Osage Creek update

[hollohead]

Hiked from the put-in to the Mushroom, and the creek looks great. Recent high water has cleaned up most of the work that was done over the past few months. I cant believe the differance, after the ice storm it was epic destruction. Thanks to everyone that helped make it possible. Also, some vandal has painted a gauge on the bridge at the put-in. Looks like the level is at 3" now and the gauge goes up to 2'6". I'll figure out how that relates to boating.

[Victor Caballeros]

I can't wait to smash my face, break my paddle, and hike out of there!! I'm waiting for that river to come up for sure.

[ARzach]

I can't wait to smash my face, break my paddle, and hike out of there!! I'm waiting for that river to come up for sure.

Did Loren hijack your account?

[Fish]

Well, I'm definitely NOT coming to Arkansas tomorrow and NOT running Osage Cr. if it has water in the morning. Because that will NOT happen. Who else plans to NOT be there with a creek boat?

- Not Fish

[Victor Caballeros]

This is reverse psychology and it works.

[Fish]

I can't wait to smash my face, break my paddle, and hike out of there!! I'm waiting for that river to come up for sure.

Except for the "hike out" part, that's how "Howler" rapid on Osage got its name. One-time Arkie paddler and Afro-jesus lookalike Howell Cox, broke his paddle at the top of the drop, flipped, and managed to flop like a carp in the shallow water until we grabbed him and his boat. He was about to hike out, when Jim produced the heaviest, clunkiest looking breakdown paddle any of us had ever seen. Howell was still about to hike out, but I loaned him my new Werner stick and paddled the rest of it with a paddle that can only be described as having the responsiveness and grace of two ham hocks duct-taped to a pole vault pole...

On a later trip to Osage, Howell redeemed himself by getting recirc'd and swimming to the bank 25 feet from his truck at the put-in. And Howell was (still is) a good paddler. Such is the mystique of Osage Creek.

Whitewater aficionado and Dos Equis spokesman,
Fish

[okieboater]

Some years after the Osage incident, I was paddling a river in the vicinity of Tena Ecuador. One of those deals where you rarely see Gringos in kayaks or anybody else on the river.

We rounded a corner and there was a bunch of young gringo kids doing amazing tricks in short play boats. Dr Bob and my self eddied out to watch and all of a sudden Howell paddled out for a river reunion. Pretty cool stuff to see your paddling bud in the middle of nowhere. Howell was at the time a instructor with one of those around the world kayak oriented teaching academy outfits.

Bottom line Howell moved way up the kayaking achievement ladder. Talk about a fun job, he won the lottery.

[Victor Caballeros]

I have hiked out of Osage with a chainsaw and can of oil and I can tell you my Heart about Exploded out of my chest. I could not imagine with a boat. I think the incline is around 45 degree or more. But I am super stoked about running this creek I believe Im ready for this step up in my boating. I'm just prepared for the worst and do my best.