Kiamichi Trail (K-Trail) Adventure: The good, the bad, and the douche-baggery

[TerraXpeditions]

The Kiamichi Trail in South East Oklahoma has recently sparked my interest. An unmaintained mountain trail with several challenging sections and some great views, for this part of the country.

Logistically, we planned this in a couple of days and didnt have much more than the K-Trail in the plan. Meet in Clayton, Oklahoma on Saturday morning at 10:00 (yeh right) and head east to Mena. That meant, an early morning start for my wife and kiddo. Joseph met us in Clayton as planned, Mr. Leary and The Mrs. managed to get a late start, but managed to meet up with us at lunch time.



In the mean time, Joseph (attoire) and I checked out a little trail near Clayton lake state park.






Then we explore Hurd Creek Trail:



Joseph has a lockrite locker in the rear, I would have a hard time pulling through this spot with an open differential.

And then we wait for my buddies.

[TerraXpeditions]

After a couple failed attempts to find the original start of K-Trail- which was the K-trail as well as Hurd Creek Trail--- a branch to K-trail.
The correct access to K-Trail is Clayton Creek Trail, off of Nine Pines road (2 miles south of Clayton).





Then for lunch. Ravioli was served straight out of the can, heated on the stove.

The view was good.

And everyone enjoyed a bit of play time on the ice.



The first real, challenging up hill climb.

[TerraXpeditions]

Not to mention, the Powderpuff squad in the Leary-mobile



Mike kicked some ICE. This piece shot forward about 15 feet after busting through the ice...


And a whole drove of hogs ran across the trail. 4-6 large boars and then probably 20-30 small piglets. Them swines flu across the trail!


As you've noticed, we've encountered many frozen mud holes... Much of which, the ice was 2"or thicker. And as the evening progressed and temps dropped, the ice got even thicker, closer to 4-5"!

Here is an example of a mudhole. As you can see, I was able to break through the ice..... or could I?

[TerraXpeditions]

A little bit of clunking around...




This bus. We. Have. No. Clue. How it got to where its at.



And down the hill, we find a good view.

[TerraXpeditions]

More of the bad ice...

[TerraXpeditions]

Mike comes over the radio: "Scott, your truck seems to be tracking weird"

At this point i did notice my truck feeling squirrelly in some ruts. We pull over in a clearing and find this:

Looks good, right? Lets look at the other side....

Rut-rowh....

Now lets break this quickly break this down... The 1inch lift block that a previous owner had placed on the truck decided to go crunch on the trail.... and since the U bolts were now loose, allowed for a bit of shift in the axle position.
You can see here that the U bolts are out of wack.

[TerraXpeditions]

So, in this predicament, we couldn't just remove the block.

If you notice, the u-bolt's thread is shot. And, the ubolts are way to long. we couldnt tighten them down any farther....

Our only option at this point was to turn the block around and tighten everything down as tight as possible.


Mike threatened to use the BFH on my cold ones....







Sorry, those pics were out of order, oh well...

[TerraXpeditions]

Now for the douche-baggery....


It was at this location that we encountered a our first traffic on the trail. A 1999 or newer Chevrolet Silverado, red in color with a few redneck-esque stickers on the back window, passed us. They drove by, stopped about 50ft away and then backed up to ask if we needed help. We kindly dismissed them, 15-20 minutes later they came back by. Didnt stop, didnt offer help, just drove on by. No big deal.

In half an hour after they pass we button the truck up, right at dark and carry on. 1/2 mile down the trail we come to a small dip in the ridge. Mike comes back over the radio, "there is a fire in the middle of the trail". Confused and unable to see, I ask is it just to the side or what?

No. This fire was in the MIDDLE of the road. Mr. Leary says it best in our discussion on this event: HERE.

When they first drove past, they neglected to stop or even check, and considering that Scott's truck was in pieces, that alone is rather suspect in my mind. When they came back through I got the feeling like vultures were circling around us.

The fire was started at a place in the trail where trees narrowed on both sides and there would be no way to go around the fire without cutting a swath. Large logs were positioned around the center of the fire, and had been poorly set with gasoline (burned off without lighting them completely). It was clear that they were trying to keep us there. We did not examine the trail we had already covered, but I would not be surprised if they created a similar roadblock on the other side of us. If they wanted to set a forest fire, there were much better places to do so.

If we had been a little longer fixing the truck, the fire would have made the trail impassable, and may have lit the adjacent trees on fire as well. When they saw my lights, they took off... then stopped, put the truck in reverse, then forward again, then slowed down. Then I fired one round to let them know we were serious, and they left for good... in a hurry.

I would place their motive somewhere between ignorant and destructive arson to a predatory entrapment. I can't help but wonder what kind of trouble we would have had if we had stayed on the mountain overnight.

[Dave Lay]

Man.. I have had a similiar experience in N. Central Ark.. that crap is spooky.. glad you got out ok.. one reason I carry when I am out like that .. its a shame there are folks like this when you are with your family trying to have a good time...

[jeepkevin]

Thanks for posting the pics and telling your tale. That is a trail I have been wanting to do as a family ride. Now I know to make it a group effort.

[baustin]

Thats why I have a little license in my pocket that says pull the trigger and call the cops to clean it up lol

[TerraXpeditions]

Kiamichi Trail Video

[OKMudn]

This is a thread that everyone on the board should read....might make you think twice about a few thing...

