National forest access post-ice

[Tim Eubanks]

Since there's no water at present, we're thinking about camping-hiking up near the Hailstone/Hawksbill crag.

NFS website indicates all areas are closed. Anybody know anything different?

[Cowper]

Tim,

My $0.02 says "just go", but be prepared to change your plans, have a back up destination.

I think you're going to find most roads now open; but "official" places like campgrounds and picnic areas "closed". If you're just parking and going in for a day hike, you should be able to do what you want. Most of our NF areas still allow "road camping".

I'm guessing the NFS expended so much money on clearing roads just to help folks who live in those parts, they probably haven't had the time or resources to clear any of the public use facilities yet.

Evidence for my theory - Richland campground closed, public notices and newspaper articles proclaim the closure and say the road is closed, but when Corey feared they had closed off the North road to Richland (the one we cleared 3 weeks ago), he called and learned they were only reemphasing the Southern road that was closed by the landslide months ago, and that the CAMPGROUND was not open.

[Dave Smith]

Talked with a buddy with the NPS today and everything should be open.

[Tim Eubanks]

Thanks. It is not easy to find a person in the right place who can answer a question.
Next: Upper Buffalo Wilderness is National Forest land, not NPS, right?

[davidbob]

Tim Man - I'd love to go with you, but the nursing home only gives us one furlough per month, and everyone on the ARG wing at the Old Paddlers Rehabilitation Village went to Branson last weekend to get our wooden dentures sanded down again.

P.S. Did I mention that you're banned?

[Tim Eubanks]

We'd love to have you come along. We've recently outfitted the Suburban with a portalet to accomodate weak bladders, enlarged prostates, etc to eliminate the need to stop every 20 miles to whiz, all with the older paddler in mind. Got donut pillows as well for the occasional 'roid flare up.

We also have a stash of hearing aide batteries, large print magazines/books, and an I-V bag of Geritol (as well as Gin).

Next time the dentures are in need of maintenance and I'll get the boys at the Vo-Tec to work on them for free, unless you prefer to hit the Outlet Malls in Branson with Jim Bob. The tulips will be in bloom soon at Garvan Gardens.

[davidbob]

Not only are you banned, we're going put you on double secret probation, stun you by making you listen to a tape of Marcell's voice recorded at Sweet's Falls, bury you with some of that mulch you used to plant trees with the other day, then dig you up and ban you again.

Speaking of Marcell (who's also banned), you better keep the portalet since he needs it more than anyone in ARG (but bring the gin).

[Tim Eubanks]

This don't look good. I hope you guys will at least have a gin n juice at my expense during the corpse abuse.
I've been listening to a recording of F15 carrier takeoffs at actual decibel levels in preparation of my next paddle rafting trip with Marcel.

[Jim E]

Just F.Y.I.


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