Beer Tipper, She's Back

[kru1]

She's back and better then ever.

I have to trust my friends that all said she was gone, or bypassed by a huge washout on river right. I floated the 7 Bridges section of the Frog yesterday just to see how Beer Tipper changed from the December flood. There is still a wash out to river right, but it is only taking about 20% of the flow, everything else is going over Beer Tipper. Now there is a huge eddy on river right or surfers left to access the bottom hole. I got my canoe in there several times, every surf for me ended with a sidesurf, swamp, and flush. It was an absolute riot. Furthermore, there were some great waves further down stream, that I don't ever remember.

The Frog gauge read 4.25' and in my opinion the 7 Bridges section was optimal.

kru

[cpresoz]

That's great! Yes, for sure there was only one hole for a while with a lot of flow going off through the shrubs on river right. Good news.

[Cowper]

Sounds like good news!

On a similar note, yesterday it seemed to me that Gray Rock on the Buffalo is also trying to make a return. Yesterday I saw more current going toward the rock than I have seen in years; I think maybe at very low levels it will once again cause some problems for newer boaters.

[arkansas-santa1]

Woo Hoo!!
I also thought that Gray Rock looked to coming back. It could be also that the river was running @ 18" airspace.

[Smo_Off]

Looks as though the bottom is more refined
Hard to tell from pic but glad it's back

[Ouachitoff]

is the 7 bridges section the same as the "ribbit run"?

[kru1]

is the 7 bridges section the same as the "ribbit run"?

Nope, higher up stream. Ribbit is Lancaster to Rudy and about an 8 mile run. There is another unnamed ~4 mile section above that from the Grotto to Lancaster, I've only floated it once and really have no desire to do it again unless someone tells me different. Then there is 7 Bridges from Ash Dr to the Grotto, ~5/6 mile section that is awesome. Above that you are looking at either Clear creek or the upper Frog.

kru

[kru1]

Looks as though the bottom is more refined
Hard to tell from pic but glad it's back

She is Cory, that service eddy on river right is a god send. I didn't surf that lower wave much before because of access, now it is on.

kru

[tomOzarkVideo]

THATS GREAT NEWS!!!

[Ouachitoff]

is the 7 bridges section the same as the "ribbit run"?

Nope, higher up stream. Ribbit is Lancaster to Rudy and about an 8 mile run. There is another unnamed ~4 mile section above that from the Grotto to Lancaster, I've only floated it once and really have no desire to do it again unless someone tells me different. Then there is 7 Bridges from Ash Dr to the Grotto, ~5/6 mile section that is awesome. Above that you are looking at either Clear creek or the upper Frog.

kru

Thanks Kru. I have google earth-scouted the upper section of the Frog above the lake. I have to say it looks like quality, although I've never talked to anyone that's ran it, and I haven't seen any pictures or video of it at a boatable level. Looks like fun from a few miles up,though.

[kru1]

I have never been on the upper Frog, but know people who have. The main problem is access. The Bidville bridge is the only road that crosses the upper. Great put on/take out but I don't know of another spot. One of these days I am going to run the Bidville bridge to the Ozark Highlands Trail Shepherds Spring access just before the lake, but that will require a short hike out.

kru

[Ouachitoff]

Sounds good, it also seems like reliable river level beta might be a problem. Probably have to drive in and get a visual after a frog-strangler.

[cpresoz]

We've creekwhacked (hiked) it. A friend's photo of Frog Bayou Falls shows up on Google Map.

[Ouachitoff]

Hey Curtis!

What is your impression from your hike? Any notable drops other than Frog Falls? Thoughts on access points?

Also looks like Shrader Branch nearby might be good2go as well, although I don't see any good ways to access it without a long hike in from the Sunset Road area in Winslow.

[cpresoz]

It's mostly a string of drops similar to Frog Bayou Falls. No major contours cross the main channel. There are hollows with waterfalls but not floatable. Since waterfall hunting was done hiking upstream from the main road crossing, not sure about boat put in access. Might be worth parking and looking at various points.