HOW MANY RIVERS YOU'VE PADDLED?

[Louiscov]

How many paddlers here keep a list of the streams you've paddled? Do you set a specific goal to add to it or just add to it randomly as opportunity arises?

I found my old list, updated it, and have set a goal of adding 12 new streams by the fall of 2010 as my 60th birthday present to myself. I'm blessed to have paddled a modest 28 streams (13 La, 9 Ark, 3 North Carolina, 1 each in Ga, Miss, Texas), with 12 more that'd get me up to 40. Maybe I can top that!! Spring, Saline, Cadron, Little Buffalo are on my Arkansas list for next spring and I'm kicking off my year with a "4 creek week" to Mississippi this fall. By posting this here it'll keeping me working towards the goal, and I appreciate the opportunity. This will keep me motivated!

Anybody got some numbers or tales to share? Thanks so much!!

louis covington

[Gordon Kumpuris]

I used to keep track. Have about 35 or so check marks mostly in Arkansas of course. That is a tiny number compared to some of us here. You can buy an ACC t-shirt that lists most Arkansas streams and has a check mark beside each. It is kinda a neat way to show where you been. It says "Been There, Paddled That"

Margaret "Stan" Bartelt I think has been trying to paddle in each of the lower 48 or something. She has quite a list already under her belt. She might care to add some comments??

[Richard]

White River should count as three rivers. Above Beaver Lake, Below Bull Shoals, White River NWR. All three sections are very different rivers.

[Louiscov]

Thanks for the quick replies, Gordon and Richard. I hope to hear from Stan.

It is WAY BEYOND AWESOME to be so pumped and exited about paddling, and so great to have others who feel the same way to talk to. After a ten year layoff just leading church youth trips (which I still enjoy) it's so grrrrreat to have some "me" time. I've got a kevlar/carbon with wood trim solo canoe on order for flatwater paddling with my wife's blessing, and will use my old pink Encore and sit-on-top torrent for whitewater. So far I'm counting conservative, doing streams rather than sections, but I see Richard's point. I'm also not counting paddling (mostly dragging) 1 1/2 hrs. up mouth of Litle Buff then back down. Want to do bridge to bridge, but I will add the White to my must do list. Thanks Richard. i've never paddled any of the White. Very good idea.

So many rivers, so little time!

[lbaker]

Hey Louis,
Just this year(after my hiatus from neck surgery) I started keeping a paddling log...it's amazing how it encourages you to paddle more...either that or I'm just totally obsessed :roll:
I was actually going for mileage, since Jan 1st, it's 173.5, (ok the half is a little be obsessive, I admit.)
I'm sure others have paddled a great deal more, but I do still work (boy does that get in the way of havin' fun!) For me it's a testament that I'm gaining skill.
Yes, truly so many rivers......
Leigh

[mohawklady]

As best as I can figure, I have paddled 11 in Missouri and 12 in Arkansas. I have rafted on the Nolichucky and the Arkansas in Colorado. And in the last 15 years I have probably accumulated 1800 miles on the Buffalo alone. I have met many wonderful friends, most of which are still regular paddling people. The only section on the buffalo I have never done is the hailstone, and one of these days somebody will make my dream come true and let me paddle a raft with them on it. Pam Ellwood

[canoe]

Icould only come up with 77 rivers(depends on how you break it down)
Ar. Piney, little piney, bayou(East. middle, northforks and main all the way to the dardenelle lake), Galla, Richalnd(Upper upper, upper, lower, lower lower)Falling h20(upper and lower),Bobtail, Big devils forks and the falls of Long devils fork, Slab(Runs into falling H20 below falling H20 Falls), every inch of the Buffalo, Indian creek(runs into buffalo above Kyles landing), Indian Creek(Piney trib.),cadron, caddo, Frogs, bakers, Saline(Below Shady lake, as well as rockport section), rock creek(L.R.), Lil mo., West cedar, east fork lil buffalo, haw, Shoal, Sugar

