Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Searchers find missing kayaker on Buffalo River

April 26, 2011|By edited news release from National Park Service

PONCA, Ark. -- The search for a 17-year-old kayaker ended successfully with no injuries to missing parties after two days of searching in the upper Buffalo River Wilderness. Search and rescue professionals included employees of the National Park Service, Newton County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Forest Service, Arkansas State Police, and numerous volunteers, including the Arkansas Canoe Association and Boy Scouts of America.

The incident initially involved two individuals: Olen Marshall, 67, and his grandson, who put on the upper Buffalo at Dixon Ridge on Sunday afternoon at about 4. Their intention was to float the 15.5-mile section of the Buffalo referred to as the Hailstone section using inflatable kayaks. This section begins in the Ozark National Forest and flows into Buffalo National River at the south end of Boxley Valley.

The Hailstone is a challenging section of seasonal whitewater that attracts kayak enthusiasts. It is typical to have kayakers respond to sudden weather events that make this section available to them.

I dont think these two knew anything about this run? Im not sure if their inflatable kayaks could have even made it to the takeout, but I really have to wonder about the thought process of attempting a 15 mile stretch, starting at 4pm sunday afternoon?

Yeah there is more to the story here.

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I ran the hailstone Monday and it was BIG water we put on at 7' and it was rising fast. Nothing like the videos I have seen, the big rocks were almost all under water creating HUGE holes and waves. This was easily a class IV run at that level.

They were unprepared for a big water hailstone run, wearing jeans and a Tshirt and limited WW experiance.