Hiking in the extreme (heat)...

August 11, 2007...   hiked on the OT from about 219.4 to 217.8 and back in 103°F heat.   This is the worst time of year for hiking in Arkansas.  August is typically hot and dry here but this August is exceptionally dry.  According to the National Weather Service, precipitation for August 2007 so far is 0.0 inches.   None!   Of course, 103°F isn't so 'extreme' compared to places like Arizona, but with the humidity levels here it feels quite hot.  The forest shows signs of dehydration...   the ground is hard and cracked, plants are wilting, some plants/vines are dead, oak trees are browning and other trees are turning yellow/red.   Even with the temp at 103°F yesterday, it wasn't so unpleasant under the forest canopy.  In fact, there were no mosquitoes and I didn't see one tick.   Amazing.  

Wildlife isn't very active in this heat; there were deer and squirrels about, but no birds at all.   In fact, in the baking heat, without the slightest breeze and without bird sounds, the forest was strangely quiet.