The Ozark’s Mountain Challenge is a 7,980’ elevation (The height of Mt. Olympus) challenge. The goal is to hike up Mudlick Moutain trail in Sam A Baker state park 9 times. After going up, you are driven back down the mountain where you start your ascent again. It is approximately 17 miles of hiking to go the full distance.
I learned about this challenge from Melissa who was also signed up. She also tricked Bernie and Carol into signing up for this event as well. Friday, Melissa picked me up and we drove down to the campsite that was reserved for the event. We set up camp and had a few hours to kill before the event on Saturday.
Friday evening, we went to the local camp restaurant to grab an easy dinner. There we chatted about the upcoming event and life in general. Melissa casually mentioned that after we conquered this event, there was a fall event in Colorado with a similar hiking distance, but a 14,000 foot climb. Only five thousand more feet. We all laughed about how easy it would be as we finished our dinner.
We went to bed early and waited for our alarms. Saturday morning, I got up and prepared for the event. Our nerves were there, but we knew it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. All of us had done other endurance events and knew it would be no big deal.
With breakfast in hand, we got started right away going up the mountain. We started in groups so we wouldn’t be too bunched up at the top waiting for rides back down the mountain. Bernie made the first wave. About a minute later, Melissa and I were released and we started to charge the mountain.
It didn’t feel like a big workout and we were at the top quickly. Then we had to wait for a ride back down. Not all of the shuttles operating yet. I got in line quickly wanting to make sure that we made fast progress. Melissa joined me and were driven down the hill and walking back up for lap 2 before we knew it.
We learned quickly that the only shuttle we wanted what the Humvee where we could sit in the open back and get some refreshing air on us before starting the hike up again. I realized that we were well ahead of the 12 hour cutoff and could relax a bit. This lead to some interesting antics around the signs.
Melissa and Carol celebrating Ryan’s Incline. I can’t say we like Ryan after having to pass this sign 9 times with a steeper climb.
Not sure how, but I ended up holding Melissa for this one.
There were other antics, but we did our best to laugh and keep our spirits up the whole time!
Here is Bernie at the top burning his logo to celebrate his last ascent up the mountain.
Melissa, Bernie, Carol, Hogan at the top celebrating as champions!
Back at camp, JoJo and Danelle both came to celebrate the end with us. They were at the celebration dinner along with camping for the night. It was a fun event and a cool fundraiser for Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce. I’m not sure I’ll do it again, but I’m glad I completed it once!
Hogan Haake