Took a little family day trip today. Ozark National Forrest

Along the Sylamore creek and Ranger district. It’s close to Mountain View where they have all those hillbilly music festivals. Blanchard Springs caverns is the only living cave in NA. They have two different hour long tours, about 200’ underground. What do you carry even on a controlled tour, and hiking these days! Lots of loons out, a guy stabbed two parents while their small children ran away a month ago, here in AR!

I carried a small .380, 14 rounds ammo, pocket knife, penlight with extra batteries, a “survival” Schrade pen. It has, besides ink pen, a glass breaker, ferro rod & steel, and signal whistle. Hopefully if needed, on the trail, I could make a fire, defend my family, and see where I was going. lol. In all, 200 miles, food (we carry ice chest and lunch meat, chips), cave tickets, all in less than $100 for all four of us today.

I noted in the discussion the blue lights signified old 1960’s explorer cave entrance tunnels!

Much farther down the trail, in the slippery single track path is the double waterfall. No guard rails or signs, just don’t be an idiot and you probably won’t die. Some folks were taking wedding photos below the second drop about 75’ below, today.