Upper, upper Buffalo boating/hiking?

[perspective7]

Just curious to see if anyone has boated the Buffalo above the regular 1463 Hailstone put-in. I'm sure some have, but I've never heard anything about it. Anything worth seeing/boating up there? The few pictures that I've found show a few drops and a cascading waterfall. Maybe a good hike from County Rd 5 down?

[DanMo]

I have not boated up there but have hiked some of it. I remember seeing a 25+ footer on nuckles creek that looks runnable, but certainly not by me. Of course I have never ran any big waterfalls so take that with a grain of salt. It plunges into a deep circular pool with the green color that arkansas is famous for. When I went up there it was after the ice storm last year, and once you get up to the right elevation, the downed trees are thick. Me and my friend kept taking sketchy lines across downed trees suspended over narrow little gorges. Sort of like climbing a tree horizontally. Don't know about the main prong big buffalo, only that it is a bigger watershed area. Now is the time to explore, I know it sounds wierd but it will be hot soon.

Dan

[perspective7]

I guess I'll just have to go and check it out...what I should have done in the first place. We did an Adkins hike with the Ozarks Society (I think) when I was 13 or so. That is on my list to do again along with the upper buffalo. How far up Nuckles creek is that 25 footer? Sounds awesome! As soon as it is above 15 degrees at night I'm headed that way...

[FarPastGone]

Fish and I hiked Adkins almost a year ago, and it was jam-packed with trees. Not sure if you had intentions of hiking it or boating it, but it is going to be a long time before anyone takes a boat down it.

- Matt

[okieboater]

and, a lot of rain fall in the right areas have to happen to make that jewel of a run go!!!!! Plus you must be setting at the put in ready for action if all the above happens.

[perspective7]

Boat Adkins....ha! That's a long ways off for me. I've only got the Hailstone and Richland under my belt so far, and just once a piece. You get to see a lot more hiking the creeks anyway when you're not busy just trying to stay alive

[DanMo]

As far as the nuckles waterfall, I am pretty sure where it is, but not positive. So here goes, If you are hiking upstream from the hailstone put in you will see an old road bed in the nuckles creek valley. You will follow it until you see a 6 to 10 foot ledge drop that is a perfect lunch spot. If you continue upstream there will be a fork, take the left/west fork. The creek won't even be above the boulders for a half mile or so, and when you get to the gorge with the waterfall, you will know it. As a side note there are lots of stone fences and other signs of settlement in the area. Could you imagine trying to lead a subsistence agriculture life in that area. It must have been very difficult. There is not much soil, and nothing is flat. Sometimes I think I am lucky to live where and when I do.

[Sparky]

It's good to know I'm not the only one who does his creeking in hiking boots. Thanks for the info on Nuckles Creek.

My wife and I have spent alot of time hiking Adkins Creek. Even before the ice storm there was a big mess of trees upstream of the waterfalls named Leaning Log (log's gone-new name) and Adkins Canyon. Tim E's names. There's some rough hiking in there.

I'm waiting for post on the first descent of Terrapin Branch. There's a spectacular boulder pile in there similar to Boulder Creek. Also, a pretty waterfall (grotto) on a side creek just upstream from the Boulder pile. Be warned it's not easy to find your way into Terrapin and you do cross some private property to get to the wilderness. The property owners like to pitch 2 liter plastic bottles in the creek. We always bring trash bags and try to clean up.

Be careful boot creeking out there.

Brent

[perspective7]

Okay, I finally got down to Adkins with some 'warm weather' on a solo trip. I was going stir crazy and had to do it. It was a great trip all in all, but it was a lot more intense than I remember. The people that boat this creek are crazy no offense. I just can't see it happening, but I would love to watch. Everyone is right about the wood....it's everywhere. Lot's of portages...lots!! I made the mistake of using a downed tree to mark my ascent back to the car and ended up taking the long route. But, I finally made it and here is a link to my flickr site to see some pix if anyone is interested. It was beautiful, but the hike is made even more intense by all of the logs you have to cross. Someone should have been with me to video all the times I fell over the dam& logs and cusssing at the top of my lungs in the middle of B.F.E. I'm sore as he(( and going to bed shortly.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/divinemadn ... 406236089/

[okieboater]

thanks for the photos, really good work

[perspective7]

Thanx...that new Olympus Stylus Tough gets the job done!

[RandyJ]

As a side note there are lots of stone fences and other signs of settlement in the area. Could you imagine trying to lead a subsistence agriculture life in that area. It must have been very difficult. There is not much soil, and nothing is flat. Sometimes I think I am lucky to live where and when I do.

Harold Hedges told me once that at one time, there was a homestead at the mouth of nearly every holler up there. That would be a hard life indeed.