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#92884 - 03/19/08 12:25 PM Class 4 Canoeing
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Well the Creeks and Rivers are raging. Class 4 Canoeing all over the place. Here's a report from the Buffalo River:

Quote:

Flooded Buffalo River Sees Highest Rise Since 1982
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 09:29 AM

The Buffalo National River soared to 23 feet at the Ponca low water bridge on Tuesday, March 18th, at 2:30 PM. This put the river at a stunning 17 feet over the bridge. We've not seen a rise this dramatic since the flood of November 1982


It would have really sucked to be out on the Buffalo River Trail the last couple of days. Rain has just been pouring down in gushes all around here. I'm not sure that even Jim Shaw could have stayed dry is this deluge <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

The Buffalo River offers truly "World Class Floating" this time of year. I only go when it's nice and easy, but I'd love to run down there and watch those crazy class 4 kayakers right now.

Instead, (If I get the foot of water out of my basement today) I'll probably just go down into the holler below my house and take a look at the creek down there. It's usually dry, but it's probably roaring right now too.

If I do, I'll snap and post a photo.

Bill

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#92885 - 03/19/08 06:45 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
Tango61 Offline
member

Registered: 12/27/05
Posts: 931
Loc: East Texas Piney Woods

Here in DFW, we had over 6 inches in roughly 12 hours. It rained for about 18 hours all together. I'm sure Dryer saw plenty of flooding down in south Dallas.

Unfortunately, one teenage boy is missing and presumed drowned from playing around a drainage area. He slipped in and got swept away.

More people die in Texas from flash flooding than any other form of natural 'disaster'.

One couple even drove around a barricade and had to be rescued from the top of their SUV.
I just don't get it. I can hear her now, "Honey, I think we should turn around."

"Naw, we can make it."

"Uh honey, there's water coming through the door."

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#92886 - 03/21/08 05:10 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Bill,
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Are you sure thats class 4? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Sounds more like class 5. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Ayway I have canoed in raging storm swollen rivers (including the Snake) when I was younger and smarter. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> And I DO have a story about staying dry as the canoe was swept out from under us right infront of a sweeper (a long extending into the river at the surface.)

So Anyway I had already lost the bow guy somewhere back upstream and I hoped he could swim as we had no life jackets. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> He was simply tossed out of the canoe. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> The Napa River was like 20 feet above flood stage right? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Wild was not a correct <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> term for the turbulence. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I was wearing some old helly hanson coated nylon rain gear with a wool shirt under it. So anyway the boat is being sucked under and I'm looking at this tree ahead of me (Did I mention the loud crashing sound or the adrenalin?) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> and it was about 15 feet to the shore. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
I remmember pushing off the boat as I "ran" across the river to the shore <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. I remember being astonished that 1- I was alive 2- I actually made it - and 3 - my shirt was completely dry... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Did I mention that it was a homemade plywood canoe? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#92887 - 03/21/08 07:10 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: Jimshaw]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Quote:
Bill,
when I was younger and smarter
...
So Anyway I had already lost the bow guy somewhere back upstream and I hoped he could swim as we had no life jackets.
....
like 20 feet above flood stage
.....
Did I mention that it was a homemade plywood canoe? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />


I remember being younger and smarter like that once too <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
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#92888 - 03/22/08 07:58 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: phat]
ringtail Offline
member

Registered: 08/22/02
Posts: 2296
Loc: Colorado Rockies
phat,

I also was younger and smarter.

A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "[Edited for inappropriate languge, please review forum policies for more information]...that was fun!"


Edited by food (03/22/08 07:59 AM)

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#92889 - 03/24/08 06:41 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: Jimshaw]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Quote:
lost the bow guy somewhere back upstream


I've read this story a couple times now and it just cracks me up!

But I have to ask, what happened to the "bow guy"?

For some reason I keep imagining that he was never seen again...

