Eight members of Buffalo River Chapter Back Country Horsemen met recently with Frank Smith, Trails Supervisor at the Buffalo National River. Frank is no stranger to this organization as we have worked closely with him and his trails crew in the past, most recently on the Bench Trail and the Hathaway/Cow Creek projects. This was our first time, however to meet with him at his “office” at the Tyler Bend maintenance building. Elaine Appel, Jacque Alexander, Nancy Deisch, Arlus Trice , Donna Blake, Ted Spears, and Larkin and Pam Floyd were made welcome at the facility.

Frank used this opportunity to review recommended safety procedures and required safety equipment to be used when working on park trails. Just a reminder, our members are working in partnership with the Park Service on our scheduled work days and are covered by its workmen’s compensation plan during those work hours. Gloves and long sleeves are recommended when working the trails, and ANSI certified eye protection is required when using equipment, including saws and loppers. Ear protection is, also, required when we use chain saws or mowers for an extended period of time. The Park Service will provide us with this safety equipment.

Following the safety review, the group discussed improving the coordination of our work days with the Park’s trail crew. Elaine suggested Frank attend our annual work schedule planning meeting in January so that he can have input on where we focus our trail work. This arrangement could be mutually beneficial as it could unsure that more hands (and hooves) are on deck when needed on big projects. When possible, Frank could arrange to have his crew available to us, as well as safety and other needed equipment. BRCBCH could provide horse/mule teams and outriders for several ongoing Park projects, including the one at Cecil Cove.

The group then moved outside for a hands-on training session with the Park Service’s DR mower. All eight members, with safety glasses and ear protection in place, learned to use the powerful mower that will now be available to us for mowing paths through some of the overgrown fields that are part of our trails system. The mower also comes with its own flatbed trailer for transportation, although with adequate notice Frank can have it delivered to our work site. As an added bonus, our organization will be notified when an official training program is scheduled for the four wheeler and brush hog, so that equipment may be available to us in the future as well.

Frank joined the members for a great lunch at Ferguson’s Country Store and Restaurant, and concluded a productive meeting with lots of good possibilities for the future.