Mo. ST francis
Tn: watauga,doe, Noli,Clear, Obed< Tiney Piney, BSF,Pigeon, cheoh, tellico, Bald River falls(Bottom part), nanny(main as well as upper), ocoee(upper and middle), Crooked creek, Big Creek
Ky: Russell fork
WVa: Gauley(upper and Lower), new, upper and Lower Blackwater, Tygart, Buchannon,Teeter, Cherry, Cranberry, Big sandy(upper and Lower), Cheat,Otter.
Va: White Top Laural. Wolf creek, Clito creek. Muary, New, Creek that went thru Galax Va(can't remember name)
Md. Top, Upper, Lower Yough(Lower is actually in Penn.)
Sc: Green(lower)
Ga: Sec 3 and 4 Chatooga
Al: Little river canyon and Johnnies creek
I think that is most of the rivers in the east US that i've been on, but could be more. West US later. dale

[Tmuse]

Dale you forgot the TOT!

[Louiscov]

What great responses. I really appreciate them!!

Leigh, the mileage count is very interesting. That'd be interesting to keep track of. You've doubled me this year so far.

Mohawklady, you've inspired me to add Missouri to my plans. I could package Current, Jacks Fork, Eleven Point into a 4 - 5 day trip from Louisiana. Nice idea. Maybe I'll keep a journal on all these, too. Assuming an average of 10 miles per day you've doubled or more my Buffalo mileage.

Canoe, what a resume!! That is so impressive and I enjoyed seeing them! I may go back and create a sub list of "river runs." I am counting upper, lower, lower/lower Missouri as one, but a count of "recognized paddling runs" would be fun too. Main things is just to keep pushing, keep reaching, keep the passion going. Great idea to list rivers. In Arkansas I've done Ouachita (Cherry Hill - Dragover), Caddo, Little Missouri (3 sections), Saline below Shady Lake, Cossatot above falls, Illinois Bayou Bayou Bluff to bridge, Buffalo (Boxley - Rush), Piney, Mulberry.

Thanks to all who responded!!! Please keep 'em coming

[canoe]

sorry, 78, Cossatot. Dale

[Tmuse]

Ok here i go, Ar. All of the tot, baker, brushy, cow, harris, saline, crooked,ouachita river all of it, caddo, norrel spilway, south fourche, bear cr, south fork caddo, cedar cr, trace cr, bull bayou cr, little mo upper,lower, mill cr, saline in saline co, richland upper,lower, falling water,most of the ill bayou, piney, eflb, indian cr, cadron, hailstone, all of the buff, spring. Mo. st. frany, Tn. ocoee, telico, clear cr, obed, bsf, big cr, pigeon. Al. Lrc, town, south sauty, Ga. chatooga 3&4, Co. clear cr, arkansas numbers, fractions, royal gorge, roaring fork slaughter house, upper east, Ok. clear cr, pine cr, Wy, snake river Nc. cheoah, nantahala upper, lower, Nolichucky upper. 51 runs. i think thats it

[canoe]

Ok, think I'm up to 86. Missed cosatot, and Spring river in AR, plus Kings.
Colo: Arkansas, everthing except Pine creek, Roaring fork, Crystal, taylor, Animas, piedra, Yampa/Green, Elk, Upper Colo, Poudre, Joe Pye? creek

New Mexico: Taos box,
Az: Colo
Utah: Yampa/Green
Montana:Gallitin
Id: MFS, Part of Main salmon, Lochsa, Selway
Wash: White salmon, Skymomish, and a creek on olympic pen(can;t remember name)
Costa rico: Pacuara and reventazon
Pam has done 4 rivers in Russia, i don;t have clue about the names. Dale

[Tmuse]

count the runs of all your rivers.

[canoe]

Do I add all the runs down each river? Richland itself would run into the 100's. dale

[Tmuse]

I hear ya, tot runs are in the 100s, hurts my head to think about it.