FYI, new? minimum for upper Buffalo in an oar rig

[Tim Eubanks]

For you oar daddies out there: I took 4 ladies(3 older, non-paddlers) in my 14' NRS raft with my oar rig from Steel Creek to Kyles Saturday, level was 2.9. Managed not to drag and even got over that river-wide ledge/rock jumble without getting out of the raft, didn't really hang up there. Really did not think we would be able to get down the entire stretch without walking a few shoals, but we did.
Great day!

[Barrett]

Thanks for this info! Do you know what the airspace measurement was at the Ponca bridge?

[Tim Eubanks]

Seems like someone said 14". We did not go up and take a look as we put in at Steel Creek. Putting in at Ponca at this level is inviting a swim right off the bat. And there's a willow "choke" just downstream that is a pain with oars.

[BEubanks]

What Tim didn't say is that his raft and oaring skills made possible a bucket list Buffalo River trip for one of my friends with MS and a larger group of mostly non-paddlers. We put 8 in canoes and they had a great time, even with some swims. But a canoe wasn't a safe option for my friend with MS--self rescue wasn't possible, so a swim could have been risking serious injury or worse. A raft with a skilled pilot can make dreams (or at least bucket lists) come true.

Thanks again, bro.

[Deuce]

Seems like someone said 14". We did not go up and take a look as we put in at Steel Creek. Putting in at Ponca at this level is inviting a swim right off the bat. And there's a willow "choke" just downstream that is a pain with oars.

I ran Boxley to Kyle's (well, actually I mostly rode, drank beer and gawked at the scenery except when Pauly let me play with his new Super Puma for a bit) two weeks ago and the major willow choke and difficult put in I remember was at Boxley. Is there one at Ponca too? That was my first time on the upper so my recollection could very well be faulty.

[Tim Eubanks]

Luke, the willow jungle at Boxley is way more nasty than the "choke" below Ponca. At the level you guys had it probably wasn't a big deal as there's enough flow to navigate easily.

Byron: It was wholly my pleasure! Glad the weather and water had a rare intersection of awesome.

[Deuce]

Luke, the willow jungle at Boxley is way more nasty than the "choke" below Ponca. At the level you guys had it probably wasn't a big deal as there's enough flow to navigate easily.

Well, "navigate" might not be the best word to convey how we got through that jungle. Good on you for helping out your bro and his cause. That's awesome. Glad you guys had an outstanding day.

[Tim Eubanks]

Luke, I ran into Paul Saturday at Steel Creek. He said you guys had 5" of air space. I've always referenced the gauge, not air space. We R4'd a 14' raft at 5", which I think is about 4'. Exciting for some of our non-paddling friends.