Trek of Honor, 2013, Canoe Ponca to New Orleans

[Legend Treks]

Greetings to the Club,

My name is Larry Boyd Nutt (call me Boyd). I am glad to be a new member of the Arkansas Canoe Club. I want to inform all members of an exciting event coming in April of 2013. I will be coordinating and leading an epic canoe trek which will begin at Ponca, AR and end at New Orleans. It will, of course, take us down the entire Buffalo National River, then continue down the White River and Mississippi RIver. I believe this is the first attempt at this route to New Orleans. The Trek of Honor will have four missions:
1) Inspire Americans in the "Baby Boomer" generation to embrace the outdoors to improve their health and quality of life.
2) Provide disabled Veterans with new avenues to test their rehabilitation skills and assist in their therapy while restoring their independence and self confidence.
3) Inspire my fellow VA employees to participate in physically challenging endeavors and improve their overall health and value to their employer and patients.
4) Allow Americans to focus attention on the natural beauty of our state and the natural resources it provides, and encourage tourism in the Arkansas counties along the Buffalo and White Rivers which have recently suffered economic distress from acute drought.

All Arkansas Canoe Club members are invited to join the Trek of Honor anywhere along its route. Your participation will support the missions of the trek and demonstrate your appreciation for the service of all the men and women who have served in the defense of our great country and our way of life. If you have questions, please use this forum or e-mail me at wallentop@aol.com. Please share the word.

[fryingsquirrel]

I know I'll probably be up for a Buffalo float in April. Should be interesting to join in on. The only issue I can think of is that there may be low water or way too much water. Seems like recent Aprils have brought more floods than showers.
Jon Ellwood

[Legend Treks]

Good point, but I figure any time during the spring there will be the risk of flash floods. I have timelines to meet which means I have to be in New Orleans by May 18. We will enter the Buffalo on Sunday, March 31. I will be posting our progress on this site, so anyone can decide when and where they want to join up for a day, week or whatever. If anyone knows sources of funds to help out with equipment/food for the vets, please advise.

[hollohead]

how many vets are going on this trip, and what sort of supplies are you looking for?

[Legend Treks]

I currently have two Arkansas non-profits identified who will be helping me recruit disabled vets. I do not have a firm number at this time. Each disabled vet will have a buddy in his canoe who will be responsible for that canoe. With that level of organization, there is no limit to the number of vets who can be on the trek at any time. Each non-profit is responsible for providing all logistical support for the vets they sponsor. In fact, every participant is responsible for his/her own logistics. I know the non-profits are seeking donations of meals and gear. I will be approaching Cabelas and Gander Mountain and any other interested donor for my own support, since I will be in a status of "Leave Without Pay" from my current employer. Are you interested in participating?

[hollohead]

I have a lot of Coleman stuff at our store, stoves, lanterns, sleeping bags, cookstoves, tents, cooking utensils, etc.. When you have an idea of your needs, let me know, we would like to help out.

[Legend Treks]

I certainly appreciate the offer. If you could provide your e-mail/phone number, I'd like to sit down and discuss several subjects related to the Trek. I live in Cabot and work in Little Rock, and will be in the Fayetteville area this week-end visiting family. My e-mail is wallentop@aol.com, phone is 501-743-5963. Thanks, again.

[Dannyboy]

Legend Treks,

I live in Marshall, AR around the mid point of the Buffalo, and I would be interested in joining you guys for at least part of the run. I cannot get away from my business long enough to make the entire run or you can bet I would! However, I would be very open to helping with shuttles, logistics, etc. in my neck of the woods. I also own several very stable sit-on-top kayaks, as well as PFDs and paddles, etc. that wouldn't be ideal for the entire trip, but would make excellent patforms for certain disabled vets participating on shorter parts of the float. I also have access to a couple well-used but servicable canoes. I would be more than happy to talk to you about loaning them out for the vets in support of your mission, maybe for a tiny bit of advertising/mention for a very small GIS & Mapping company? I can also be of great help if you guys need maps and/or mapping services in support of the run. Feel free to contact me if this sounds helpful at all! Use the contact info below, as I'm not on here as much as I used to be now that I run my own show LOL

Danny Rowe
Mappa Mundi Mapping & Consulting
five oh one - five one four - three oh nine seven
dan8rowe at live . com

[Legend Treks]

Thanks, Dannyboy. I would appreciate the opportunity to visit with you and discuss how we can work together. I'll call you on Monday, Feb. 4

[Legend Treks]

The level of support that has come foreward thus far has been very encouraging! It would be great to have as many club members as possible participate in the first leg of the Trek, from Ponca to Kyles on March 31 at 9:00 AM.

[Legend Treks]

The Trek of Honor will begin on March 31, 2013 at Ponca. Participants will meet at the Buffalo Outdoor Center store at 9:00 AM. We will be on the river before noon. If you want to launch out with us please let me know not later than March 15. You can enter/exit the Trek at any point. You're responsible for your own logistics. If you know of a disabled Veteran who you think might be interested in participating, please have him contact me at wallentop@aol.com. I can refer him to a couple of veteran's groups who are sponsoring paticipants.

Boyd

[Legend Treks]

greetings to all. there has been a temporary delay in the scheduled start of the Trek of Honor. On February 7, I had a heart attack and had quadruple bypass surgery on Feb. 11. Back home now and getting stronger every day. We will, of course, have to delay the Trek. I am already committed to leading a team to Peru in June, so the Trek will probably slide 12 months to Spring, 2014. I will advise as planning continues.