How Would You Survive This Storm?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I showed these pictures to my wife and she said, "Who are those guys?, they are crazy!"

I told her, "No, they are not crazy...they are fisherman!

So do you often lie to your wife?

Let's say a young German couple "on holiday" hit the Current River yesterday. They had full gear and camped overnight a couple miles below Akers. They knew the storm was forecast but they are experienced mountaineers and had planned this trip for a while, so they (stupidly) thought they would try it.

I don't see where, under your scenario, there would be any concern? Experienced and expecting kind of rules out any emergency due to the weather. Under these circumstances people people do this all the time, even some crazy fisherman on here, and it ain't just once. :lol:

[hank franklin]

Gavin, please describe your Sunday morning trip out. How far did you float, etc?

[Terrierman]

I just noticed the coolers. Did you have any trouble keeping ice?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Not to belittle your trips Gavin, but don't you truck in the wall tent? I guess my point is that if that is correct, you guys have a safety valve.

[jdmidwest]

We were on the Current between Baptist & Parker Wednesday through Sunday.

It took you 5 days to float 3 miles?

[Gavin]

Its more of a camp trip JD...It is about 5 miles and we wander around in the woods and fish quite a bit. We camped above Ashley Creek on Weds...maybe a mile below Baptist. Had a brother come down with some health issues on Wednesday night. Coldwater and another brother hiked him out and drove him to the hospital on Thursday AM. His wife picked him up at the hospital, then they drove back and hiked back in. Pooched our plan to get down river a bit more with a small group on Thursday. To many arrivals on Friday to move then. More hiking/shuttling..Some folks leaving Saturday for various reasons. We elected to stay on Saturday. Too much work to move then, and plenty of wood cut.

Did the last 4 miles on Sunday AM. About 4-5" of snow on our tents...Wall tent covered with about an inch of ice after we did our best to knock off what we could. Rain then sleet on Saturday night. Could not fit the wall tent canvas in the bag...but we managed to stuff it in my brothers canoe. Guess it takes about 5-6 tandem canoes with one man in each to divide and haul the community gear. Poles for the wall tent in one, canvas for the tent in another, Wood stove (or two) in one, Tables, 2 chain saws, cook gear, axe, splitting maul, plus personal gear for those guys hauling. We usually solo tandems anyway, just to make room for gear if need be. The coolers with ice are for food, those without ice are there to keep your beer from freezing on the ground (weather dependent).

Great float on Sunday. Wind pushed me up river a time or two, but no big deal. The scenery was spectacular.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I thought i had read on one of your past trips that you trucked the wall tent in. I can see where you would need to split up the gear for it and tools for firewood. It appears that you have a stove and i know they are bulky.

[Gavin]

No worries Wayne. That tent goes many places...It gets trucked in to plenty of campgrounds for family trips with the gals and kiddo's, but it goes down the river in a several canoes mostly. Its the go to place if you need it, but its more of a community room. We all set up smaller tents and sleep there. You will be the last one to bed if you want to sleep next to the stove. Lots of work & prep involved. The WFT was founded in 1979...I joined in 2005...Think we have the program down and I'm glad to be associated with them. The Sunday float was memorable. Will put some photos together when I get time to edit...There are some up on FB already.

[Bird Watcher]

Its more of a camp trip JD...It is about 5 miles and we wander around in the woods and fish quite a bit. We camped above Ashley Creek on Weds...maybe a mile below Baptist. Had a brother come down with some health issues on Wednesday night. Coldwater and another brother hiked him out and drove him to the hospital on Thursday AM. His wife picked him up at the hospital, then they drove back and hiked back in. Pooched our plan to get down river a bit more with a small group on Thursday. To many arrivals on Friday to move then. More hiking/shuttling..Some folks leaving Saturday for various reasons. We elected to stay on Saturday. Too much work to move then, and plenty of wood cut.

Did the last 4 miles on Sunday AM. About 4-5" of snow on our tents...Wall tent covered with about an inch of ice after we did our best to knock off what we could. Rain then sleet on Saturday night. Could not fit the wall tent canvas in the bag...but we managed to stuff it in my brothers canoe. Guess it takes about 5-6 tandem canoes with one man in each to divide and haul the community gear. Poles for the wall tent in one, canvas for the tent in another, Wood stove (or two) in one, Tables, 2 chain saws, cook gear, axe, splitting maul, plus personal gear for those guys hauling. We usually solo tandems anyway, just to make room for gear if need be. The coolers with ice are for food, those without ice are there to keep your beer from freezing on the ground (weather dependent).

Great float on Sunday. Wind pushed me up river a time or two, but no big deal. The scenery was spectacular.

This is what I'm talking about...what do you mean "survive this storm"? I'm saying, live it. Gosh dang feller, are we all so city-fied that we don't know how to be in the woods unless it's 75 degrees daytime and 55 degrees overnight, partly sunny?

Thanks Gavin for letting everyone know that it's not just a matter of survival, eek! There's actually recreation taking place. Believe it or not.

I'm walking off to bed shaking my head.

[hank franklin]

Gavin, looks like your WFT group had one for the ages. The trip out Sunday must have been awesome. More pics! How were the roads getting out?

I love camping in winter, Birdwatcher. If you're talking to me I don't know what you're talking about.