Marek Stanley didn't waste any time starting a summer adventure once school let out. Two days after classes were through at Rogers Heritage, the 17-year-old set out by himself on a 165-mile backpack trip along the Ozark Highlands Trail.
Marek hit the trail June 1 at Lake Fort Smith State Park and hiked east. He finished 11 days later at Woolum on the Buffalo National River.
Hike the OHT
The Ozark Highlands Trail grows as volunteers compete new sections and spurs. The 165 miles from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Wollum, on the Buffalo River, is the original and oldest stretch of the Ozark Highlands Trail.
Information: Ozark Highlands Trail Association, ozarkhighlandstrail…. Hikers may also volunteer to help with trail maintenance and construction by joining the group.
It's a trip Marek worked up to, starting with short hikes and working up to overnight backpack trips. He got the hiking bug when he was 14 after a family friend backpacked 600 miles through Spain.
"I thought that was so wild, so I looked into it," said Marek, son of Mark and Kirstine Stanley of Rogers. He and his dad and sometimes a friend or two tackled some day hikes. Distances gradually increased. They did their first overnight backpack trip on the Pigeon Roost Trail at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. Another overnighter followed on the Butterfield Trail at Devil's Den State Park.
Mark casually mentioned to Marek that hiking the Ozark Highlands Trail might be something the teenager could do. Marek turned the suggestion into reality. On June 1, Mark bid his son farewell at Lake Fort Smith State Park and drove away. The teenager was on his own with 165-miles of wilderness trail ahead of him.
"It was like he was going off to college, only there were bears," Mark said. Bears, ticks and water crossings were the main concerns for Mark and Kirstine.
Hiking in June meant vegetation was thick along the trail. The route was hard to see at times, Marek said. Occasionally he had to back track to find the path. His pack weighed 40 pounds at its heaviest. Inside were some freeze-dried backpacker meals, energy bars and a water filter. The teenager didn't use a tent, but slept in a hammock with a bug screen cover.
Marek averaged 16 to 17 miles each day over the rugged terrain of the Ozark National Forest. He climbed hills and dropped into valleys, up and over White Rock Mountain and other landmarks, alone.
"I didn't see anybody for five days. I'd never experienced anything like that. I got very lonely, lonely just to see people in general," he said.
Marek had a cell phone, but rarely had service in the isolated backcountry. That meant anxious moments back home for mom and dad. There were days they didn't know where their son was on the trail or how he was doing, Mark recalled.
Halfway there
With 85 miles behind him, Marek hiked into the Ozone trailhead to meet his dad at the halfway point. The two drove to Clarksville to resupply Marek's food and spend the night in a motel. It was a good move. Marek's hiking shoes had fallen apart. His water filter was gunked up.
"When my dad picked me up, I was hiking in flip flops," the teen said. With no water filter, Marek drank straight from streams part of the way. He was low on food.
With fresh supplies, Marek hit the trail the next day bound for Woolum and the end of his 165-mile solo backpack adventure. He wouldn't see his dad again until almost the end. Mark drove over to hike the last four miles with his son and see him complete his adventure.
Looking back, Marek recommends the trip to other aspiring solo hikers.
"It's definitely worth every mile, but you have to work up to it. You have to love nature," Marek said. "And you're going to hit a wall at some point. After you get through that wall, it's really, really good. I loved the big scenic views. There's no sign of civilization for miles around."
With the adventure behind him, Marek will spend part of his summer working as a lifeguard at the Rogers Aquatics Center. He's also a camp counselor at the Ozark Natural Science Center.
He's eager for a longer hike next year. Marek and his dad hope to backpack in Spain, duplicating their family friend's trip that inspired the teen to give hiking a try.
Sports on 07/09/2015