see you commenting on here. I've been loving following your and Sophie's adventures. I've seen a few hikes that I'm excited to go try myself. Give Sophie some good ear scratchins' for us!

[@j.blase556]

Congratulations 🎉I love your videos and admire your tenacity. Thank you for getting me back in the hiking mood!

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

This is what I love to hear!! While on our hike, Humpty Dumpty and I were talking about how even if our hike inspired just one person to get out in nature and do some hiking, then it would make our trek even better. So thank you for commenting with this.

[@texashikeaholicsadventures5651]

Congratulations!!!!

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you so much!!

[@mtminded4498]

Congrats on completion of a multi-attempt goal. Native Arkansan here who aspires to do the OT one day. Your videos have been an inspiration.

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Aww, thank you so much! It's such a great trail and I hope you get to hike it at some point. I finished shooting the video for the rest of the "How to Hike the Ouachita Trail" series, now it's down to finishing the editing. Thank you again for your kind words. ❤️

[@ervinslens]

This was gorgeous upload man. Place looks beautiful. 👏

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you! It really is a beautiful place and the Ouachita's for sure have a way of getting into your soul.

[@charleswadley399]

Good job. Congratulations! Let me know when you want to come hike the LST and I’ll make good on my promise to shuttle and re-supply you.

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thanks Charles! I'm so excited to have it done. My hiking buddy from this video and I have been chatting about hitting the LST next year, so I'll definitely be getting in contact with you, probably in a few months.

[@catherineemerson99]

Had to watch the ending! So proud of you!

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Awww, thank you. Did you see your guest appearance?

[@southernkayaker]

Congratulations! It is an AWESOME trail. Nice video :)

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you so much! It really is an amazing trail that gets right down into your soul!

[@papadoug2898]

I’ve successfully hiked it westbound twice! I’ve started and failed to complete many times. But never failed to have fun !

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Nice!! Huge congrats on TWO finishes. Now that I've had the opportunity to hike it both Westbound and Eastbound, I'd have to say that Westbound is the way to go. Finishing up with those Holson Valley views was awesome and I felt like I was floating across the rocks like a ballerina with my stronger legs. I love how you worded that last sentence, that you "may have failed to finish, but never failed to have fun." I'm totally going to use that on someone someday. ❤️

[@rungavagairun]

How many toenails did you sacrifice to the rocks on the west end of the trail? 23:56 I think Big Bear is my favorite shelter. Which one is your favorite? 28:00 They really should provide some additional designated campsites in that far eastern section of trail. I would think having a couple of official locations would lessen the impact rather than having people just camp wherever. Penney campsite is not enough. 31:59 I think you guys must have been on trail at around the same time I was finishing up because I think I saw that exact same tree with the fire burning inside it. :o 32:39 Way to go! I completed it, but I did it in three section hikes. Talimena to hwy 27, hwy 27 to hwy 7, and hwy 7 to Pinnacle. It was my first ever attempt at anything like that. I'm probably going to have another go at it as a single thru hike again in the future, but there are other trails I want to hike first. 35:00 That last climb... I felt like I was crawling. To be fair, I did that last section from hwy 7 to Pinnacle in 3 days and I am pretty sure I cracked my rib on day one, so I was hurting by the end of day three. Again, big congratulations! You did awesome!

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

** No toenails were harmed during the making of this production. 😂 Love Big Bear Shelter, but Story Creek Shelter wins the award for my favorite shelter. There is a plan in work for more legal camping options in the area after Hwy 9, and I'm hoping to get permission to roll it out to y'all in the last episode of the "How to Hike the Ouachita Trail" series (still editing). It would've been great to run into you out there! I keep thinking about that poor tree, but those big things sure can be resilient. I hope someone from the burn crew checked on the area and put it out. Hiking the trail was definitely a different experience than doing it in sections. It was cool to watch spring move along as we hiked toward Pinnacle WOW!! Hiking Hwy 7 to Pinnacle in 3 days is quite an impressive push! Thank you for taking the time to write all of this. I love to hear about other people's experiences!

[@Hikerlifer]

Great video and congratulations. This one is on my lists to accomplish. Can someone share what the shuttle cost?

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Hi! The shuttle charges vary depending on current gas prices and how far you're going and they each set their own prices. The best way is to give one of them a call and ask. They're all really nice and helpful. Their numbers are all listed in the video description.

