Mom always said you'll catch a bad cold in wintertime if you go outside without a hat. She could have added you'll catch a case of cabin fever if you stay in the house.
An ounce of prevention for this condition of crankiness is as close as the nearest hiking trail. Cabin fever doesn't stand a chance after a healthy trek through the woods on a brisk winter day. We hoped to keep the fever at bay last Sunday morning with a hike around the War Eagle Valley Loop out at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area.
Ours was the only car in the lot when we pulled into the Townsend Ridge Road trail access 2 miles south of Arkansas 12. Twenty-three degrees and overcast isn't everyone's idea of great hiking weather. The cold is an extra dose of cabin fever medicine.
This 6-mile hike offers nice views of the War Eagle valley and the fields where the War Eagle fair takes place. The trail meanders along a bluff above the War Eagle River for views up and down the stream. War Eagle Valley Loop is part of the larger Hidden Diversity Multiuse Trail at Hobbs. All the multiuse loops are open for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
The hike starts after signing the trail register. The Hobbs staff says it's good to sign in because when funds are needed for trail work, the park has the numbers to show how much these trails are used. Still, they figure only about half of trail users sign in.
The trail heads off into the woods, then crosses gravel Townsend Ridge Road in short order. Here the War Eagle and Little Clifty loops meet. A sign at the intersection directs hikers to the War Eagle Valley Loop.
It's downhill at first, then a moderate climb until the trail levels off and goes to the river. Views of the water are nice. The park has put in a couple of benches to relax and ponder the view.
From the river, the path runs through a fallow field, then downhill into a hollow and a dry stream bed. It's lovely hiking through this valley that is about the half-way point of the hike. There are some toppled tree trunks along the way that are great seats for lunch or a snack break.
The cabin fever cure cranks in when the trail climbs out of the hollow. It heads up to a ridge and gradually climbs some more until the War Eagle Loop again joins the Little Clifty Loop. Signs here direct hikers to go left to get back to the Townsend Ridge Road trail access.
My favorite story from the War Eagle loop happened at this intersection. The loop had just opened and six of us got together to explore it.
It was a warm day in June, I think, and we stopped at the trail intersection to rest. One of us spied some soft ground in the shade and decided to stretch out for a quick nap.
Well, on the way home our friend started scratching and found he was covered with ticks. I have to chuckle and remember that hike whenever I pass that trail intersection. Somehow I always feel a little itchy.
Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip
Sports on 01/26/2016