http://www.buffaloriver.com/rss/Blog/The latest news from Buffalo Outdoor Center9391http://www.buffaloriver.com/rss/Blog/http://www.buffaloriver.com/images/buffaloriver_logo.gifhttp://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=86Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:28:05 -0500Flip Puthoff, outdoor editor for the Northwest Arkansas Morning News, recently paddled the Buffalo National River from Ponca to Buffalo City in six days. This trip usually takes up to 10 days for the average river citizen to paddle. However, Flip's canoeing skills and outright stamina---coupled with a very nice water level---enabled him to cover quite a bit of ground, thereby squeezing the 132-mile journey into a 6-day venue. If you'd like to read the article, click here on Flip's Buffalo River Journey and enjoy the experience vicariously!http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=85Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:29:40 -0500We've just received word from Larry Foley, director and producer of "The Buffalo Flows" documentary, that the film has been accepted by PBS for a nationwide broadcast this coming October. Watch this blog for an announcement of the film's official coast-to-coast broadcast date!http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=84Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:21:12 -0500Whenever the water level is too low for floating out of Ponca or Steel Creek, we launch downriver at an access called Pruitt, which is located just off Hwy 7 about 5 miles north of Jasper.The Pruitt to Hasty section of the Buffalo National River has some very nice qualities, including pretty bluff lines, plenty of swimming holes, and oftentimes better fishing than the uppermost stretch from Ponca to Kyle's Landing. This trip is 7.5 miles in length, which takes about 5 hours to complete. Launching at Pruitt also affords you the option of canoeing downriver to Carver for a day trip, giving you a lengthier 11.5-mile trip (7 to 8 hours of paddling) to enjoy. Pruitt to Hasty also tends to be a very family-friendly experience with fewer rapids and obstacles to maneuver around than what is found on the Ponca-to-Kyle's run.Granted, Ponca to Kyle's is the 24-carat gold section of the Buffalo River. However, Pruitt to Hasty has some very nice qualities and is not to be underestimated for scenic beauty and good ol' fashioned fun on the river. http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=83Sun, 17 May 2009 20:45:02 -0500If you've ever wondered what the Hailstone section of the Buffalo River looks like, then you can catch some great scenes of it on our YouTube video. which was filmed during Mike and Rick's run on May 6, 2009.The Hailstone is the section of Buffalo National River that starts in the headwaters' area near Fallsville. The section is about 15 miles long and is a solid Class III run for very experienced boaters only. The Hailstone is only runnable a few times a year as the upper river has to be in flood stage in order for the section to be floatable.You can view the video by clicking on the link above or by visiting us on YouTube at "bocponca". Enjoy! http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=81Mon, 04 May 2009 08:12:55 -0500Eddie Soloway turned his famous "natural eye" on the Buffalo National River last week as he led a week-long photography seminar based out of BOC's RiverWind Lodge. Eddie's masterful talent with a camera lens is oftentimes shared through the "Natural Eye" experiences he conducts in association with National Geographic.We were truly honored to have been selected as the base location for Eddie's Buffalo River workshop. We look forward to the opportunity to have him return to BOC for another workshop in the not-too-distant future. Meanwhile, you can learn about other Eddie Soloway/National Geographic Natural Eye seminars, as well as special photography workshops slated for New Mexico, Maine, and Iceland, by clicking here: Eddie Soloway's National Geographic Natural Eye Seminars.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=80Mon, 04 May 2009 07:35:47 -0500We had the privilege last week of hosting Morning News outdoor editor Flip Putthoff for a day of discovering the Buffalo National River's lesser-known places between Steel Creek and Kyle's Landing. A skilled paddler in his own right, Flip was a pleasure to paddle and work with in his quest to explore some of the Buffalo's often-overlooked scenic and historic places along this popular section of river. To read the story and see correlating photos, click on this link: Discovering the Buffalo's Lesser-Known Places".http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=79Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:23:17 -0500If you're looking to purchase your own canoe, we have a good inventory of them right now. Most canoes range in price from $350 to $500. That price range represents a 3- to 4-year old 16' Buffalo canoe in good condition that is also skid plated on both ends. This is a boat that is rental fleet ready, so you're getting a decent boat that should have several years of life left on it if treated well. The younger the canoe, typically the better the condition and the higher the price, with brand new Buffalo canoes running about $850+tax. If you're unfamiliar with the Buffalo canoe brand, we've owned every popular brand out there---from Old Town to Mad River---and these locally made boats just seem to hold up better on the Buffalo National River. Their hulls more consistently take the rocks and trees better, as well as dragging in low water conditions, than do the hulls of more recognizable name-brand canoes, most of which tend to be made for canoeing flat water lakes or rivers with constant, predictable water levels.To choose a used canoe or kayak, you'll want to come to Ponca and personally view the inventory for yourself. It's hard to buy a canoe over the phone because, like cars, each one has its own qualities and attributes. Our March - June hours are 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, 7 days a week. And, of course, if you have some questions you need answered before driving over, certainly give us a call at 1-800-221-5514. Canoes can be purchased with cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=78Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:15:49 -0500The newly released University of Arkansas documentary 'The Buffalo Flows' is now available on DVD in our store or by mail. This quality film does a very nice job of capturing the scenic beauty and history of the Buffalo National River. If you're a Buffalo River fan, you'll greatly appreciate this new film. It makes a great gift, too. To order, just call us at 1-800-221-5514. The cost is $19.95 (plus sales tax and $4.00 for S&H). Proceeds of DVD sales go to the University of Arkansas Documentary Fund.