#fayar

Adventure is out there.

"I just want to take a moment to say how nice it is, here we are in front of trails that were not here ten years ago, in a park that was not here ten years ago and here we are, three breweries that weren't here ten years ago..."  Daniel Smith of Apple Blossom Brewing says just before the runners begin arriving. 

The Mt. Kessler Trail Run, a 20k and a 10k was held this past Saturday.  The run takes advantage of the beautiful Mt. Kessler Greenway in south Fayetteville.  The park encompasses over 1500 acres just off Cato Springs Road.

The Kesslers arrived in Fayetteville in 1866.  Winemakers by trade, they built a home, dug out a wine cellar and by 1869 had a wine making business up and running.  Their wines, brandy and ciders won over the drinkers of Fayetteville and were served in a tavern of on West Center Street. 

Flash forward to 1938 when John Reiff arrived and purchased the mountain top for $35.

Flash even further forward to last weekend, as three hundred runners and joggers convened at the trailhead for the run.

The City of Fayetteville had recently teamed up with the Walton Foundation and now, after several years of trail development, the trails are open to the public. 

Mt. Kessler Greenways is the current organization tasked with maintaining this special piece of property for the residents of Northwest Arkansas.  The goal of the foundation is for the land to serve as a park, an outdoor classroom and as an urban forest.  Their motto, "As we grow, let's keep some country," neatly sums up the optimism, growth and outdoor spirit of the Ozarks and its people.   

                                       Another key player in the preservation of outdoor spaces is the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association, whose mission is to "identify and protect Fayetteville's most important natural areas and on our community's mature tree canopy."  They aim to "preserve the most important natural spaces in our area for the enjoyment of current and future generations."   

As the runners left the trails, they were greeted with a pint glass,  Tex Mex from Qdoba and amazing pulled pork and BBQ chicken from Whole Hog BBQ.  DJ Gabe set up his solar powered speaker array as the crowd relaxed in the morning sun.

Ozark Beer Company joined Fossil Cove Brewing and Apple Blossom Brewing in donating and pouring beer.   We poured a keg of our Cream Stout, which paired perfectly with the brisk morning.

Apple Blossom brought their elegant Octoberfest and a special wheat beer brewed with Belgian yeast and named for the park, the Kessler Trail Wheat.  

Fossil Cove was in the middle, pouring their trusted Paleo Ale, La Brea Brown, and a beauty of a fire-roasted pumpkin beer.   

(Fossil Cove's roasted pumpkin brew.)

Pack Rat Outoor Center, Adventure Subaru and Ozark Off Road Cyclists were also at the party.

As the kegs grew lighter and the BBQ dwindled, the crowd began to file back into town, leaving the beautiful mountain ready for another day of adventure for the citizens of Northwest Arkansas.

More information about sponsors below:

Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association

http://www.fayettevillenatural.org

Ozark Offroad Cyclists

http://www.ozarkoffroadcyclists.com

Fossil Cove Brewing

http://www.fossilcovebrewing.com

Apple Blossom Brewing

http://appleblossombrewing.com

Mt. Kessler Greenways

http://mtkesslergreenways.com

Qdoba

http://www.qdoba.com

Whole Hog Cafe

http://whcbbq.com

Pack Rat Outdoor Center

http://www.packratoc.com

Adventure Subaru

http://www.adventuresubaru.com/index.htm

Mt. Kessler Trail Run