BUFFALO RIVER - Oct 8-10 - CANCELLED

[Richard]

Here is where the pictures will be posted after the trip. Bring your camera.

Updates will be posted here.
Update #2: Monday Oct4
Well, there was a change in the wind and I am back in Arkansas. Weather forecast is not looking good for paddling so unless you enjoy pulling your boat over rocks, this weekend is a NO GO. We will try it again in a few weeks . In the meantime, just because we have not planned a float does not mean you can not go on your own.


Update #1: Lets hope for cooler and wetter weather beforehand. Water and weather will dictate where we will be paddling.


WHO IS GOING:



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GENERAL INFORMATION:
By now you know the drill. Arriving Friday is optional. We shuttle Saturday morning and do most of the paddling on Saturday. We try to be off the river and headed home by noon on Sunday. Sitting around a campfire Friday and Saturday nights and enjoying each others company has become a tradition.

Questions and suggestions are welcome. You may post them here or email Richard at rmmcfadden@yahoo.com

Some things you need to know. We have never had a problem but just so everyone knows on the front end:
1. For liability purposes this is not an ACC/Ozark Society sponsored activity. You and only you are responsible for your own actions.
2. This is a family friendly float. Children are welcome.
3. Alcohol is not forbidden but drunkeness and abusive conduct is.
4. If you use "fowl" language or need to smoke, please do so away from the group.
5. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Maybe even nicer.

We have been doing these trips since Oct 2007. In that time we have never had a problem. Quite the contrary. On the floats so far, we have been impressed with how well everyone has adhered to #5. That is one reason we keep going back.

If you have never been, we look forward to meeting you on the river.

FOOD:
Because of the various arrival and departure times of participants the simplest approach to meals is for each person to be responsible for his/her own. That does not preclude participants from getting together and pooling efforts. It also does not preclude pot lucks. So if you want to get with others to plan meals thats good. If we decide to pot luck a meal or two that is fine as well. But the responsibility lies first with the individual.

Breakfasts and Suppers will be at camp. We will stop for lunch on the river. BYO. Nothing is provided.

This has worked well so far and creates the least hassle. And we can gather around the campfire after dinner. Campfires have been great.

If need be, we will have a kitchen tent set up with tables for food preparation.

GEAR:
Each person is responsible for providing their own food and gear appropriate for the weather and water conditions. If you are just getting into canoe/kayak camping and are lacking some items please let us know. So far no one has been turned away because of lack of gear.

State Laws
15 MPH speed limits within the park are strictly enforced.
A PFD is required for each person. It must be worn by those under the age of 13.
The use of glass containers is prohibited within 100 feet the river.
Containers used for transporting food and beverages must be properly sealed.
When out of the cooler, beverages must be in a holder that floats or prevents the beverage from sinking.
A mesh container must be attached to the vessel suitable for collecting trash that can be securely closed.
All refuse, waste and trash must be transported to a place where they must be safely and lawfully disposed.

[Jaytee]

Richard, do you all actually paddle all three days (ie., do I need to take Friday off work) or do you all just camp Friday night and head out Sat a.m. Sorry, haven't been on one of yours before but I've definitely been wanting to!

Self sufficient on water treatment/filtration as well, right?

[Rodger K]

See-ya there (water??)

[Richard]

Jaytee, Friday is optional. We normally camp Friday night at a campground and run shuttles Saturday morning. We do most of our paddling on Saturday and camp on a gravel bar within a mile or so of the takeout. That allows those who can only paddle Saturday to do the majority of the paddle with us. Sunday is a very leisure morning. Those that need to be off the river early can pack up and go. Those who want to spend extra time relaxing on the river can do so.
When we shuttle Saturday morning we try to leave as many vehicles at the takeout as possible.
The ruling participant in all of this is Mother Nature. When she speaks we listen and that pretty much determines where we camp. She normally doesn't let us know what her plans are until a few days before the trip so we have to be flexible.

[Wildwood]

If I can figure out how to pack all the gear in my Remix XP10, I'll be there. I have not camped in 25-30 years, and never out of a small boat.

Will there be a community coffee pot?

(Hints are welcome.)
Jan

[Richard]

Jan, Jeremy spent almost two weeks in a kayak in the Grand Canyon so kayak camping in a weekend is definitely possible. I am not one to ask how it is done because comfort is my thing and a canoe makes that possible. You will not see me on an overnighther without my cot, sleeping pad, table and chair.

[Eric Esche]

Jan - Due to things off river, I can not say yet if I will go, BUT I have carried parts of 5 kayaker's gear on a trip in the not too distant past in my canoe without overloading my canoe. Even managed to carry some firewood along. (see avatar)

As long as you can waterproof your gear, (and we can help you or anyone else with that), I do not think you will have any problem carrying your gear with the help of an open canoe or two, as most canoes will have a little extra space, to help those whose displacement is challenged. Lack of cargo storage has never stopped anyone from going on one of these trips. Pare the load down to what you need, and a canoe will help out.

Eric Esche

[lbaker]

Lots of variables still in the mix, but the Buffalo sure sounds good to me!
leigh

[Clif]

Like Leigh???? but wanting to. Any other younguns in the mix will make it easier to convince 2 I know to come along.

[adavis]

Richard-I don't have equipment for an overnight on a sandbar but might do the Sat. float. Are you still missing the OZark meeting this week? A Davis

[Richard]

I am by the Kickapoo River in SW Wisconsin. This is a fascinating place and I may not be home in time for the Fall Meeting of the Ozark Society but will definitely be back in time for this float. Temp last night was 36º. Fall is showing its colors. Its beautiful here but no place beats Arkansas once the heat goes away. From now on, so long as I can, I will spend my summers in some place like this where the heat index does not go into the 90s much less the 100s

[Jaytee]

Jan, packing thoughts for you.

We have camped out of kayaks (Dagger Blackwater 10.5) and what really helped was buying tapered dry bags (you can find 'em online) so that we could efficiently pack the bow of the boat in front of our feet. Once we were able to get the front packed efficiently, then between the drywell in the rear and the space behind the seat it wasn't too bad to fit ALMOST everything else, but I still wound up with my sleeping pad strapped onto the deck of the boat. For a chair I brought a Crazy Creek-type chair and actually sat on it while I paddled.

That all being said, the desire to bring more luxury items on camping trips was a driving factor in getting into canoeing! :)

[Wildwood]

Thanks, JayTee.
I'm looking forward to the trip. Surely I can manage it for one night. Thanks for the tip about drybags. I'll look online tonight so I can get one before the trip.


I'm planning to go back to the Buffalo on Thursday to do the float we did Saturday. If anyone else wants to go, let me know Tuesday so I will know what to tell the outfitter about a shuttle. Right now, I'm the only one going. Thought about going today but the temp is better Thursday.

Jan

[Minna Ulmer]

Richard,I want to go but have to work .I have a borrowed canoe and learning to paddle it. Im wondering if anyone wants to paddleSat an Sun. this weekend,Oct 2-3? Nice cool weather :) Minna

[Jim Krueger]

You can come home now Richard, it was cool and breezy on the porch this evening. It's terribly dry overall presently, but very decent temperatures.


Best Regards
Jim