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=77Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:44:13 -0600The National Park Service released a report this afternoon showing that all upper district (Boxley to Pruitt) river trails, campgrounds, and river access roads---including Kyle's Landing road---are now clear and open. Roads are very muddy and rutty in places, so please take that into consideration as you travel about. A recent press release from the NPS also indicates that power lines may still be down in some areas. These should be considered as "live" and entirely avoided.Off the beaten path hiking areas, such as Indian Creek, have not been assessed by the NPS according to the report. The report also indicated that Kyle's Landing campground still did not have electricity, which may mean that bathroom and water facilities are inoperable.With the river up and Kyle's Landing now accessible, we will be renting canoes and kayaks, as well as running shuttles throughout the weekend. Please check our Buffalo River level report for current conditions.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=72Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:18:19 -0600Buffalo Outdoor Center now has two ways for you to stay current on all things Buffalo National River.OUR MICRO BLOG: The blog you're reading right now is designed to give you updates on Buffalo River news that could be useful to you immediately, such as current canoeing conditions, Web site enhancements, wildlife sightings, cabin specials, etc. The postings are very brief, to the point, and essential in nature.OUR BUFFALO RIVER BUZZ BLOG: This brand new blog gives us a place to bring you a deeper level of helpful and interesting river information. Plus, it gives you the option to participate in opinion polls, as well as comment on postings. For example, right now we're running an opinion poll about park improvements. While the postings in Buffalo River Buzz are still fairly brief (we don't like to wear you out), they tend to be livelier than "just the facts, ma'am" and cover a broader range of topics than do the postings of our Micro Blog. To test drive this new blog for yourself, click here: Buffalo River Buzz Blog.Because each blog offers something different in the way of Buffalo River information, you might want to consider following both. Use this micro blog for essential "right now" kind of stuff, then tap into the Buffalo River Buzz blog for more of a "here's what's on our/your mind" experience. Either way, we'll always try to make it worth your while.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=71Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:40:18 -0600If you were in charge of the Buffalo River, what would you do first to improve the park? On this opinion poll, you can vote for what you'd fix first among four things that we hear park visitors ask or complain about the most. Click on the link below to cast your vote!Park Improvements Opinion Poll[Note to RSS Feed Subscribers: You should have received a similar posting yesterday containing a link to this poll. We have since changed the URL of the poll, so please disregard the previous email. We're still learning how to do this Web guru stuff, so thank you for tolerating canoe operators who are still gallantly trying to paddle up the Web programming learning curve.] http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=68Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:55:21 -0600BOC is pleased to roll out a new map on Google designed especially for hikers. We call the map "BOC's Top Buffalo River Day Hikes" and it can be found at this link: BOC's Top Buffalo River Day Hikes.The map features the trailheads and helpful coordinating info for what we believe are the "must do" trails on the upper Buffalo River, especially for hikers who are just discovering the national park.The map is very "clickable," meaning that every icon and trail can be clicked on for a helpful pop-up text box. For example, click on the green hiker symbols for pop-up information that is different from the pop-up boxes you get when you click on the actual trails themselves. Or, click on a camera icon for scenic info and/or a helpful photography tip about this part of a trail. For a really cool view, click "TERRAIN" in the far upper right-hand corner of the map for topo gradients.We hope you find this new hiking tool helpful. For additional hiking information, visit the hiking section of our Web site. COMING SOON: A similar map for paddlers of the Ponca to Pruitt section!http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=67Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:28:05 -0600The Buffalo River water level is presently at 17" of airspace at the Ponca low water bridge. This is nice canoeing. We will be renting canoes and kayaks today, as well as running shuttles. Just be at our office by Noon. The Buffalo is holding nicely at Ponca as there are no tree leaves or grass taking water this time of year. We anticipate that the river will be floatable through Friday, and possibly the entire weekend although the launch site may eventually switch to Steel Creek.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=65Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:23:12 -0600The Buffalo National River is presently at 16" of airspace at the Ponca low water bridge. That is very nice canoeing for paddlers with intermediate or higher skill levels and who are properly geared for cold water conditions. (In months with warmer air and water temperatures, this level would also be suitable for paddlers with less experience.) We will be renting canoes and kayaks today, as well as running shuttles. We just need you here by Noon in order to get you on the river for the day and to provide you with shuttle service. http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=62Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:45:37 -0600Today the Buffalo River at Ponca is presently at a water level suitable for experienced paddlers only. We will be renting canoes and kayaks, plus, available to run shuttles. You should be at our office in Ponca by Noon in order to rent canoes or arrange for a private boater shuttle. [Canoeing Tip: While today's air temperature is supposed to be in the low 50's, be sure you are properly dressed and geared for cold water conditions. Hypothermia is always a risk this time of year.] http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=61Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:53:55 -0600The Buffalo River at Ponca has flooded, more than likely making canoeing possible beginning tomorrow, Monday, December 29th. The river should be at a level for paddlers with intermediate to experienced paddling skills and who are also properly geared for cold water conditions. Winter time is a wonderful---and rare!