1 September-8 September 2010
The crew's first surveying priorities involved 2 longer trails within the Eleven Point Ranger District-the Blue Ridge Horse Trail, and the Current River section of the infamous Ozark Trail. Making steady progress at about 2 miles per day, the crew gathered extensive and accurate trails data for the District. The crew finished the entire Blue Ridge trail, totaling 7.39 miles, and along it was afforded the opportunity to witness voracious butterflies eating a tortoise and the stone wall remains of a time long past.
Add to that 8.43 miles of the Ozark Trail's Current River section (a mile short of completing it) and the crew was content with calling it a great hitch.
"Tick bomb free is the way to be" became the motto of the hitch, as we attempted to combat thousands of hungry larval ticks, clinging tightly to our clothes and fighting fiercely for a chance at survival.
