anyone float the entire river start to finish ?

[joeD]

I believe in ice. In the middle of a warm sunny day, a couple days in, you'll kill for an ice cold drink. Around the campfire, in the morning after tossing and turning all night. Drinking tepid drinks days on end will wear at your soul.

You might save weight and be thrifty with a water filter, you'll stay hydrated, but you won't be refreshed. Ice is your friend, not your enemy. 

[1969Larson]

49 minutes ago, joeD said:

I believe in ice. In the middle of a warm sunny day, a couple days in, you'll kill for an ice cold drink. Around the campfire, in the morning after tossing and turning all night. Drinking tepid drinks days on end will wear at your soul.

You might save weight and be thrifty with a water filter, you'll stay hydrated, but you won't be refreshed. Ice is your friend, not your enemy. 

True that!  Even a cheap cooler will keep ice for 3 days if you don't keep opening it. 

[1969Larson]

Well, how was it?  Let's hear the highlights. 

[holleybob]

Well I finished my trip. I started last Wednesday the 18th and pulled into Riley's Station at 11:45 yesterday in a pouring rain. 7 days, 135 miles. I read this morning that the upper river is now flooded. Probably good that I got off the river when I did.  The water was low when I started making it very difficult to navigate. Lots of rock gardens. The canoe took quite a beating.Great trip overall. The weather was wonderful with the exception of Tuesday's storm. I met up with some wonderful people, helped rescue a dog lost on the river, spent 3 hours on a river bank during a thunderstorm, saw some of God's finest work and experienced the Lower Buffalo Wilderness area. I enjoyed this area immensely. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors owes it themselves to experience this area. Once past Clabber shoals it's like entering another world.                                     I spent my first night at Kyles and my last across from elephant head. One night in a tent and the rest in my hammock. Loved the hammock.  I will post pictures at some point but need some time to get back into the civilization groove.

Thank you to all who have helped me in the previous months with suggestions and advice. It would have been much more difficult without you. Al, the Penobscot was a fine choice. She really moves through the pools, and handled a load perfectly.  Many along the way had commented that doing the entire river was something they always wanted to do. My suggestion is just do it. If I can, anyone can. It's very rewarding! 

Jeff

[Al Agnew]

Great!  Glad you had a good trip.  In a region lined with wonderful rivers, the Buffalo is still special, and getting to float the whole river in one trip is truly an experience.  I did all the best of the Meramec (Short Bend to I-44, 163 miles, 12 days) in one trip back in the 1980s, and it's still one of the highlights of my floating life.

[Ham]

Good for you holleybob. The Buffalo is a wild river and given the unstable weather of Spring, I would say the weather/water was about as good as you could reasonably expect. I have this fishing addiction. That would make it almost impossible for me to do that trip and be happy with the floating and the fishing.

I love the concept and I'm more than a little jealous.

[bagofdonuts]

Glad you made it safely. That's alot of alone time. 

[holleybob]

1 hour ago, Ham said:

Good for you holleybob. The Buffalo is a wild river and given the unstable weather of Spring, I would say the weather/water was about as good as you could reasonably expect. I have this fishing addiction. That would make it almost impossible for me to do that trip and be happy with the floating and the fishing.

I love the concept and I'm more than a little jealous.

Ham I  also have this addiction you speak of. But I found out just how driven I could be when I set a goal for myself. I convinced myself that this was not a fishing trip, it was more of an expedition. I  kept that in my mind and told myself if made the miles I needed to make I would reward myself by slowing down after Rush. My first night in the wilderness area I decided to take a break and log no miles the following day. I fished. Rested, then fished some more. As the fog lifted off the river I was standing in it, rod in hand and a bald eagle flew directly over my head. It was a great day.  Don't let that hold you back. I made it in 7 days logging more than 20 miles on several days in a row. Do 15 a day, fish and finish in 9 days. Very doable. 

[Ham]

5 minutes ago, holleybob said:

 Do 15 a day, fish and finish in 9 days. Very doable. 

"I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed, ain't nothing in this world for free"

[ollie]

Ham, you "Cage the Elephant" fan!