I have to give credit where credit is due; Duggae “called his short” on that eddy on the Buffalo…
I was watching him from the eddy in question, and heard him say “watch this”, shortly before he did a fish count.
I thought a sniper on the grassy knoll above the eddy might have shot him.
He fell over the gunwale & into the water like a Chevy truck…like a rock!
Damn sure was entertaining…
Hope to see the dynamic duo of Duggae & RockC this Spring.
BOB
I’ll be there, North Fork/Twin Bridges or Buffalo/Ozark. It will, of course, be a two week trip to get there this year, traveling from Alaska to the Ozarks via Oregon. Brad
Dick pointed out that I had some of the dates screwed up in the second and third paragraphs. I have corrected that. The second and third paragraphs now correctly read:
"Standing dates for the Spring Ozark Rendezvous are the first weekend in May, with official start date the Thursday before that weekend. Since the first day of May this year is Monday, May 1, 2017 that means this year’s Rendezvous is the weekend of May 6 and 7, with the first “official” day of paddling being Thursday, May 4, 2017.
As usual people start arriving as early as the previous weekend, making that the weekend of April 29 and 30. I usually show up on the afternoon of Tuesday that week making May 2 my likely arrival date.
We all better start doing a rain dance. We are in a winter drought and rain has been hard to come by for MO and AR. Rain is coming in tomorrow night, something is better than nothing. Our long term forecast for Spring is dry (let’s hope they are wrong). May will be here before we know it!
Hi…new paddler here, I’m only off that Saturday and sunday…is that ok? Really interested in more info, sounds fun…thx
I know most will paddle Saturday, some may stick around for Sunday as well but most of the group heads home that day but if water is really good those folks that are retired and don’t have to be at work on Monday will take advantage of good water and paddle. Me and my husband will leave Sunday morning as we have to be back at work on Monday. Hope to see you there, this is a fun group. If your a drinker be ready for some moonshine!
Moonshine, huh? Have you and Rob started up a still, Pam?
Sounds great, I’m in mid mo so it’s over a 4 hour drive so I’d love to join…Do you all have a group Facebook page? And does the campground haul back for a nominal fee? Btw…ill be the newb tipping over with the go pro capturing embarrassing footage…thx for the invite.
The site of the venue will depend on water levels. If there is sufficient water, we will be on the upper Buffalo River in Arkansas. If not, possibly the middle Buffalo River, or the North Fork of the White River in southern Missouri. But it has been a drought year thus far, and both these rivers are largely dependent on natural flow. If both are too low, we might have to go to the Current River which is largely spring fed, but that has not been discussed, and the location won’t be certain until much closer to late April.
We have never paid for shuttle services. There are usually plenty of people with vehicles with large racks or trucks that can haul multiple boats, so we run our own shuttles. The only thing you need to do is to make sure that each day you paddle, you have arranged a shuttle with someone so you don’t accidentally get left at the take-out with your boat. There is not a
As for embarrassing video footage, I would say that most of this group is probably well beyond embarrassment, but who knows, maybe someone will hit a new low.
There is no Facebook page for the event, but if you search FB for “Ozark Rendezvous” you will find some posts and photos from prior events.
Well with Rob and Pam’s moonshine (nothing wrong with earning some extra income with a side business these days 
) there may be more embarrassment this year … maybe even more than that lost mescal evening on the North Fork.
If water levels are too low for the Upper Buffalo here are my preferred fallbacks in rank order:
In any case I am definitely canoeing somewhere in the Ozarks that week!!
Pete, no we aren’t making moonshine but know plenty that do. I think if I don’t bring Orange Creamsicle Moonshine Tom might have my head! Only 2 more months! Everyone please start praying to the rain Gods!
And I’m planning on joining the trip this year - so since I’ve never done the Buffalo and I’ve always wanted to do it - It has my vote .
Hey, long time no see you Rendezvous crowd. See you guys are targeting the upper Buffalo first week in May. I may join you guys, if there is water. Yes, been a dry year up that way but starting to see some relief now. I will be on the Mulberry in mid April. If all goes well my wife may come to the Buffalo with me. Are you planning to put in at the Ozark campground or up higher? Where do you think you will pull out?
SYOTW,
Earl
Earl, that would depend entirely on water levels. If we are so fortunate as to have enough water in early May, I’m sure some would want to put in at Ponca or Steel Creek, and paddle to Kyle’s Landing. Kyle’s Landing to Ozark, or Ozark to either Hasty or Carver are also likely possibilities. Ozark to Carver might be a bit longer than some would want to do as a day trip, but would avoid having to climb the rather steep bank at Hasty. If there is a lot of water, I would really like to do the Boxley Valley section, if anyone else was game for it.
The Boxley section could interest me. Have you done it? I’ve not. My instincts tell me this might be more than I can chew, but new challenges are always tempting. Additional research is warranted.
Would only consider a day trip - no load.
No, I have never paddled the Boxley Valley section. American Whitewater rates it Class II and those I have spoken to who have run it confirm that. No Class IIIs but definitely Class II.
The Boxley section?
A 6 mile section, from Boxley (Hwy 21) to Ponca.
Water dependent; minimum level is 4 feet. Can become dangerous above 7 feet.
Generally Class I to II, but approaches Class III at very high levels.
I’ve run that a couple of times with no issues
If you are referring to the Hailstone section (above Boxley); you are talking about a section which in my opinion is beyond the typical Rendezvous paddlers skill level. I ran it once with a group of Outward Bound staff & students in 74 or 75. Ran it in 17 foot Grummans with tractor tires for flotation. We were wet, skinned up, bruised, hypothermic, and miserable when we finally got at the Boxley bridge. Multiple dumps; a couple requiring a z drag. Been there; done it, and I ain’t going back.
If you go; don’t take a composite canoe; it might get eaten.
Do have your canoe fully bagged.
Have a good first aid kit, and a haul system.
Also have extra food, water, and warm clothing.
A small tarp for an emergency shelter would be nice to have.
Highly unlikely that you’ll see any rangers up there to help you if you get in a real jam.
More than a few have spent the night in the woods because they couldn’t “get her done” in one day.
Feel friskey; go for it…
BOB
Attached to previous post are some old school photos of the Hailstone.
None show it in high water level.
I’ll pass on that upper section - it looks to be beyond my skill or experience level (from Bob’s pictures). A repeat of last spring’s sections would be just fine, thanks. Or a return to Twin Bridges and the North Fork White…
Brad
Bob’s pictures are from the Hailstone, not the Boxley Valley.
The Hailstone has enough water to run only infrequently. I know one Missouri whitewater boater who waited two years for a chance to run it (and then ran it twice in two weeks). It is pretty highly unlikely that the Boxley Valley would have enough water to run in early May, although somewhat less so.
The one day last spring after a nearly all day rain (Friday as I recall) that we paddled Steel Creek to Kyle’s Landing might have had enough water to run Boxley.
