Leaving CO, Moving to NWA

[Ben Rodda]

I will be there 1st of January...

Someone please tell me why this is a good idea?

Been boating for 17 years. Love waves and holes. Enjoy some creek from time to time.

Thanks,

Ben

[Roger]

Come on down, Ben. We are rain-dependent but when it goes off, well, just be ready! Here's something to look at till then> Just click on the respective creeks to get an eyeful!

http://www.ozarkpages.com/cgi-bin/gallery/index.cgi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Fish]

Hi Ben,

Well it ain't CO, but we do have some nice creeks when the water gets going. So far, this has been a great year. Feel free to contact me and we'll swap numbers and I'll holler at you this spring to do some boating. When you get to town, come out to one of our chapter meetings, and you'll run into a lot of folks who boat waves, holes, and creeks all over Arkansas.

- Fish

[Steph]

The girls... southern women are best. All kidding aside if you can't go boating you can go mountain biking, road biking, hiking, climbing, caving almost any day of the year. There is always someone available for fun in the woods. You'll have to go back west for snow sports, but the rest is all possible. Just don't tell everyone or they will start showing up too.

[tomcat]

steph wrote...."There is always someone available for fun in the woods."




you sur have a purty mouth

[KAYAKN]

Welcome Ben R.
Ur moving fur the purty women and partys at the "Sand Bar"

[Ben Rodda]

You seem like a great bunch of people... This is going to be fun... Thanks for all the responses. I looked at some of the creeks and saw some video. Looks pretty kick a**. You guys have been keeping some secrets for a while.

My Arkansas wife is the one draggin me down there. (The next line needs a setting, so imagine 70s porn soundtrack, a bottle of cheap cognac, a couch with fur on it, a black light poster aka the ladies man) She was a razorback cheerleader so I am familiar with the ways of the ozark women. And yes you ladies are very very special...

You seem like a great bunch of people... This is going to be fun...

A few questions:
1) What runs consistently near NWA? Anything with some play on it?

2) How much rain do the classics need?

3)How long do the watersheds hold their water?

[Trismegistus]

1) What runs consistently near NWA? Nothing. At least nothing you'd write home to mom about -- consistent runs in this state mean "flat water" -- everything else is rain dependent (but at least we get a lot of rain). Nearby flat water runs include the Illinois River, lower Kings River, etc. But there are a number of low volume floats -- Osage Creek, White River, etc. that can be pushed if in a pinch for moving water. And Beaver Lake -- as well as hundreds of smaller impooundments -- can be found in the general vicinity.

Anything with some play on it? Only after a rain except for Fisher's Ford on the Illinois River. But come rain and pretty soon you'll find all kinds of places to play.

2) How much rain do the classics need? Too much. Outside of winter you really need a gully washer -- a good couple of inches will usually get you going and having you scratching yer' head "where to?" The best paddling happens in January and February albeit spring can't be beat and you can have years like this year where Class IV+ water could even be found for a few days in August and September.

3)How long do the watersheds hold their water? Not long enough. Generally after a big rain your window of opportunity is measured in hours -- nice to have a job where you can up and go as soon as the puddles start forming. Some of the longer Class II-III runs may give you a 2-4 day window and our Class I-II rivers even a little longer -- but steep creekin' requires that you be at the put-in just as soon as you can yer boat loaded. On the other hand, Arkansas is "water rich" -- if you're just looking to do some paddling and exploring some of the best country in the midwest then it be year-around, everyday. Lakes, bayous, and swamps we have plenty. And our largest rivers -- White, Ouachita, Saline, Red, etc. -- can float a boat anyday you can break free.

[turboturtle]

And don't forget. we sport some of the best banjo music in the Country! "The Mountain View Folk Festival." A yearly event that brings out some of the best folk players imaginable.

[tomcat]

hey Ben, just curious.....who did you paddle with in CO? Me and others here have paddled with some of you CO guys and girls over the years and just wondering how small the world is. Some of the mtn buzzards I've paddled with are Ed Hansen, Carlosthebidnessman (Bill P.....who doesn't paddle much anymore), sj (Steve Jones), gh (Greg Horton), jennifer, patricia, Mike Hyde and some others.

[Ben Rodda]

Tom,

Its a huge community here.... in a small world. The only name I recognize is Ed Hansen.

Honestly I have a pretty small group of dudes I boat with. I do post on BUZZ a good bit though.

Ben

[Fish]

As Cadron Boy, aka CB, aka Tris, aka Fount of Knowledge, posted, we are water challenged in this state. Our secrets keep themselves despite our telling stories about them to all who will listen. No one's going to plan a class 3+ paddling vacation here or even drive in to catch a steep creek from more than a few hours away. But, the water we do get is seriously appreciated and the creeks and rivers are remote and uncrowded. You will not be waiting in line for surfing most days, you won't always be looking at a road and summer homes from the creek, and you'll be paddling with the most dedicated and friendly paddlers in the country. What about those long stretches of days when it's dry as a bone here? We're a day drive from the East and CO - perfect for slightly extended weekend trips.

To sum it up, Arkansas is the best place for paddling whitewater outside of the really good places for paddling whitewater.

See ya on the river,
Fish

[tomcat]

to add a little more here......if you're able to jump (leave work at a moments notice) a paddler can get as many as 40+ days of river/creek trips per year here in arkyland....give or take. That is what I used to average when I used to go as often as the rain gods allowed. Add a couple of weekend trips to the Ocoee area and a week in CO each summer....it can add up to a fairly active paddling lifestyle. It may not be a steady diet of class IV/V, but plenty of opportunity to float your boat.

[Paddlegal]

Hey Ben welcome! And your wifey-pooh too!

It is true that the good rides come after the rain (or hurricanes) but there are a couple of places used to generate electricity that have great play spots. Consult Captain Aleve there.

[okieboater]

What everyone else said
plus
you will become a pretty good weather forcaster
and
your computer bookmarks will be full of various radars, weather sites etc
and
you will drive a lot