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Fantastic video. Thank you for sharing. Subd & 👍40

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Also thank you for the sub and 👍!

[@arkansasalex7288]

Hello! I just found your channel, and this video...i normally dont comment but i just wanted to say.. Great job on the hike. Great job on the video. Great job on keeping such an infectious and upbeat attitude from start to finish ( I am sure the rainy days make it harder to stay so positive, but dang.. you did it!) I have just recently started really putting some time into researching the trail and started doing some trip planning (still the very earliest stages) and i wanted to ask if you knew of any good message boards or anything like that for help with making my trip plan, reading about others experiences, and stuff like that? Also, your video is only the second i have watched of someone thru-hiking the trail, but both yourself and the other youtuber that i watched were putting in some MASSIVE days, and i was just wondering if there is any reason for that? (The only thru-hike ive done isthe AT, and i only made it from springer to about 120 miles short of Harper's Ferry... and i definitely wasnt doing the big miles like you hiked on this trip.. and im just wanting to keep realitic goals and plans for myself) Sorry for rambling and once again... Great job!! And congratulations 🎉! -Alex

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Hi Alex, nice to meet you! Thank you for your comments, they gave a great start to my day.... and no need to apologize for rambling, I'm the queen of rambling. 😂 If you're on facebook, the Official Ouachita Trail group is a really great one. Here's a link to it.: facebook.com/share/fjgjJmqqzKMxipoZ/?mibextid=A7sQZp I'm still working on getting the rest of my "How to Hike the Ouachita Trail" videos edited, but hopefully I'll get another out this weekend. I think a lot of the reason you see people doing higher mileage is 3 possibilities 1: They have just finished another Trail like the AT or PCT and their legs are Trail adapted. (They have their hiker legs) 2. They are people who like to challenge themselves by seeing how many miles they can do in a day or how many days they can complete the trail in. 3. (This one is mine) They can only take so many vacation days off work before they have to go back, so big mile days are required to complete the trail on time. There are lots of people who are retired or something else like that and they'll take 20-25 days to complete the trail. Please feel free to reply here with other questions if you like, I love helping people get on this trail, and thank you so much for taking the time to comment, I love reading comments and learning about the people who are watching this channel.

[@arkansasalex7288]

@jetgirlhikes9155 thanks for the quick response! I don't use Facebook, but if that is the best place to learn more about the OT than I can download it and check that group out! I totally understand the limited days off from work, so that makes sense. I'm actually working every Saturday this month overtime..and the. Am planning on hitting the eagle rock loop trail the 2nd weekend in October. I'm very excited because I went with friends to the winding stairs at Albert's pike recreation area about 15 years ago, and I'll get to see the spot we stayed again. I'm on lunch break at work and am about to look for your video series about the OT.. can't think of anything better to watch while I take a break at work! Look forward to seeing more of your videos and hopefully chatting more in the future. Alex

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

I have a couple Eagle Rock Loop "How To" videos as well. The Official Ouachita Trail Facebook group is a great place because FoOT members and trail maintainers are on it as well as people have or are planning to thru hike it. If you're going to create a Facebook Profile just for getting in the group, let us know in any of the questions that Jetgirl sent you and you've created the account just to get in the group. Many times we get profiles with no pictures and no friends that are spammers and we usually decline those. But if you let us know why, you'll be in with no issues. Looking forward to seeing you on there!

[@allthingsamandamichelle]

So envious! Good video. Btw, did you see any bears on this trail?

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you!! We saw bear poop, bear prints, bear scratches on trees....but sadly, we didn't get to see a bear. They're so skittish around there that they're usually long gone as soon as they hear people coming.

[@jimdonegan4762]

Yay, I've been waiting for this. I wanted to attempt it in February but I'll have to give it a go in November.

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Glad I could get this out to you. 😁 November is a great time to hike the trail. I finished up my Westbound hike of this trail during November and the temps were fantastic! This Spring hike was a bit warmer, but since it's a wetter season the water sources were all flowing well and that meant less heavy water carries. We never needed to carry more than 2L at a time.

[@hmk946]

How long is the rock section?

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Hi! The really rocky part is only around 7.5 miles long.... but it's also a really beautiful area with great views of the Holson Valley below (as long as it's not all socked in like our first day was.

[@HammerLane2Hiking]

Congratulations!

[@jetgirlhikes9155]

Thank you so much!