Buffalo this weekend?

[Eric Esche]

I'm up for a trip, Even though the Friday trip invite fizzled when the person inviting me back out.

Current plans have 3 others who want to do a day trip Saturday and Mary says she will tandem with me. We are waiting until Friday night to say where and when to see what water levels do. WE are also open to doing another Day trip on Sunday. Chime in with a post, or PM, or phone call if you want to go along and set shuttle with us or have a preference for section. I'm assuming a higher section if there is water and possibly some milage if we aren't going to carry camping gear.

Eric 479- seven two one 9101 cell

[Eric Esche]

Count right now is 6 and 4 maybe's. Ozark Society meeting at Buffalo Point and falling water levels have some folks still makng plans. We will post on Friday night where we will paddle and where/when we will meet for shuttle. Saturday is a day trip for sure, but at least 3 of us are going to base camp somewhere to paddle Sunday as well.

Right now, looks like Stephen, Mary, her dog Chloe, and I will be driving over early Saturday morning to run shuttle around 10AM.

Do I need to let the NPS folks know that the "not the governor" and his entourage will be on the river?

Eric

[MikeBeebe]

Eric, Susan and I along with my son, Michael, look forward to being with you on the river Saturday and possibly for Sunday as well. See you soon! It's going to be a great weekend to get out and exercise your boat.

[Richard]

Its kinda iffy for me because I feel a strong commitment to the Ozark Society. It is their spring meeting at Buffalo Point this weekend. After all, they are the reason we can float the Buffalo. Having said that, there is a possibility I may be able to join yall Saturday night depending on where you will be and float on Sunday. I hate this fence I keep finding myself sitting on.

[Karla]

I will talk with Gary and see. We may join you. See if we can get others to join too. Hope we can do a section further up too and one we haven't done before but don't want a long 9 or 10 mile trip if possible.

Karla

[Eric Esche]

The section I am hoping to do Saturday, after many off line phone conversations today, is:

from Kyles Landing to Ozark Landing.
13.4 miles
Difficulty -Class I-II
Estimated time to paddle, excluding breaks : 5 hours

The above is from Tom Kennon's book, "Ozark Whitewater".

Note: I am not Richard McFadden and I have not copied his boilerplate of standard warnings and trip information. Those who paddle with us do so at their own risk, but please read the following.

NOTE: I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THIS SECTION. I am taking it on the authority of other's comments that it is not as difficult as the Ponca to Kyle's run, but very scenic. I say this as we have several novices going with us and some first timers. I would appreciate it if the more experienced paddlers in our group will make an active effort to watch over those who are not. WE will not knowingly leave any one behind and we will group at times to count noses. Let us know if you "drop out" for any reason at any time, as we would like to keep everyone with in sight of someone else in the group at all times. Sheep dogs get nervous and cranky when they do know where part of the flock is.

I am going to suggest that we be UNLOADED AND READY TO RUN SHUTTLE 9:30AM Sharp SATURDAY MORNING at Kyles to run shuttle to Ozark landing. Those of you who are planning to base camp Saturday night at Ozark, may want to claim a camp site earlier as it is first come-first served $10/night this time of year. Bring some tape to affix your site receipt to the lantern pole. IF YOU RUN SHUTTLE WITH US, EXPECT TO HAVE TO HELP GO BACK UP TO KYLE'S AND BACK AFTER PADDLEING TO RETRIEVE THE CARS.

Bring a lunch and anything you want to drink with you, remembering, this is a family oriented group. Not saying what you can or can not imbibe. All laws about NO GLASS on the river, each water craft is expected to have their own mesh trash bag, and that all beverages must be in a floatie of some type, and that all coolers must be secured to keep from openning in the event of a turn over of the water craft must be adherred to. But we all know this already and always do this, RIGHT? ALso - dogs must be on a leash and under control at all times. Remind me if you see Chloe loose. Something I am still getting used to, but she has been a good canoeist so far.

As the water is still cold and the Maximum day time temperature is supposed to be 70F, it is recommended that everyone try to wear synthetics like Goretex, neoprene, nylon, Polyester, or polypropylene rather than cotton clothes, and possibly wear or have with you some sort of DRY or splashwear. Bluntly - it is still hypothermia weather folks, and I have never been on a Buffalo trip yet where there was not some wind on some section I was on. It can get chilly quickly when the sun goes over the tops of the hills, even though it is still day light for a few more hours, and the morning sun doesn't make it into every bend of the river before 11AM. Do not depend on me having spares, as I have already promised them out to the Adams family.

