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=136Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:03:39 -0500BOC will soon be home to Arkansas' first and only zipline canopy tour! Our official Web page will be up before long, but in the meantime, here's some helpful information about this new adventure activity in Buffalo River country! WHAT IS A ZIPLINE CANOPY TOUR? Guided zipline canopy tours originated in Costa Rica as a way for people to experience the flora and fauna that is unique to the dense leafy canopy of a rainforest. Our Ozark Mountain hardwood forest canopy has its own bird, plant, and animal life, which our guided tour is designed to introduce you to as you glide along from tree to tree! From a structural standpoint, a canopy tour is a system of cables and platforms, wherein the participant "glides" or "zips" through the treetops while connected to the cable via a harness. A large wooden platform serves as a landing base in each tree that you "zip to." Our canopy tour facility was built in accordance with Association of Challenge Course Technology recommended guidelines. WHAT ARE TOUR DAYS & HOURS? Summer Schedule: Open Thursday through Sunday Tour TImes: 9:00 A.M. and 2:00 PM Labor Day Weekend: Open Thursday - Monday Fall hours will be posted soon. HOW LONG DOES THE TOUR LAST?The tour takes approximately 3 hours to complete, give or take a few minutes. Precisely how long it lasts is determined by a variety of factors, including weather and the physical ability of each participant. ARE THERE AGE OR WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS? Persons age 10 and older and who also weigh between 70 lbs. and 250 lbs. may participate. Children under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A few other preliminary health requirements must be met in order to participate, but most should not be a factor for the majority of participants. (For example, pregnant women cannot participate in this activity.) CAN MY 16- OR 17-YR OLD PARTICIPATE WITHOUT ME ALONG? Yes, as long as you (the parent or legal guardian) has reviewed, completed, and signed the waiver form on the child’s behalf, it is not necessary for you to accompany him or her on the tour. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? Comfortable outdoor clothing (dresses are not advisable) and shoes that secure to your feet (flip flops and slide sandals are not permitted). Sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent are also wise additions to your "wardrobe." HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON A TOUR? We can host up to 10 people on a tour. The minimum number of participants on a tour is 4. We can add you to an existing tour OR schedule you for a new tour to which other people can be added. If your party has more than 10 participants, visit with us when making your reservation about scheduling a custom tour so that your groups can begin the course within a few minutes of one another, rather than being spaced 3 hours apart on our regular tour schedule. WHAT IS THE TOUR RATE? The rate for the tour is $89+tax per person. DO YOU OFFER GROUP DISCOUNTS? Yes, private groups of 8 or more qualify for a discounted rate of $79+tax per person. I HAVE A GROUP WHO NEEDS A WEEKDAY TOUR..CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE US? Yes, with adequate advance notice, we can book private group tours for any day of the week, even for those days on which we are normally closed. Pre-payment terms apply to these reservations. HOW DO I MAKE A RESERVATION? You can make your reservation by calling us at 1-800-221-5514. Prepayment of your reservations are made via a valid VISA, MasterCard, or Discover Card. For your convenience, our office hours are 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 7 days a week. IS THERE A REFUND IF I CANCEL? If we are able to rebook your space(s), you will be refunded your money less a $10 cancellation fee. Please note that many canopy tours charge for cancelled slots, even if rebooked. It is our desire, however, to provide a higher level of customer service by accepting rebookings at this time. http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=135Sat, 12 Jun 2010 08:23:27 -0500Tomorrow, the NPS is hosting its annual Buffalo National River clean-up event on various sections of the river. To participate, check out the how/where information in the news story at this link: 2010 NPS Buffalo National River Clean-Up Event. If you can be a part, thank you for sharing in the preservation of America's first national river!http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=134Sun, 06 Jun 2010 13:02:12 -0500Ever wondered if there was a better way to lift a canoe overhead than horsing it and wrenching a back or shoulder muscle in the process? Let our Gravel Bar General, Steve McAdams, show you three simple steps that make picking up a canoe easier. Click here to watch it on YouTube!http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=133Mon, 24 May 2010 09:02:12 -0500A HUGE thanks to all the great customers who rented canoes and asked us to shuttle your vehicles this past weekend. We can't recall ever seeing this many paddlers on the river, and that's saying something---we've been around a long time! Your patience with Saturday's parking congestion at Kyle's and the many, many shuttles shuttles we were asked to run both days is greatly appreciated.Even if you didn't paddle or shuttle with BOC, thanks for being patient as we took our turn getting our clients safely on the river and carefully moving their vehicles up and down Kyle's very bumpy, narrow road. Thanks, also, to our great staff, who handled countless cars without error or mishap. Even though you were under the gun, you paid attention and delivered each customer's car with care.BOC customers and staff, you are the best! Even with all the craziness, wouldn't you agree it was a wonderful weekend of perfect water and weather?!?! http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=132Sat, 15 May 2010 07:58:05 -0500Love to canoe, but don't relish the thought of turning over? Learn how the pros stay upright in our latest river skills video: Tips on How Not to Turn Over.