CURRENT, JACKS FORK, ELEVEN POINT REPORT: WATER!!!

[Louiscov]

Paddling on the Current, JackS Fork, Eleven Point is on the agenda October 21 - 23 for a small group (4-5) of north Louisiana Ozark Society boaters. We'll be camping in the Eminence, Missouri area, base camping, paddling a different stream each day. Any Arkansas Canoe Club or Ozark members are welcome to join us.

We'll settle on details Sunday; arrive the afternoon of Wednesday Oct 20, set up camp, and enjoy 3 days of fall paddling, returning Saturday afternoon. Anyone interested please leave a PM or response here with contact info. I'll be away from my computer until Saturday night.

Tips on river sections to paddle also would be great to hear.

Louis Covington

[Lupe]

Louis,

You all are going at a great time! I just got back from camping at Pulltite and "paddling" a couple days on the Current. The fall colors don't necessarily look the best on the roads, but down by the river the colors are really popping. We had incredible weather: sandals and shorts on the river in the sun during the day, and then snuggling up in down sweaters and sleeping bags at night!

A group we were with even saw 5 or so wild horses including a foal at Round Spring (we unfortunately missed them because we did a shorter trip that ended at Sinking Creek). We were treated to seeing some deer swim across the river in front of us, though.

This was Betty's first camping and canoeing trip and she did fantastic! Big thanks to Minna who joined me on this trip and stayed with me at my snail's crawl pace (to say that I "paddled" would be an exaggeration: this was a float for me, with a couple strokes here and there only when needed). But happily by taking breaks and paddling very little I was able to use what little shoulder/arm strength that I have to spend 2 days on the water in beautiful fall weather, which was a real treat.

The only sections we did were Akers Ferry to Pulltite and then Pulltite to Sinking Creek. Others did from Cedar Grove down, but it was pretty low. I'm not sure about the Eleven Point or Jacks Fork: they are not in as bad of shape as Arkansas rivers, but it's been pretty dry up there, too. But the Current from Akers Ferry downstream was great. We also stopped on the way home and hiked to Greer's Spring which I had never seen: beautiful hike and beautiful spring to see! And the colors on the trees on that hike were very nice.

This is a great trip for some Fall paddling when Arkansas streams are all too dry so if any of you can get away, I would jump on this opportunity in a heartbeat!!!

Cheers,
Heather

[lalyle]

Lupe, glad to hear you've gotten to know the area. It's on my list of new places to explore. If you head that way again, I'd like to tag along.

[Louiscov]

Awesome info, Heather.

Thanks.

Our group should be about 6 - 7, others welcome to join us. We'll paddle Current Thursday Akers Ferry to Pulltite; Eleven Point Friday (Stan sent me some great info on it); short trip (6 - 8 miles) on Jacks Fork Saturday. Weather looks gorgeous, water definitely adequate. Camping at Jacks Fork Canoe Rental and Campground. These 3 rivers will give me 13 new streams this year (4 Mississippi, 3 Missouri, 2 Texas, 1 Arkansas, 3 Louisiana) meeting my personal goal of 12 new ones for 2010!!! My last trip before shoulder 'scope & a few months of no paddling. I'll send you a PM to see how you're doing. Then setting a goal of 12 more new ones in 2011 to get me up to 50 lifetime. Still want to do Cadron with ya if there's ever water again. : :shock:

Thanks again!

[Randy Dodson]

Heather, I'm surprised we didn't run into you.

My family, along with Richard McFadden spent Wed. night the 13th at Cedargrove, then shoved off thur morning. We camped on a gravel bar just upstream of Akers Ferry on Thur night. Then another gravel bar across from Fire Hydrant Spring on Fri night. We took out at Round Spring on Sat around 1:00. We too got to see a deer swimming in the river. We were having hot chocolate on our gravel bar Fri morning when from across the river, about 30 yards upstream, a doe jumped into the river and started swimming downstream and across the river (straight toward us). She finally saw us and turned around to swim upstream to where she had jumped in. We also saw over a dozen Bald Eagles during our 3 days of paddling. Some pretty close right over our heads. The daytime temps were perfect and the evening temps were just right for sitting around the fire. Fri night got below freezing cause Sat morning, there was frost on everything and the water on the gunnels was frozen.

Louis, From Cedargrove to Welch Spring, my kids didn't drag at all in their Old Town Cascade (short version of Appalacian) with a little bit of gear in their boat. I don't believe Richard dragged any in his We-no-nah Prospector with his gear which wasn't much weight. My wife and I in our We-no-nah Spirit 2 with PLENTY of gear did drag a few times but I only had to get out once and believe if we had chosen a different "V" wouldn't have had to get out even that time. From Welch Spring on we didn't really have any dragging to speak of the rest of the trip.

Ya'll have a great trip. Wish I could go.

[Louiscov]

Nice report, Randy, good info. I'm a little jealous of you having Richard to paddle with. He's the best, and we both paddle Wenonah Prospectors. Glad to hear there's enough water.

OUR GROUP IS NOW CAMPING AT CIRCLE B CAMPGROUND IN EMINENCE. Restrooms/showers have been cut off at our original site. Looks like we'll have 8 boats in our group, still room for more.

Thanks, Randy!

[Louiscov]

We had three WONDERFUL fall days in southern Missouri, and YES, WATER IS OK!! Very nice, moving, class I water. I never dragged or bumped bottom anywhere in my solo canoe. These spring-fed rivers are great options when there's no water in Arkansas.

We had current the entire 11 miles on the Current, Akers Ferry to Pulltite; moving water much of the way on the Eleven Point, Greer to Whitten, moving water (shallow) on the Jacks Fork Alley Springs to Eminence. Winds 15, gusting to 30 provided a blizzard of falling leaves on the Jacks Fork. Eight paddlers, seven boats, just a great 3 days.

Thanks to those who offered tips and suggestions. I have to make this an annual trip. It was really, really nice.

[Wildwood]

Louis,
I had a great time! So did Raymond. We stayed an extra night, left the campground about 11:00 Sunday. About 15 minutes before we left, a mature eagle flew down the river, really low over the water.

I'm ready to go back! To Ruby's, to Jack's Fork, Eleven Point, all of it, except maybe that long shuttle the first day.

Thanks for inviting us!
Jan