Bill

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#92890 - 03/24/08 07:22 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: ringtail]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Quote:
I also was younger and smarter.


Yeah, me too. Man, that was a long time ago.

I remember racing through the Sequoia Forest on a 250cc Trials bike when I was young and smarter than everybody and seeing an patch of blue sky in front of me just soon enough to slam on the brakes and skid sideways to a stop about 5 feet from one of those granite faces that drop about 1-2 thousand feet. After I pried my fingers off the handlebars and dried my pants I remembered an ol'timer telling me that I should "go slow on these trails cuz there's some pretty dangerous spots if you don't know them real good".

I slowed down after that. Never zoomed in the forests again...

Bill

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#92891 - 03/24/08 07:30 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: Tango61]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Bull Shoals Lake (near me) is flooding now. It's not at full pool, but it's into the roads and parks that line the banks at normal level.

Since the White River is flooding below the Bull Shoals dam and the flood gates are open on Table Rock Lake above Bull Shoals, it will just keep rising. Last year the Army Corp decided that they should raise the normal pool on Bull Shoals Lake by five feet. Had they not done that, they'd have a considerable amount of storage yet to go. If it keeps on raining, well, you know the rest of that song...

Bill

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#92892 - 03/24/08 07:37 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
I got down to the creek at the bottom of the holler below our house late in the evening the day I wrote the first message on this thread. The creek wasn't raging but water was still running harder than I've seen it before. Had I got there in the early morning it would have been running much faster. Here's a pic with my son, Jim, Tucker the dog, and Toots the cat.


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#92893 - 03/27/08 06:00 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: Jimshaw]
cbert Offline
member

Registered: 05/24/05
Posts: 121
jim,

i am very astonished that you are alive! i was once young and smart too, but fortunately i am now older and dummer - i hope you are dummer too <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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#92894 - 03/27/08 06:00 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
cbert Offline
member

Registered: 05/24/05
Posts: 121
Is Toots a hiker?

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#92895 - 03/28/08 11:57 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: cbert]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
She sure is! That cat will follow me just about anywhere. She's also the only cat we have that's not scared to death of Tucker the dog.

(We have a lot of cats, my wife is a certified cat rancher and I'm pretty sure she has that cat related infection because sometimes she seems to be under their complete control.)

The day I took that picture Toots was actually playing around the water and got pretty wet for a cat. For some reason Toots has decided that she owns me and has an exclusive title too. She whups on cats that get to close to me when she's hanging out with me and she's constantly talking to me even though I can hardly understand a word she says.

Cats are pretty weird...

Bill

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#92896 - 04/02/08 04:26 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Well I just finished rigging a Sump Pump that should suck the water out before it gets in my basement and I'll know soon enough if it will work because more rain is on the way tonight, WooHoo!!

On the plus side (besides having an indoor pool), I've heard of springs that have been dry for many years around here are now perking out water. Most of the natural springs in the forest are just beautifully scenic spots (the one under my basement is not very scenic) so I can't wait to get out and go hunt some down. I've hiked to several that were dry over the years so I'm really excited about this.

There are also a zillion small waterfalls (and some pretty tall ones) that only run when there's been a lot of rain. This weekend looks perfect for an overnighter and I should have the time to get out there if my basement stays dry. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I'm not sure if I'll backpack or take my little SUV way out into the forest and go car camping and hike around from there but I am darn sure getting out there!

I wish you all could be here in the ozark mountain forests right now. It's just starting to bloom out and it's incredible right now with all the water running out of the rock seems and into the hollows. Wildflowers are everywhere and if I'm lucky I might even find some Morels to cook up. The next 2-4 weeks are prime time here. After that, the ticks, chiggers, snakes and hemp production specialists will have it all to themselves.