Also - remember that both suntan lotion and insect sprays DO NOT MIX WELL WITH LATEX SEALS. Someone forgets that every year, and it is expensive to replace seals.

Folks who have said they are coming for sure: =13

Mike Beebe and son
Susan Tinker
Eric Esche
Mary McFann and her dog Chloe
Melissa
Jan
Brain Adams and family(4)
Stephan Zisner

Among those who might join us for this day trip are
Arthur Bowie and possibly a friend or two
Stephanie Saunders and possibly 4-5 others from the KC area
Gary and Karla, (although this is a longer trip than they were looking for)

Roger Keesee and Richard McFadden will most likely be tied up with Ozark Society meeting, and Terry and Janet Price will be hiking over by Richland this weekend, but all send their best wishes.

I will be driving a blue/grey 1989 SUBURBAN with a red Mad River canoe on top and an orange pool noodle over my front set of racks. My cell phone number should there be any phone coverage is 479-721-9101

Hope to see y'all on the river. Sunday plans will be talked about while on the river or at Ozark takeout for those who want to day trip Sunday.

[Karla]

Debating where this weekend, Maybe Mulberry. We will post out decision Friday evening for sure. I would think with the level it should be moving rather good on Saturday. What do you think Eric?

Karla

[Eric Esche]

My popsicle exptrapolation of the Ponca and Pruitt Gauges has me guessing that it will be at the lower end of "Ample" water. If we get on by 11AM, I do not think we should have any problem getting off before dark, but like I said, I've never run this section. One of the few sections of the Buffalo, other than the Boxley and Hailstone runs, that I have not done. Also haven't done below Rush.

Your call, but I am going. Do not know what we are doing Sunday yet, but guess it will be somewhere lower where there is more water, like North Maumee to HW 14 or HW 14 to Rush.

Eric

[painterbob]

ERIC, we plan on the upper section run .stepth's group from KC, is up to 10. they are base camping from kyle's landing.i'm daytripping this trip,

[Waterbound82]

Okay...so ready to shuttle at 9:30 Kyle's Landing!! Yay!! But forgive me for not knowing too much of the area....can someone give me directions to Kyles?? ;c) Thanks team!!

~melissa

[Eric Esche]

Melissa - I've never driven To Kyles from the Little Rock area, but I would say go west on I-40 to HW7 at Russellville and then head north on HW7 to Jasper, then left on HW 74 to west, look for park service sign for road on right to north saying Kyles Landing. It is a dirt/gravel road that gets steep, and you will need to go slow on this dirt road watching for traffic coming up. Do not trun off to the right at the sign for the Orr Boyscout camping area, but stay on the main dirt road all the way to the bottom. If you are late, watch for a Blue gray suburban with an orange pool noodle covering the front 2 boat racks and try honking your horn a lot to get our attention or call my cell phone if still up on top. If you get to the turn off for Steel Creek, you went too far west. Have no idea how long it will take you to drive from your side. Mary, Stephan and I are coming from NW ARkansas and I allow 3 hours from Fayetteville/Rogers direction.

Eric

[Mtngal]

Melissa, it's about 2 hours 15 minutes to Jasper from LR and the turn off to Kyles is about 5 miles from the junction of hwys. 7 and 74. As Eric says, the road is steep, rough and narrow. Ya'll all have fun. Wish we could join you, but have a previous commitment. Gerry

[Eric Esche]

Folks keep dropping out or adding on Brain Adams and his family are not coming this time due to distance from the Ozark Society meeting at Buffalo Point.

Roger Keesee is coming with us tomorrow.

We will see who shows up at 9:30AM at Kyles when we run shuttle to Ozark. 13.4 miles may be a lot for some folks.

Eric

[painterbob]

GREAT TRIP!!... ERIC, thanks for posting. it was good to be out paddling. and WATERBOUND 82 it was nice to have met you. but, it will be hard to beat your first experience on the buffalo! so please don't expect that epic kyle's road start of the day every time!!.....

[Waterbound82]

Eric, it was a trip of a lifetime and looking for many more adventures with y'all!! The Buffalo has given me a whole new appreciation for the beauty this state has to offer. I found myself studdering when trying to explain it and realize that even the imagination could not create something so picturesque!!!

Painter Bob, you are awesome!! Thanks for taking great care of a lost puppy!! More epic adventures to be had, no doubt!!

Cheers to everyone I met out there yesterday!!! What a fantastic group of people that I'm fortunate enough to now call my friends!! See you very soon!!

~Melissa a.k.a. Waterbound