On the afternoon of November 3rd, trip leaders Alex Parachini & Nikhil Kathuria made the final preparations for their journey into the beautiful Ouachita National Forest. As the trip participants trickled into the OA lobby, their excitement grew to all-time highs. What the participants didn’t realize was that they were about to embark on an experience unlike anything else offered at SMU. The van was loaded, Nikhil took the driver seat, and the 4-hour drive began as Fred again echoed out of the van speakers.
The group stopped to fill their bellies with the culinary masterpiece known as Chick Fil a. Needless to say, everyone was blown away after such fine dining. They soon arrived at Shady Lake Campground, where they would sleep for the night. Alex & Nikhil guided the group through setting up their tents in the dark and prepared for the next morning.
The next morning Alex & Nikhil prepared an exquisite Michelin starred meal consisting of Folgers instant coffee and turkey bacon breakfast tacos. They received the grandest compliments from Kylah, who described the food as “warm”. Feeling nourished and full of energy, the group packed their backpacks, loaded Rafiki, and drove to Buckeye Trailhead.
As they entered the backcountry, the participants were bubbly with anticipation of the unknown. The group went up and down, traversing across the 2000’ peaks of western Arkansas. After absolutely crushing the first three miles and ascending 700 ft, the group rewarded themselves with an all-time OA favorite, peanut butter bagels.
After eating, team morale was at an all-time high, and the group stopped for a photo shoot with world renowned photographer, Alex Parachini. The quality of his photos will be determined if the participants choose to post his photos on “the gram”.
Upon reaching their campsite for the night, everyone went for a swim in the nearby creek. They all enjoyed the natural spa formed by the waterfall above. Because the water was just a bit chilly, the group foraged for firewood, building a fire akin to the timeless flames of Mt. Olympus. As the fire crackled, Nar produced marshmallows, chocolate, & gram crackers, and everyone enjoyed delicious trail smores. As we all know, dessert before dinner always hits different.
For their post dessert dinner, the group munched on macaroni with marinara and parmesan. Everyone enjoyed themselves as they joked around the campfire referencing their favorite memes and movies.
After everyone cleaned up and packed their smellables away, they embarked upon a two hour saga to successfully hang the bear bags. Nikhil managed to launch one of the ropes around a tree that was caught like a grappling hook. After trying around 5 different methods, they finally got the rope down, hung the bags and went to bed listening to the peaceful white noise of the waterfall.
The next morning, the group hiked out to the road, Nikhil ran up to grab the van, and Alex blessed the participants with his superior DJ abilities. After a ride in Rafiki filled with Fred again and the Black eyed Peas, the group returned to SMU, feeling accomplished and nostalgic over their incredible weekend.
Nikhil Kathuria, SMU Outdoor Adventures Trip Leader
