Pea Ridge National Military Park

Brrrrr. It was 19 degrees this morning, but fortunately, Arkansas warms up quickly, and by 11:30 the sunny, nearly cloudless skies had brought the temperature up to the low 40s for our hike.



Pea Ridge, northeast of Fayetteville, is where the National Park Service commemorates the 1862 battle which assured that Missouri would remain in the union. Over 26,000 soldiers fought here and over 2000 perished as the North vanquished the Confederates after a disastrous first day of battle. We biked here last summer, but today was a different perspective as we hiked the trails for 5 miles, weaving through forest and alongside and through meadows, once bloody from battle.



We saw no one during our 2 hour hike -- only 3 bluebirds, 10 or so deer, and a flock of smaller birds. I did take advantage of being here by purchasing my Golden Age Passport, now simply called National Lands Pass -- Senior Pass, a concession by the US government for us old farts who have achieved 62 years of age, which for a $10 one-time fee grants us free access to all properties operated by the US Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation.



It was a beautiful walk, with the stark brown trees and intermingling green of evergreens shielding us from the chilling breeze accompanied by the symphony of the scampering of squirrels through the leaf clutter on the forest floor. The hilly terrain kept our hearts beating quickly as the same hearts were soothed by the stillness and calm and beauty of the forest. A good meal at Los Palmas Mexican in Springdale on the drive home capped a wonderful day.