Bob, don’t you mean your brown pants
A ship is sailing the oceans when a pirate ship appears on the horizon.
The captain says “Men, bring me my red shirt!”
The first mate fetches the shirt and the captain successfully leads an attack on the pirates that sinks their ship.
One of the sailors asked the captain “Why do you wear a red shirt in battle?”
The captain responded “because if I am wounded, you will not see blood and will continue to fight as if nothing is amiss.” The crew was astounded at the bravery of the captain.
Later, twenty pirate ships appeared on the horizon. The men looked to the captain, waiting for the request that brought everyone so much strength.
The captain looked at the horizon and said, “Men, bring me my brown pants!”
Green face
You guys are too much fun. I’m wearing my green-with-envy face cause I can’t be there. Maybe in the fall.
Peter
I don’t own big boy river paddling
pants.
I so seldom paddle rivers that my moving water reading and maneuvering skills are very beginner. Recently, I’ve averaged less than two river outings a year.
I won’t make it this spring. Maybe in the fall, if the boat hauler is up for the drive.
I’ll have to find my adventure on the Illinois cornfield drainage ditches, where I don’t need any big boy britches.
Hailstone…
Go to Google.
Check out the 5:15 minute video on Vimeo of a trip on Hailstone.
After you watch it; imagine what it would be like with some high water. It can go to Class IV.
Another factor to consider is that it runs thru some nasty wilderness. No put ins/take outs, no campgrounds, no phone service, nothing! Not going to see a Park Ranger up there. You & who ever you paddle with are on your own. You either paddle out or walk out.
I ran it in l975, and again in 1977.
BOB
Outiftters launching from Pruitt
as of today. Upper river too low.. I don't see any substantial rain in the forecast
Of course any forecast more than 72 hours out is a best guess.
Still looks like there are several paddling opportunities without hours long shuttles.
Levels
Pruitt is scrapey but still barely doable. Wunderground’s projections are tantalizing, but as you said, a guess. It’s such a special place. I hope it works out for the Pnutters. Were you able to arrange for a loaner tandem?
Yippee
We’ll be doing some weightlifting but it saves us having to drag two boats out of Maine and back with a new travel trailer.
Maybe the SECOND trip with the trailer…but not the first.
It’s on the Buffalo River
Well, it’s time to shit or get off the pot.
We have people traveling from very long distances, and some may be on the road already, so a decision must be made.
I am calling this Spring Rendezvous for the Buffalo River with the base camp at the NPS Ozark Campground.
According to the gauges at 8:15 this morning Ponca is too low to float, Pruitt is low but floatable, and by the time you get to Tyler there is ample water to float
Both the Buffalo Outdoor Center and Buffalo River Canoes outfitters are launching from Pruitt today.
While there is some rain in the forecast (for what it’s worth this far in advance) we probably should not depend on it increasing river levels significantly, however, any rain is welcome as it may reduce the chances of river levels declining further.
Any way you look at it, it’s a close judgement call. I think the Buffalo is worth it. If things don’t work out well, feel free to cast the blame upon me.
