Cossatot Newbie needs some beta!

[razorback]

Fellow paddlers... I am a solid class III+ boater with a playboat looking to get my skills dialed a bit more on the tot. Never been on this jewel. I feel like a chump.

What do yall recommend? Upper section? Lower? Campsites? Warm showers? Good warm food joints?

Whats the scoup?

Any takers...

Jamie

[Cowper]

You probably should start at Ed Banks, and run down to the Falls. If you have done well so far, run the Falls.

For a first trip, you'll probably be better off if the level drops to 4.5 or lower. If it doesn't, consider making multiple runs from Ed Banks down to the Falls, but maybe not running the Falls. At higher levels, it starts becoming one long rapid instead of multiple drops.

There is good primitive camping at the Falls, and at Sandbar bridge. I don't know of any place close by where hot showers can be had; you'll probably have to go all the way back to Glenwood, or over to DeQueen for that.

You might be able to find a warm meal in Wickes, although our favorite place there, the White-house cafe, has gone out of business.

After some thought - you mention warm showers, a good meal - I think you're just going to have to drive to DeQueen or up to Mena. Glenwood has a great little Italian place, but is slightly further away.

[razorback]

excellent beta. what about running the section from FS 31 to ed banks? its suppose to be tricky and pretty class II and or III+. Worth doing if the levels are up??

looking forward to the adventure.

thanks again.

[razorback]

when you say run ed banks to falls,,,... do you mean ( falls ) sand bank bridge?

[Cowper]

It has been too many years since I've floated above 246 for me to give advice on that section. Your biggest problem might be locating others wanting to do the same stretch - 246 down is a lot more "popular", and the pace of the river is beginning to pick up.

When I say Ed Banks to the Falls, I mean Ed Banks down past the Sandbar bridge, to the access at the Falls campground. That way you have the option of taking out, OR, running some of the falls, or even running all of the falls. Or, you can just walk downstream to watch others run and see what it is all about. With a kayak it is very common for paddlers to run the Falls section and then carry back upstream to take out at the Falls Campground. Canoes usually go on downstream to Hwy 278 (old Hwy 4); rafts always go on downstream.

I'd guess that more than 90% of the floats start at Ed Banks and take out at the Falls Campground; I'm not going to guess what percent run the Falls and then drag back upstream. If you don't have your own crew and/or shuttle driver, choosing to float this stretch gives you the best chance of hooking up with others for both shuttle and river safety.

[Crane]

My recollection is that you need 4' at least for the upper runs not to be pretty boney... Both sections are II+ and somewhat easier than from Ed Banks down... but still fun and worth doing. Crane

[ROBERT GEORGE SCHARNHORST]

i would like to do that section tommarrow.

[Karla]

Cowper mentioned warm meal If your paddling on Saturday, going through Glenwood toward Hot Springs stop at Pearcy and eat at Rocky Mountain Grill. Very good food, steaks, seafood, etc.

Karla

[Tim Eubanks]

We do the section from 246 to the falls fairly often. 4' is about minimum, like Crane said. Gives you a chance to warm up and work on eddy catching ferry skills before Zig Zag and the Esses.

Have done the section above 246 once. Very similar without and missing the "triple ledge" drop on the left of that island. Long shuttle.