A solo trip account Cottonwood to RGV

[missourimike]

Hello Ray,

I daydream about my next trip every other day.  I have a year pass and would love to go again, so does my wife.  We have a four month old now, or I would have been back sooner.

I have not floated the complete Santa Elena or any of the Bouquillas, but any water time in BB is fine with me.

I did the upper prong's of the Jack's Fork this year for the second time, loved it.

I need to get down to the Buffalo, have not done that one either.

Michael

[okiehiker]

Hey Mike,

I am joining you in the Show Me state after the first of the year.  I've done significant parts of the Buffalo a few times, and all of the river at BIBE over the years.  I have not done much rafting or canoeing in a long time though.  I do want to start doing more with my family again.  What part of MO are you in?

[missourimike]

Hello Okiehiker,

I am looking forward to doing new sections, what I read about the lower canyons make me jump in anticipation. 

I live in the St. Louis area, Crestwood to be specific.  I assume you live in OK?  A good friend of mine that took me to BB the first time grew up in Paul's Valley.

Michael

[okiehiker]

I am in Kingfisher, OK right now and moving to Nixa (suburban Springfield) Jan. 6.  New jobs for my wife and me both will keep us from doing much in the way of long trips this summer, so weekend canoe trips and some rock climbing will probably be what we do.  We might make say a 4-day weekend of a section of the Buffalo sometime if you're up for it!

I too would love to do the lower canyons, but that will be a longer trip for a later date.

[missourimike]

This site is nice helping my daydreaming and actually experiencing the BB area.


The Buffalo is on my list so am interested in a trip. 

Michael

[toejam]

Great story, Mike! I grew up near the Meramec (St. James) and did a bunch of floating in MO. I've traded the canoe for a kayak because I'm an independent type and the rivers around here don't flow well enough for a canoe. I'm gonna float the Rio Grande some day (the price of shuttles has discouraged a solo trip).

I like floating the Current River on weekdays because there are lots of places to set up camp and there's always plenty of water. I haven't floated the Eleven Point because I'm afraid I won't find places to camp. The middle section of the Buffalo from Carver to Tyler Bend is the most scenic float I've done by far - big, beautiful bluffs on every bend and lots of places to camp. You've got to hit it fairly early in the summer before it runs out of water.

[missourimike]

Thanks for the heads up on good sections of the Buffalo.  The Eleven Point has river only access camping sites.  That river is a gem.

Michael