Kansas City guy looking to get into the sport.

Yeah, I don't mean to be dickish about this. I'm sure Taum Sauk is nice. But it's a seven hour drive from my house. Denver is also a seven hour drive. I have hit the Ozarks a couple times in the spring when the Rockies were still buried in snow, but otherwise, yeah, I'll be headed west.

...and don't forget ticks and chiggars, lol

Sounds like a great plan! Summer in Colorado,  fall, even winter in the Ozarks, with the crunch of leaves underfoot, and then spring, with the dogwoods blooming and turkeys gobbling on the roost,  make for some memorable trips.

I will guess that it has been some time since you hiked the Ozark Trail? About 20 years ago, an amazing man named John Roth founded the Ozark Trail Association, and through his work the OT has become a world class hiking trail. John was a computer executive who went for a hike in Missouri, found an unmapped, unmaintained mess, and decided to apply his considerable organizational and leadership skills to fix it.

For nearly 20 years, the Ozark Trail Association has worked to build and maintain the Ozark Trail. Much of the early efforts focused on constructing new sections to link the patchwork of segments into a contiguous trail. The OTA raised money to hire crews to work throughout the summer, and then in spring and fall would organize volunteer "mega" events that would feature 150 volunteers and build a mile of trail. I did six or seven of these events during this time, traveling from Chicago. It was one of the best experiences I can recall involving charitable work. I have worked with several non-profits and founded my own to build a community park, and the Ozark Trail Association is the best I have encountered.

The OTA also maintains the trail through hired crews and trail adopters. By all indications, the trail is very well maintained.

Regrettably, John Roth was killed in a freakish accident on his farm outside St. Louis. He was such a great leader and a great guy. You can read about his legacy here


The best time to hike the Ozarks (or Shawnee region), is late October into November. There is color, but the humidity (on most days) is low, the bugs are gone, and the underbrush has thinned out. Early spring is another good option, especially after a string of wet weather, as you can enjoy the streams and waterfalls.

kobe

Headed to KC Sunday AM for early afternoon ETA. Please exorcise the weather for us in advance. Can't miss are gig at the Sprint Center. Not feeling good about an ice storm with a name.