---canoeing experience on the upper Buffalo. If you're qualified to be out there, it's a great time to go! Buffalo Outdoor Center will be running shuttles today (Sunday) for private boaters. If the water is at an acceptable paddling level, we will be renting canoes and kayaks beginning Monday and continue to until the water runs out. Here's a helpful link to our canoeing information: http://buffaloriver.com/explore/float.aspx http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=60Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:34:59 -0600If you're looking to purchase your own canoe or kayak, we have a good inventory of them right now. Most canoes range in price from $350 to $450 with a few being a little lower or higher in price. Basically, that price range gets you a 3- to 4-year old 16' Buffalo canoe in good condition that is also skid plated on both ends. This is a boat that is rental fleet ready, so you're getting a decent boat that should have several years of life left on it if treated well. The younger the canoe, typically the better the condition and the higher the price, with brand new Buffalo canoes running about $700+tax. If you're unfamiliar with the Buffalo canoe brand, we've owned every popular brand out there---from Old Town to Mad River---and these locally made boats just seem to hold up better on the Buffalo River. Their hulls more consistently take the rocks and trees and late spring low water dragging conditions better than the hulls of the more recognizable name-brand canoes, most of which tend to be made for canoeing flat water lakes or rivers with predictable water levels.To choose a used canoe or kayak, you'll want to come to Ponca and personally view the inventory for yourself. It's hard to buy a canoe over the phone because, like cars, each one has its own qualities and attributes. Our winter hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, 7 days a week. And, of course, if you have some questions you need answered before driving over, certainly give us a call at 1-800-221-5514. Canoes can be purchased with cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=59Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:05 -0600If you'd like to treat someone you love to something unique this Christmas, then consider giving a BOC cabin gift certificate! You can purchase an even dollar amount (which can be applied toward a stay) or you can purchase a certain number of nights in a specific cabin for a certain number of people.For example, you can purchase a cabin gift certificate for $150 that can be used toward a cabin stay, regardless of which cabin is booked or the number of people who come. Or, if you prefer to give, say, a couple of nights to your mom and dad in a certain cabin, then you can do that, too. Some folks like to give a flat dollar amount while others like to give a certain number of nights in a certain cabin for a certain number of people. We'll work with you either way. Also, we can mail the certificate directly to you or to your loved ones. Just let us know how we can help! (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card welcome for gift certificates.) http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=58Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:37:37 -0600The three trumpeter swans at the Boxley Mill Pond seem to be finding life quite suitable in our quiet valley. Watching them feed, preen, swim, and go about daily life can easily be done from the comfort of your car, too. The swans hang out at the pond, which is located just north of the junction of Hwys 43 and 21. The pond is right by the road, which affords several good viewing spots along the way. Photographers can typically find the birds within close range, so good photo opportunities are frequent. Our friends at the Arkansas Game & Fish commission ask that we not feed the birds, nor approach them. They have plenty to eat (they love the grasses that grow in the pond) and can become aggressive or frightened if approached. So, if you haven't yet seen these magnificent birds, make it a point to come over to Ponca sometime this winter. And, don't forget, this is also the time of year that elk are easily spotted! http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=57Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:48:18 -0600When we voted at the Ponca fire station this morning at nine o'clock, we didn't have to circle the place three times to find a parking spot, nor did we have to stand in a line that went out the door.In fact, we parked right in front and had the place to ourselves.Unless, of course, you count the Villines boys who had fired up their banjo and guitar and were playing bluegrass music in the corner as we colored in our paper ballots with #2 pencils.The local girls were real nice when we came through the door, opening the registration book to our names without us having to say a word. We did offer to show them our I.D.'s, but they just smiled and said, "Sign here, Mike."Meanwhile, we'd already heard that across America people were lining up at 5:30 AM to vote, and that Benton County had had 20,000 early voters as of last Wednesday, complete with crowded parking lots and long lines a full week before the election.We're not really bragging; it's just that voting this morning points to a very different lifestyle than to what most of the country is accustomed. While it isn't always convenient or cost effective to live 30 miles from the nearest Wal-Mart, there are trade offs and this morning's voting experience was one of them. So, while this blog entry has nothing to do with canoeing or cabins, we thought readers might enjoy a glimpse of everyday life in the upper Buffalo River valley, the simplicity of which is one reason you love coming here to the middle of nowhere so very much.