Louisiana style first descent trip report

[Louiscov]

I made an interesting paddling exploration trip Sunday afternoon on Flat Lick Bayou, a tributary of Dorcheat Bayou in north Webster Parish. Wouldn't recommend it, but enjoyed it and felt I'd accomplished something. What I'm not sure.

It was very swift from last week's rain, dark tea colored water, varied from 8 - 15 feet wide. Completely canopied with trees, sheer vertical clay banks 3 - 6 ft high, a number of cypress knees, low hanging limbs and vines to duck under, logs that could be negotiated around for about the first hour going upstream, a few sunken logs, vines hanging into water. Tight, acute angle bends with some strong eddies where the water visibly and swiftly circled upstream. One tight bend blocked all but about 4 ft. with a log, strong current piling around log into a high bank. The water gurggled and bubbled audibly in many places. Finally came to a log just a few inches under water with a swift current pouring over it, water over 5 ft. deep, steep vertical banks, no way around upstream, so I floated back to the bridge, then downstream a while, then back. About 3 hours on the water. Had to paddle very hard to ascend upstream in many places, lucky I took my 15 ft kevlar Wenonah Rendezvous. Water was fast enough to feel it pulling on the upstream hull when crossing current. A number of tight turns could only be negotiated by backpaddling. Beautiful solitude, deep hardwood forest and a gurggling slalom-like challenge. Saw deer, turkey, squirrels.

I was really skittish about taking a swim: never felt that way before. After the first 100 yards I realized that I had no idea how I'd do a self rescue of the boat, and even my own self rescue might involve a longish swim of 100 - 200 yards until I found roots to climb up the sheer banks on, leaving the boat until the water went down more. I had hope to find a stretch between two bridges that could be floated, but that's out. Put on in roadside ditch, paddled 50 yards down it to the creek. Quite an adventure, wouldn't do it again alone, but am pleased to have made my "first ascent/descent" on Flat Lick Bayou. All the instruction from Whitewater School and the water reading tips from ACC friends really helped assess situations.

[Jim Krueger]

Hey Louis,

Thanks for the report! Years ago I made similar solo exploratory ventures on two of the 'bottom land' type streams near my farm, the Saline Bayou and Leau Frais Creek. Like you, I was always thrilled with the wildlife and natural settings but also was somewhat skittish of the current/log crossings
and sometimes almost unnerved when the large Grinnel suddenly splashed and swam under my boat. I wish I had carried a camera more often then.


Best Regards
Jim

[Lupe]

Sounds fun and adventurous, Louis! I've been in a river with those sheer vertical clay banks...what a mess those are!

I hope maybe sometime we can share some bayou-style paddling...either up in east Arkansas or maybe you can show me around La-land.

Of course, I also want to share some more ww-style paddling with you too...

So much paddling to do...so little time.

[Louiscov]

Thanks for the responses, Jim and Heather. It's nice to find a couple of more eccentrics who have tried this type stuff. I should've taken a camera, and will do so next time.

Maybe I'll be lucky Saturday and there'll water for an ACC group going somewhere in Central Arkansas (BIG HINT!!) like Cadron, South Fouche, Caddo that I can join. Of course, it'd be a pleasure for some of us to show y'all around here sometime too when the water's not up in Arkansas.

Louis C

[Lupe]

Hey,

Unfortunately I'll be out of town this weekend! Dang - I didn't think we'd have so much water so soon in the season! Well, hopefully this wet weather pattern will continue and we'll have more chances for some trips together coming up.

I hope you get a chance to enjoy this water!

Cheers,
Heather

[RomanLA]

When I think I've found a first descent down here, I run into a fisherman that has been there done that! lol I soloed a class I/II run a couple weeks back though...that was fun!