Bill

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#92897 - 04/03/08 03:35 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I'm planning a trip to the buffalo river area the week of the 20th this month. I hope the rain subsides. I bet the waterfalls are spectacular this time of year.
I also hope to do some fishing in the area, but it's gonna be hard to do if the weather is still raging. Some friends tried to kayak the local Wolf river a few days ago and almost lost their lives. Hidden downed trees almost took them out. I'm not into sports that require a helmet, although I think my head is hard enough. he he

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#92898 - 04/03/08 05:50 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: chaz]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Chaz
My helmet is my friend. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> He keeps my head warm and holds my goggles in place. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> He keeps my brains inside my head <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> where they belong, and keeps forgein objects out of my brain <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> where they do not belong. I wear a climbing helmet when working in crawl spaces, they stay in place better than construction hard hats.

I guess I learned to love my helmet when I was a kid racing motocross. Notice that I stll have enough brains left to tpye... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#92899 - 04/04/08 09:45 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
Jon Offline
member

Registered: 10/17/03
Posts: 328
Loc: Missouri Ozarks
Speaking of hemp production, the Newton County Journal (Buffalo flows through Newton) had an article about the oldest sheriff still alive in Arkansas a couple months ago. He claimed Willie Nelson was a frequent visitor in the past to Northwest Arkansas because of the high quality.

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#92900 - 04/04/08 10:08 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: chaz]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
The Buffalo goes down about as fast as it rises if there is no rain. By the 29th, things will be really blooming and the trees will suck up water like crazy so even a light rain won't affect the river much if we get a respite between now and then. A heave rain will still cause it to flood very fast since the ground will still be saturated.

I checked this morning and it was still class 4 with 0' air space at the Ponca bridge.

The Waterfalls will be running like they seldom do. If you're leaving from Ponca or Steel Creek then take the time to visit Hemmed-in-Hollow. The waterfall there is the tallest between the Rockies and the Appalachians. The second tallest is nearby, it's called Diamond Falls, I think. I've been to Hemmed-in-Hollow several times but only learned about Diamond Falls after the last time I went there. (I read Tim Ernst's book after I got back <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

There will be people at those spots, but if you hike up any of the other hollows leading down to the river you'll find awesome waterfalls and have them all to yourself.

Bring your snorkel, mask, and fins and a wet suit if you have one. It's a whole different world inside the river. Even a short swim is worth it. The water will probably be crystal clear when you get there.

I like to spend the night at the mouth of Sneeds Creek. From there you can hike to Hemmed-in-Hollow, Granny Henderson's cabin, and to Rocky Bottoms. I've spent days wondering around there and it's always been a blast.

Have fun Chaz, your timing should be perfect.

Bill

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#92901 - 04/04/08 10:34 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
thanks for the info, I can't wait. I'm gonna spend some time this weekend tweeking my gear to make sure I have everything and next weekend my son and I will do some last minute shopping for food. I just got Tim's book and have been soaking it up. (no pun intended). I was hoping to do some fishing, but we'll see when I get there.

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#92902 - 04/04/08 10:40 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: Jimshaw]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I here ya. I used to club race and autocross and of course an approved helmet is required before you can get on the track. And, I wouldn't dare get on motorcycle without one. It's funny and sad to me that some states have no helmet laws. But when I'm in a tight space like a crawl space, I've learned the hard way to keep my head down. Just call me knot head. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

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#92903 - 04/04/08 10:42 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: Jon]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Willie would know.

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#92904 - 04/04/08 10:53 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: Jimshaw]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Yeah, Jim, you'd sure want your helmet for a ride on the Buffalo right now.

The Buffalo is truly a "Wild" river. No dams from source to mouth and it has some real fast drops in elevation up near the source (Boxly to Ponca). Past that, it really gets roaring, like the Kern in California, you can hear boulders rumbling downstream when it hits the levels it's at now and huge trees will catapult you or slam you around if you're in there with them. (I can see Jim now thinking, "Wow, that sounds like real fun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm sure you're aware of all that stuff, but I'm always awed by the power of mountain rivers.

