Buffalo Trip Report 2/22 thru 2/27

[Allen Rittman]

Buffalo Trip Report 3/22/09 thru 3/27/09


There have been a lot of questions lately about Buffalo trips. Which section to run, how long it takes and so on? Hopefully this will provide some answers and entertainment. My son was out for senior break last week and wanted to make a trip on the Buffalo with his new dog and since he is a senior and will be off to college soon I could not pass up the opportunity. So I took off work and away we went. He was with me the first part of the week and I was by myself the last part.

Our Trip started early Sunday morning from Conway. I had originally planned to paddle the lower end from Maumee to Rush due to water levels for I was going to row the raft and carry the gear and let Josh take the 14’ SOAR. After the rain on Friday that changed things, so we put in at the Ponca low water bridge about 10:30 Sunday morning. I think there were about 8 or 10 inches of air space at the bridge. It was a great day of paddling with moderately high water and almost zero wind! We camped at Buzzard Bluff Sunday night. There are better gravel bars just down stream. I did not know this because it was the first time I had paddled this section when all the rock bars were not covered in 5 or 10 foot of water. It was a nice a peaceful night we were up early cooked breakfast and off we went.

The second day was a little windier but the sun was out most of the day and the water was great. Buy 1:30 or so we were almost to Cedar Grove. About a mile up river from Cedar Grove there is a small and I mean small rock bar on river left at the end of a pretty long pool. There is a nice little bluff across the river. There is also a Large fire ring built!!! I would like to please ask everyone not to build fire rings!!! They are for camp grounds were everything’s already been destroyed. Ok back to the trip report. This is a nice little rock bar for 2 tents maybe three with lots of wood across the river and is very easy to get too. We were entertained by a Buzzard in a small cave on the cliff until he went behind a rock for the night. It was another great night on the Buffalo with a few rain showers during the night. Really nice sleeping!

We awoke the third day to a little mist and rain, but I was able to cook a little breakfast and we packed up and headed for the Pruitt take out. Everything was fine until we came around the bend at Ozark, yep the wind my old friend! The wind gods had shined upon us right up to that point, I guess they wanted us to see what e had been missing. I had to paddle the raft into a 20 MPH wind the rest of the way to Pruitt. At one point I was paddling as hard as I could in some pretty good current and was sitting almost still. Well we made to the takeout to find my truck and trailer waiting for us. BIG THANKS to BOC in Ponca, they always take care of me. By 1:30 we were back in Conway and Josh was off to baseball practice. That’s the only reason we left, but after 3 days and 2 nights I think he had had enough.

I unpacked, dried everything out and stocked up on more food and packed it all back up, well almost Josh did not go back with me. I spent the night at home and was back at Pruitt by 11 or so the next morning. It had rained an inch or more in the water shed Tuesday night so the river was right at flood.

When I got back to Pruitt Wednesday morning the water was about 3 foot deep where I had loaded by raft and canoe the day before. Man what a difference a night can make! I loaded everything in the raft a took off. I have the nice National Geographic maps there are 2 maps one for the east section and one for the west. So I knew for the most part were I was at on the river and realized I was making about 4 miles an hour after about 2 hours. My old man always said, “get it while the gettin is good”. So I continued until it was almost dark. I camped on a rock bar on river right just down stream from Mt. Hersey landing. I was getting nervous due to the fact it was getting close to dark and I could start to see the cold front moving in from the northwest. It rained early in the night but it made for good sleeping.

Thursday morning I was up early and on the water by about 7:30. If you pay the piper this early in the morning he will let you see all the wild life you want. It was sunny early and clouded up as the day went on. Again the current was fast enough to pull me quickly to the takeout at Woolum my finial destination Friday morning. Warning there are very few places to camp once you pass Skull Bluff between there and Woolum. I was forced to stay on the rock bar about 2 hundred yards up river from the takeout at Woolum. There is a long rock bar on river right that I set up my last night’s camp. That night it came a huge thunder storm that was really cool!

Friday morning I awoke to cooler temps and made breakfast packed up and made the long 200 yard paddle to the takeout. Jesse from Buffalo River Canoes in Pruitt ran my shuttle and it was nice to see my truck again. Thanks to everyone at BRC for the help and hospitality.

Here are a few foot notes

I discourage anyone from floating the river near or at flood. Unless you are very experienced in big fast water. There are not any rapids really but it is moving pretty fast in places. If you are going to float it in flood make sure you are on it before this happens for the Ranger’s will not let you on the river once it has reached flood stage and has been closed.

I enjoy paddling by myself and I highly discourage this type of activity. If you fell you must please make sure you have basic survival gear on your person at all times so if you get separated from your gear you will at least be able to stay warm and dry!

I have an 8 x 8 tent and sleep on a cot and sleeping pad. Nothing can replace a good night’s sleep on the river. Plus I’m just getting old and don’t want to be uncomfortable, so there I admitted IT!

Ok this is a very touchy subject with some outdoor purest. I like a little music every now and then on the trip so I have a MP3 player and small speakers I bring with me. I’m talking small they run for 60 hours or more on 2 AA batteries so they don’t get very load to bother other’s. I also like to bring a weather radio so you can keep up with things. And MAN, I hate to say this, but yes I bring a DVD player to watch a movie at night before bedtime. It’s really nice to have when you’re by your self.

And again if you camp on a rock bar PLEASE DO NOT BUILD a FIRE RING. They have really nice ones in the camp grounds and odds are you are only going to be there for 14 hours or less and will not have a fire that entire time. And besides it’s not going anywhere on a rock bar.

I hope this will help others in their planning and please remember this is our planet and no other species is going to take care of it for us. Unfortunately we are IT!!

Row it like you Stole it!

[Dottie]

Thank you raftdog for the great Buffalo river trip report. I have gleaned lots of info from it, and I will use your tips. Of course, you are preaching to the choir when you ask us not to build fire rings. It is the novices that do this. Wish there was a way we could educate them. Attn: Those with children .... teach them well.
Dottie

[Richard]

I agree also. I consider a cot and sleeping pad to be more important than a tent.

[sugarmtngal]

Nice report Raftdog! Where was your doggie for this trip?
I actually paddled as a first descender down Dave Creek up in the Greer's Ferry Lake area with Mike C., Conway, Stephanie, Tracy, Christina, and me! I brought the canoe for cleanup to hold tires, etc; but well we didn't paddle the Cadron . Got pinned once and Mike got me out and about with his rescue rope......... Great day with sleet, hail, rain, and great group.

SYOTR

[Allen Rittman]

The big Coocher went on the trip with the new pup Bailey. It was a great trip. I think I'm going back this weekend!! Probably run Woolum to hwy 65.