Just a little update going back to one of my first entries. There’s a former bridge over Stockton Lake, all of which remains are two large stone pylons about 15-20 feet tall, depending on the water level. My friend Zenmaster and I were able to accomplish one of my long term goals earlier this year by climbing the pylon closest to shore, thanks to the abnormally low lake levels at the time. However, we were unable to repeat that feat with the second tower, which was surrounded by about 100 yards of cold water at the time. Fast forward to a week ago; the tower’s still surrounded by water, but it’s now roughly the temperature of warm bathwater.

Climbing the second tower took two attempts. The first came after a full day of canoeing, and we were simply too exhausted to make the climb. The second was far more successful, but still required swimming halfway across the lake and scaling the tower with our bare hands, sans rope. Of course, we were able to set a rope at the top after the first climb. This tower proved to be an excellent diving board, with the caveat that it was actually possible to get one’s feet stuck in the two feet of mud below Stockton Lake – something that was quite terrifying the first time it happened.

See the first of the two towers here: http://undergroundozarks.com/blog/sertile/index.php/2006/05/07/bridges_of_polk_county