Below is the AccuWeather forecast for Ponca for the rest of April. Here is a ink to that forecast http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/ponca-township-ar/72670/april-weather/2091686?monyr=4/1/2016
AccuWeather forecasts rain and/or thunderstorms for the following dates in April:
20,21,27,28,30
Rendezvous Week Weather forecast as of Tuesday, April 12, 2016 is:
Mon, April 25, high 81, low 63, mostly cloudy
Tue, April 26, high 84, lo 60, cloudy and very warm
Wed, April 27, high 78, low 57, mostly cloudy with thunderstorms
Thur, April 28, high 77, low 56, some sun with a strong thunderstorm
Fri, April 29, high 76, low 58, cloudy
Sat, April 30, high 81, low 57, cloudy strong thunderstorms
Sun, May 1, high 79, low 58, sunny with a strong thunderstorm possible
Buffalo River Levels and Floating Conditions in feet on USGS gauges current levels as of 8:15am, Wenesday, April 20, 2016
Ponca (Ponca Gauge) http://www.buffaloriverchamber.com/ponca_river_gauge.html current level 1.98
Very Low … below 2.0
Low but floatable … 2.0 to 2.4
Ample water to float … 2.5 to 4.9
Experienced floaters only … 5.0 to 6.0
Flood stage, river closed … over 6.0
Pruitt (Pruitt Gauge) http://www.buffaloriverchamber.com/pruitt_river_gauge.html current level 4.17
Very Low … below 4.4
Low but floatable … 4.4 to 4.7
Ample water to float … 4.8 to 6.6
Experienced floaters only … 6.7 to 8.0
Flood stage, river closed … over 8.0
Tyler Bend (St. Joe Gauge) http://www.buffaloriverchamber.com/stjoe_river_gauge.html current level 4.82
Very Low … below 3.6
Low but floatable … 3.6 to 4.5
Ample water to float … 4.6 to 8.5
Experienced floaters only … 8.6 to 12.5
Flood stage, river closed … over 12.5
Chime in with your opinions
Hey Vic I can bring
couscous for the couscous slinging with you as the target.
The Buffalo is fine with me. We just might have to do longer shuttles.
we got a mobile hotspot which might put us on line during travels.
So if you get lynched and change your mind its OK till Monday when we will be in Poplar Bluff MO.
Tough to Predict
I’d “Call” it the same. My attendance is dependent upon other factors beyond MY control, so…
Even on the Current, we sometimes have had issues with HIGH water levels, government idiocy, congressional shennanigans, etc. We do the best we can to plan these Rendezvous’ and take what we get!
Certainly hope to get a day or two paddling down there with you’all?
Kim
Hey Kim, I like couscous. Especially if it has plenty of lemon, garlic, feta cheese, and Kalamata olives.
Oh the hazardous of leadership
You’ll get no complaints from me.
Looks like the paddling the lower sections will come into play unless things change. Everything below Woolum would be new to me, so that could be fun seeing new water.
Loading up right now
I’m thinking of hitting the road Saturday and being there on the afternoon of the 24th, ready to paddle on the 25th.
I’ll bring a Prospector and the Flashback so if anyone needs a tandem they can use the Prospector. (Otherwise, I’ll use it if the water is way low - draws almost nothing when paddled solo…) Do bring paddles and PFDs to suit, though, as I don’t know sizes. I’ll only have seating for one other person in my truck on shuttles, but probably something can be worked out with others if seating for three is needed on some particular shuttle.
Looking forward to this. I haven’t gotten in much seat time at all yet this year. Time to put some miles under the keel.
Drive safely everyone!
Cous cous
Oh yeah! That stuff is really great.
How great is it?
It’s so great, I buried about 3 pounds of it(rather than carrying it) in the Bighorn Mountains, during a 21 day backpacking outing.
Nobody in my food group would eat that glop!
BOB
Looking forward to it!
Rain changes are there but the amounts aren’t - I’ll still do that darn rain dance, you just never know. Of course I would love to do the upper (Ponca) but have never done much of the lower sections so it will be new water for me as well. As long as I am on the water, with great friends and can have “high tea” I’m good!
Can’t wait to see everyone next week.
Pam
Mrs. Deuce is out of town all week and I
will be at paddling school over on the Mulberry 29th-1st. That means I could only come if I took Little Deuce out of school. I’d do it if I thought I could get away with it. Sigh. I know y’all are beginning to think I don’t actually exist.
School
Deuce-
We are taking the kids out Wednesday through Friday with an excused absence. Something about educational enrichment or enhancement. We just filled out some paperwork and a little statement of how this trip relates to subject matter, and the school signed off.
Ain’t the school I’m worried about…
Duece…
I’m pretty sure you actually exist…
That being said, if you’re NOT worried about taking the kid our of school, obviously the problem is a certain female, aka “the boss”.
One of my favorite slogans, and one of my favorite things to do; “Obey little & resist much”.
Hope to paddle with you…some day…
BOB
Proof Of Deuce’s Existance
And unlike Sasquatch pics, it’s IN FOCUS (LOL)!
http://www.pbase.com/image/153934095