[TerraXpeditions]

Originally Posted by OKMudn

This is a thread that everyone on the board should read....might make you think twice about a few thing...

Definitely. But, dont get me wrong. I'll go back to the area and complete the trail. This time, I'll have my gun on my hip instead of under the seat.... and be less trusting of the passer by. But, in my years of exploring rural areas, this has been a first!


Should I post (or link to this) elsewhere on the board?

[Redruuster]

Originally Posted by OKMudn

This is a thread that everyone on the board should read....might make you think twice about a few thing...

Agreed, this is a great post for real trail riding and shows a different side of Clayton trails, the fact that you can actually get somewhere other than the other side of someones property is pretty amazing. In addition though the ridiculous of people trying to be iceholes is disappointing and disturbing. Did they intend on burning you and your family in a forest fire, keep you from encountering a pot field or just wanted to make things difficult? And why ask you if you needed any help?

Nice Thread

[linked&bobbed_S10]

I doubt it was going to turn into a complete forest fire! I went to college in Wilburton, and I have always "heard rumors" of the massive pot fields, but more toward Idabel/Broken Bow.....McCurtain County Gold! I wouldn't doubt it that this was an intimidation tactic for something, to block you from going further down the trail! There was probably a reason that the trail past the fire narrowed, most likely a small pot field!

I always heard that you shouldn't turn down a back road in that area, you could "get lost"!

[TerraXpeditions]

Originally Posted by linked&bobbed_S10

I doubt it was going to turn into a complete forest fire! I went to college in Wilburton, and I have always "heard rumors" of the massive pot fields, but more toward Idabel/Broken Bow.....McCurtain County Gold! I wouldn't doubt it that this was an intimidation tactic for something, to block you from going further down the trail! There was probably a reason that the trail past the fire narrowed, most likely a small pot field!

I always heard that you shouldn't turn down a back road in that area, you could "get lost"!

Well, the situation was one that we were heading towards the Indian Hwy. We were actually less than 6 miles from the hwy, meaning the trail was getting easier. The spot where we stopped was the first flat area in a while and the trail was quite rugged behind us, in fact 2 miles behind was way rough and where the downhill ice was. Not much traffic past that point.



Funny thing is, we skipped on a trip to Mexico (for now, because my truck isnt ready) and we still get caught up in drug related activities.

[offroad-dog]

It is More likely you came across an area where they were Hunting, There is a lot of hunting land in that area and they just don't like "City folk" a messin' it up! They claim sections and defend them!

When Hunting that area a friend of mine has had several incidents with locals, all unpleasant, One was wearing full sniper Camo where he actually stepped on the guy before he saw him!

I think they were just trying to scare you out of ever coming back! They take hunting season very seriously in that area.

P.S. There are no Pot fields to protect when there is Ice on the ground....

[xjpaddler]

Originally Posted by offroad-dog

It is More likely you came across an area where they were Hunting, There is a lot of hunting land in that area and they just don't like "City folk" a messin' it up! They claim sections and defend them!

When Hunting that area a friend of mine has had several incidents with locals, all unpleasant, One was wearing full sniper Camo where he actually stepped on the guy before he saw him!

I think they were just trying to scare you out of ever coming back! They take hunting season very seriously in that area.

P.S. There are no Pot fields to protect when there is Ice on the ground....

no but there is plenty of meth! I have stumbled on a few areas where it had been produced all around Clayton. even came up on a pitbull chained to a tree in the middle of no where, no beat down path to or from the area. dog was a few yards away from a creek with a blue barrel for a dog house, and lots of different empty chemical containers.

[linked&bobbed_S10]

I think that I'll stick to Green Acres in the Clayton area!

[TerraXpeditions]

Originally Posted by offroad-dog

It is More likely you came across an area where they were Hunting, There is a lot of hunting land in that area and they just don't like "City folk" a messin' it up! They claim sections and defend them!

When Hunting that area a friend of mine has had several incidents with locals, all unpleasant, One was wearing full sniper Camo where he actually stepped on the guy before he saw him!

I think they were just trying to scare you out of ever coming back! They take hunting season very seriously in that area.

P.S. There are no Pot fields to protect when there is Ice on the ground....

Doesn't do them a lot of good if they burn the forest down around the deer.

I don't give a rats ass if they hunt in the area, they don't own the public road, and we'll be back!

[Bluegoose98]

Let us know when you get ready to do this ride again. We would love to go along. We have two super trail jeeps and one hardore rock crawler (and we all carry heat, when on the trails). All of them are street legal (guns and vehicles). It is my wife and myself and my two sons and their ladies, (one married and one not). My sons are 27 and 20 yrs old. I'm 57. We like to drink a little beer not wild type anymore. We normally ride around McCurtain, OK. The town, not the county.

Ronnie Smith
Ada, OK

[OkLaHoMaYJ]

Great trail report! I've been out on those very trails a LONG time ago. It's been about 8 years since I was out there. Nothing wrong with carrying while wheeling. I do it.

[YJ4rocks]

Originally Posted by TerraXpeditions

It was at this location that we encountered a our first traffic on the trail. A 1999 or newer Chevrolet Silverado, red in color with a few redneck-esque stickers on the back window, passed us.

Happen to get anymore info on the vehicle? I have a buddy who works for Clayton PD

[mental-elf]

sweet trail report. makes for a great memory. crazy down hill ice runs, broken rig, trail fixes and the stupid rednecks. was a great read, tyvm