I'm with Chaz though, I do the River Ozark Style. On a weekday when the Sun is shining and the current is going fast enough to push you nicely along, no paddling required, and every now and then you get a little "Rapids" to give you a thrill, and the water is perfect for snorkeling and swimming and cliff jumping, that's when I'll be there.

We call it "Floating the River", not "Running the Rapids" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> You have to know when to go. I'm lucky, I can often go there when I know it's perfect.

Chaz's timing is about as good as you can schedule it ahead of time. There will probably be a 30% chance of thunderstorms that may produce heavy rain. (That's always the forecast that time of year) I look at it like this, 2 out of 3 times it will be perfect.

Bill

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#92905 - 04/04/08 12:56 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: Jon]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Well, I'll tell you a story, the Feds spent about 20-30 minutes flying a helicopter over the little hollow the goes from my house to the creek and lake early last fall and then the next week sent 3 officers to our house to ask if they could use our property to look for plants they thought they saw growing. (When my wife answered the door they identified themselves and asked if we owned the "Burros"? My wife, sort of stunned replied with, "Why? What did the Donkeys do wrong?"

Anyway, the three of them went out into the forest and looked around for about an hour before they came back. My wife asked if they found anything and they neither confirmed or denied, but said that "There's definitely something going on back there and we might come back and mount a camera so you shouldn't go back there."

Well, when I heard of all this I went out right out there and covered the whole area pretty good. The only thing I could see that had changed over the summer is a neighbor kid drug one of my bright blue coolers way up into the forest one night when he was camping out there and the rest was trails I'd made last winter to hike with my donkeys.

In the end, the Feds did catch one guy a dozen or so miles from here that they said had a few plants on his land and was growing more in his house. They must have spent tens of thousands just to find that one guy though. They spent at least a grand discovering an old cooler and burro poop on the land around my backyard. I'm pretty sure they found some ticks and chiggers too so it wasn't all for nothing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bill

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#92906 - 04/08/08 06:28 PM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Well, the rain continues. The water in the lakes is about as high as I've seen it and it's getting close to what even the ol'timers would say is as high as they've seen it too.

Rained hard again today and we have rain in the forecast for the next couple days, but my basement stayed dry!

I spent Saturday and that night out in the forest behind our house with my wife and neighbors, then we all went to the lake on Sunday to check on out boats. I can almost canoe from the main channel in the lake to my property now. Just a few more feet of water and I can say I have "Lake Front Property".

To be sure though, this weather sucks big time. This is prime backpacking time here and it just keeps on storming rain day after day. Big trees and branches blow over and fall in the wind and lightning strikes come in waves, sometimes clusters right where you're at, and it is freaking scary when some of these fronts blow through.

Everyone here needs a couple weeks of Sun.

(Of course we were all whining we didn't have any rain at all a few years ago <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bill

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#92907 - 04/11/08 11:55 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: chaz]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Unless it rains just before, or while you're there, you're going to have perfect water. I can't imagine the river will fall so much in nine days that they won't be launching from Ponca, you might even get to ride down from Boxley. That's supposed to be the best stretch on the River, but I've never been there when the water was right.

Who knows, I might just bust a move and see you on the River!

Bill

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#92908 - 04/12/08 11:53 AM Re: Class 4 Canoeing [Re: billstephenson]
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
As a former American Canoe Assoc. instructor and one who has paddled many rivers I'd caution against THE most deadly canoeing danger (other than stupidity), namely "sweepers" i.e. downed trees or flooded brush in the water. Get into one of these and its suddenly a death trap with no way out if there is no experienced and equipped shore help, and sometines even if there is.

So for those of you who are tempted to lash big flotation bags in your canoe and slip into your thigh straps for a fast paddle on a fast river I'd say scout your route first. It would be hell to find yourself suddenly forced into a sweeper because there is no way out.

Eric


Edited by 300winmag (04/12/08 11:54 AM)
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