WEST GAFFORDS CREEK Friday thru Wednesday 5/8-13/15

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

If it rains in the right place in the next several days I would like to make another attempt to paddle the Class II-II+ West Gaffords Creek in the Ouachita Mountains near Bluffton. I think I will be able to paddle the whole seven miles this time. Full information on the creek can be found at

http://class2arkansas.com/west-gaffords ... eliminary/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As always, this trip won't take place unless I get some company, so post here if you are interested in taking part. If the trip goes, I'll plan to be in Plainview at the 60/28 intersection quick stop between 11:00 and noon.

Mike Coogan

[Teaches With Fire]

Hi Mike,

Do you think this creek would be passable in a bigger kayak? All I have at the moment is an xp10 (10 and a half feet roughly) and its tough to guess how tight turns are without seeing first hand. If its doable, I may be able to join you monday or wednesday.

Luke

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Yes, I think an XP10 can handle the creek. I can think of only one fairly sharp turn and a few places where numerous rocks may be showing. The current will help you make the sharp turn; I always expect to bounce off a few rocks. The better your maneuvering skills are, the easier it will seem to maneuver a longer boat. A surprise fallen tree can always require a quick stop in an eddy, a maneuver that is a little harder as a boat's length and waterline length increase. My boat is 8' long, but has a shorter waterline length; as long as I line it up correctly for the rapids I don't expect my boat to require more skill than I'll be bringing.

Mike

[stanleyjs]

redacted

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

No water as of Friday night. I'll keep posting here as things develop.

Mike

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

The water may be there, but I don't like the forecast for Saturday, today. Sunday looks a lot more appealing; I'm planning on Sunday.

Mike

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Sunday looks pretty good still, right now at 5:49 p.m. on Saturday. The chance of thunderstorms is 25% until 5:00 p.m. for the Danville area on Sunday, and the watershed got about a half inch through the day today. If it doesn't rain hard enough to swell the creek past my conservative limit tonight, I'm in for tomorrow (Sunday).

The tentative plan is to be at the Walmart on Hwy. 10 at Chenal Parkway at 9:00 a.m. to consolidate any riders from the Little Rock area, then it's on to Perryville, then west on hwy. 60 to Plainview. I'll stop at the quick stop at the intersection of hwy. 60 and hwy. 28 in Plainview about 10:30 a.m. to meet anyone who wants to join us at that point; then we'll head to Bluffton on hwy 28., drop a vehicle at the bridge over Gaffords Creek and run up to the launching point.

The trip won't take place without more paddlers than just myself, or if the water rises too much tonight. Post here to let me know if you are coming; I'll post here in the morning.

Mike

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

The forecast has changed to have a 55% chance of storms this afternoon. Not going today, Sunday; maybe tomorrow or Tuesday.

Mike

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Tuesday is the day! Need more paddlers.

Mike

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

The gage near the creek only got one half inch last night so the water should be moderate Tuesday. The forecast contains no rain, mostly cloudy with a high in the low 70s. Looks perfect to me. Need some paddlers.

Mike