albert Pike/ little Mo area

[Heath]

On Saturday afteernoon, a Group of us were headed over to Crooked Creek after a Big water run on Harris. When we got to Albert Pike We were stopped by park rangers, and the local Sheriff, They said that people were stranded/missing and that were not allowing anyone to any further upstream, or puting on the river.
We then turned around and went back to look at blocker, no more than a couple of minutes after we get out of the truck, the local voulantery fire department/first responder shows up and says he really didnt want us putting on there either:/ I am sure we could have pushed and put on, but it would havce probly ended in a bad way( fine/ ticket for some reason or another)

I understand that in a search and rescue situation the rangers have total control, but in my opinion this is getting out of hand, and will probly just get worse from here on out. It is very sad to see what has happened at Albert Pike, the place looks like a run down mess and is only getting worse!!!


anybody else have any thoughts on this?????

[Jim E]

Kinda weird.

Talked with a deputy blocking the Lil Mo river bridge in Albert Pike since it obviously impassable. Very friendly and said that they (other enforcement officers) were waiting for us to float through there since they saw us drive on up stream, eager to see if we were crazy enough to do it.
Did hop on Blocker without incident from any officials but a local wanted to "have words" with me, claiming that we were trespassing.

Guessing that they started driving around and checking the road/bridge conditions after we looked at Crooked. One bridge was almost impassable and the one past Backbreaker Falls was out.

Wonder if the club might could get involved in this situation if law enforcement starts getting "diaper wiper" crazy?

[Heath]

I know in the past the rangers and game and fish have been ok to deal with. Even ran shuttle for us one day on Crooked.

I have been stopped at albert pike before though, ended up helping work rescue that day. but since the big flood every thing up there has went to crap!!!! I hate seeing what a place that I grew up in has become.

[maggiepowell]

Given the history of the area and the fact that they were dealing with a "situation", I can understand from their point of view. They didn't want things to go from bad to worse. Having said that, I don't know how much jurisdiction they have when it comes to putting on rivers.

What is the law regarding that?

Maggie

[Cowper]

I'm hoping that this was a result of the fact that they had just gotten word about the tragedy involving the AG&F officer and the sheriff that died in floods the day before, coupled with "Albert Pike".

If this keeps happening and turns out to be the new reality for accessing public land in the Ouachita National Forest, then I would agree that the club as an organization and many of us as individuals should get very involved.