Current River - Boy Scouts - 50-Mile Float

[MaxDrown]

Hello, everyone. We are taking a boy scout troop on a 50-mile float on the Current River this summer. I was wondering if  you all could offer some advice.

1. Are there some outfitters that offer discounted rates for Boy Scout troops?

2. What are the best places to put in and take out to cover 50 miles of water?

3. Are there places along these route where we can restock water and ice?

4. Are there any must-see scenic areas that we should stop and explore along the way?

5. Is river-bank camping readily available along the route? And/or are there campgrounds?

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

A couple years ago, someone took a troop out on a similar float.    Check the boards, search boy scouts.  Sounds like a great time. 

[Al Agnew]

1.  Don't know.

2.  I'd say you have three good choices for a 50 mile (approximately) float; Baptist Camp to Two Rivers (about 53 miles), Akers Ferry to Logyard (about 54 miles), or Round Spring to Van Buren (about 50 miles or a little more depending upon which access you use around VB).  For the first two floats, I'd try Two Rivers first as the outfitter.  For the third, you'd need to find an outfitter around Van Buren to service that float.

3.  Yes, there are canoe liveries and campgrounds at Akers, Round Spring, and Two Rivers, with stores and ice.  If you did Baptist Camp to Two Rivers you'd get supplies at Akers (probably the second day, though you don't say how long you plan to take to float this 50 miles), and at Round Spring (3rd or 4th day).  If Akers to Logyard, it's a little less convenient--Round Spring the second day, Two Rivers on probably the last morning of the next to last day.  If Round Spring to Van Buren, even less convenient--Two Rivers on the second day or so.

4.  Blue Spring below Powdermill is well worth the short hike from the river, if you don't do the upper float of the three.  Most everything else you want to see is right on the river.

5.  Yes and yes.  You could do all gravel bar camping, or camp in campgrounds every night with a little planning on how much water you cover during each day.

[Ham]

How many Scouts will you have on the water? How many days? I'd lean Round Spring to Van Buren because I'm pretty comfortable that the water flow is going to move things along.

That trip will provide some life long memories for those young men.

Have a GREAT time!

[Gavin]

Would probably use Two Rivers Canoe and have them put you in at Cedargrove so you don't have to drag all your stuff over the low water bridge at Cedargrove...Its about  a 48 mile float down to Two Rivers with plenty of options to resupply with ice and food at Akers, Pulltite, Round Spring, and Two Rivers. There isn't any place to resupply between Two Rivers and Van Buren but you could stage some vehicles along the way if you wanted to be able to resupply on the lower river. Should be a good trip. Pretty easy to do 10-12 miles a day without much paddling. Fewer people, but more jet boats to contend with on the lower river.

 

 

 

 

[joeD]

Without knowing the number of scouts going, make sure you have enough adult help. People in front, middle, and back, of your flotilla. Also, bring a shovel, and show it to them, saying its for burying kids in the woods who get out of line.

[Gavin]

Shovel will work for poop too.

 

 

[Al Agnew]

Joe's advice made me remember why thinking about boy scouts and float trips makes me cringe a bit...many years ago I was on an overnight float on the Eleven Point, and we stayed in one of the float camps.  A bunch of boy scouts were setting up camp there, and they were running around all over the place.  One of them had a machete, and they decided it would be fun to whack down the really nice stand of cane that was growing there.  They went through that cane like a brush hog, totally ignored by the leaders, until we complained.

[Ham]

On the whole, Boy Scouts is a great organization that does a lot of good. The Scout leaders are unpaid, untrained volunteers. Usually Dads of some of the scouts. Of course, the scouts need supervision. Any group of boys that age will get into mischief if allowed to run wild.

That is why I was asking about the number of boys going. I really think needs to be about 1 adult for every 3 or 4 boys. a group of 10-15 all total could be a fantastic experience. I'd want no part of a group larger than 20 and I would prefer it to be 10 or less.

They should not have been allowed to play with a machete. Good thing it was only cane they hacked down. Kinda impossible to get rid of cane. I guess the cane bounced back the next year.

[MaxDrown]

I just realized all of the email alerts for this thread went to spam. Thanks for the replies!

We'll be floating Monday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. Our troop does a long float every year and our kids are taught to respect nature and others and we practice the principles of Leave No Trace. We have plenty of adult leadership including fathers. We'll have around 14 people total.