Spring Break, March, 2000.  Headed south from St. Louis

west from Flattop Pinnacle, Oachita Mts.

to backback the Oachita Trail of western Arkansas.  A phenomenal early spring trek along the spine of the Oachita Mts., an ancient range first uplifted when North America crashed into Africa (its true, I learned it in Geology at Wash U).  Birdsfoot violet and trout lily were blooming, the Forest Service was lighting the pine woods on fire, and weather was mild.  This lizard was already out.  It snowed on the drive home through the Ozarks.

eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) id. by S. Viernum