Felsenthal Camping Trip 11/27 & 28

[DeBo]

Thanks everyone for a fabulous trip

[c8mb]

I wish we could have gone but we've had an epizootic at our house

[Richard]

Who would have thought we would have issues with ants in the middle of a swamp. Thanks to Heather's dog Betty's nose we were alerted to the danger and she did a great job of checking out the site. Consequently, we were able to avoid any ant problems. Way to go Betty.

I managed to get the best bedroom of all. It was BIG! Extended all the way to the stars which changed as the night went on. Silhouetted trees highlighted Cassiopeia at bed time. Orion was framed later in the night. The wall paper changed from black to red as the sun began to rise. As the sun broke above the horizon it made the leaves at the top of the trees glow. Beautiful! My bedroom was as beautiful as a bedroom can get.

If you want to experience this but afraid you may not be able to awake to see what I saw, not to worry. At 4am you will awake, like it or not, to sounds that would make you feel you were in the middle of the Daytona Speedway. Duck hunters in high powered boats on their way to the killing fields. You will still be able to eventually go back to sleep. Then you are guaranteed to see the sunrise when suddenly you think Armageddon has arrived. I didn't know there could be that many shotguns within ear shot. The swamp will not be around for long. It will be shortly filled with shot. May be turned into a mine for lead and steel.

And in camp, having supper with friends. Debo's goulash, Tim & Susan's salad, Heather's cornbread made for a great meal. Campfires are always a plus. Include Cowper and they are raised to the next level.

In the morning we waited till the hunters were off the water to head for home. Three of us headed north while Cowper led the rest south. The consequence was that we had a brisk tailwind to aid our trip to the takeout. Paddling can't get better than that.

No outing is complete without at least one night spent camping in the area.

Sights and sounds of the swamp, day and night are amazing.

Thank you Debo for planning and executing these outings.

[Cowper]

NOTICE TO OUR HUNTING FRIENDS:

For the record, I’d like you to know several things about our Felsenthal trip:

1) We deeply appreciate the fact that many areas like this have been preserved by a combination of direct actions and fees/taxes paid by the hunting community.

2) We took special care to minimize any impacts we might have on hunters. We travelled only during the afternoon (when duck hunters have to quit shooting anyway) and we camped in an area least likely to be an early morning destination for incoming hunters.

3) Felsenthal was not open to modern gun deer hunts this weekend, so again we were not interfering with that activity.

4) As I laid awake, thinking about what it took for the duck hunters to already be out on the water at 4 AM, headed out to their chosen area, I couldn’t help but take note that they are every bit as dedicated to their sport as I am to mine. You’ve just gotta respect that.

While we heard many hunters due to the way sounds travel great distances over water, the only ones we actually saw were one boat load at the boat ramp, and a second that was leaving the area as we were headed in. I hope this means we were successful in not degrading the experience of anyone else’s weekend, while we were out enjoying our own.

[AR-Nimrod]

Cowper,

Due to ecological reasons the Corps. decided not to flood Felsenthal this year. Otherwise, you would have had a lot more water 3+ feet, I think. Which would have brought in many more duck hunters. I personally don't duck hunt anymore but I still know a lot who do and the lack of water has caused many of them to forego Felsnthal this year. The Corps actually decided not to flood last year but, MotherNature had other ideas. The area was much more remote and to me, prettier before they formed the refuge. But now more people get the use of it so it helps promote the Arkansas outdoors, which is a good thing. Glad y'all had a good trip.

[Richard]

the only ones we actually saw were one boat load at the boat ramp, and a second that was leaving the area as we were headed in.

Apparently Shallow Lake Ramp is far more active than Pine Island.

[DeBo]

A big part of the problem is that nature is variable and humans like to put things on a schedule. The FWS has been ajusting water levels every year on shedule due to pressure from users. This has resulted in the death of some of the large species of oaks and has also prevented young trees from sprouting due to continual flooding. I have no doubt that the area was better before it was managed as a reservoir. Some years were dry and you just didn't get to duck hunt there! Others were wet and the hunting was great! Still, I am extremely glad that this place is set aside for public use.

The refuge has realized that for the area to be healthy they are going to have to put it on a much more "natural" schedule. They can use our help in doing this. They need users who prefer the lower water levels and will support their efforts to manage the area for overall health of the ecosystem; paddlers, bird watchers etc.

I guess we will just have to visit more often. I know it's hard, but somebody's got to do it!

[Karla]

Debo, I agree with you. I enjoyed paddling this area much. Long drive but well worth it. I now wish I had did the trip last weekend and camp. If we get a chance to do it again and not any colder than last weekend, I sure would like to. We have nearby El Dorado for good eats too afterwards.

Karla