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=130Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:15:31 -0500Catch moments with some of the Buffalo River's finest wildflowers on the latest entry in our wildflower video journal! It's three minutes of beautiful flowers that are currently in bloom, such as radiant fire pink, angelic umbrella magnolia, and the elusive yellow ladyslipper!http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=114Sun, 28 Mar 2010 08:12:09 -0500Get to know the Buffalo on a new level in our fresh-out-of-the-camera airspace video on YouTube! It's three minutes of useful information about how airspace is measured, what it means to paddlers, and how the tradition began. We also give an example of how it compares to the Ponca USGS gauge. Ready to watch it? Here's a handy link to the video: Understanding Airspacehttp://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=113Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:44:19 -0500For those of you who return to the Arkansas Cabin time and time again, we've updated it's interior for you! The cabin now features a spacious private bedroom downstairs, complemented by a huge private bath. This means a new level of privacy for those sleeping downstairs, plus, enhanced privacy for those upstairs, including a full, private showerbath on both levels. New photos of the cabin interior will soon be up on our Website, however, we wanted to mention it's renovation now due to the cabin's popularity with guests. It always has been a homerun, but now it's a homerun with bases loaded!http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=112Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:41:58 -0600One of the favorite scenes of visitors to the upper Buffalo National River is the historic Boxley Church located near the junction of Hwys 43 and 21. This combination church/schoolhouse/community building (built around 1900) has been featured countless times in the photos of shutterbugs, as well as the stories of many a newspaper, magazine, and television journalist. One of the upper river's loveliest sites is the the church's white silhouette against a backdrop of blazing fall color or the church surrounded by freshly fallen snow in winter.The small group of folks at the Boxley Baptist Church fear that the historic building (located on their property, not NPS property) is in need of immediate preservation measures, repairs which exceed the congregation's ability to entirely fund. If you would like to join BOC in contributing to this worthwhile cause, you may send a check to the Boxley Baptist Church and mark it for "Restoration of Community building." The mailing address is HC 70 Box 13, Ponca AR. 72670. Or, if you have construction skills and/or materials you would like to donate, please contact Bill Cochran at 870-861-5835 or clsur@windstrteam.net http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=111Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:41:23 -0600All access roads in the park are open, according to the National Park Service this morning. They indicate that some roads are very muddy, so 4WD is highly recommended for travel. Should you get into vehicle trouble out there, the NPS Dispatch office # is: 1-888-692-1162. Might want to tuck that number in your coat pocket.We have bladed the lanes to our cabins, plus, the county road grader was working on Firetower Road again this morning (where our mountain top cabins are located). Main highways around Ponca seem to be clear; the Arkansas Highway Department road conditions report does not mention any problem areas. According to the report, folks coming up from south Arkansas can expect normal traffic flow, although it seems that roads are not 100% clear yet in that area (here's a link to that report: Current Arkansas Highway Dept Road Conditions Report.Should be a nice weekend for finding icefalls on waterfall ledges. Just watch your footing; rocks and limestone ledges that look ice-free can actually have a deceptive glaze of clear ice on them. Otherwise, have fun being a Buffalo River snow bunny this weekend! http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=110Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:17:27 -0600[The third entry in our winter blog series on other American rivers we love to run.}The Arkansas River / Royal Gorge Section: Wheeeeee!!! What a fun half-day of rafting this was! We ran this iconic stretch of the Arkansas River (near Canon City, CO) with Echo Canyon River Expeditions in early August, when the water was at a nice Class III-IV level. Mike likes the big excitement of Class V water; Rhonda prefers her adrenaline level in check. So, the late-summer conditions were a nice compromise to what is normally a high-octane whitewater junkie experience. (For those wanting an uber thrillseeker adventure, raft the Royal Gorge section in May, June, or July for the biggest whitewater action, thanks to the snowmelt occurring upriver in the Rocky Mountains.)Aside from its legendary whitewater, the Royal Gorge run also makes for an interesting American history lesson with its late 1800’s railroad remnants and the huge, amazing wooden---yes, wooden---water pipeline that one can still catch glimpses of along the way. Echo did a great job of providing historical interpretive throughout the raft trip, which took about 4 hours.The Royal Gorge is a very technical run, even in late summer conditions. Guest safety is a big deal with Echo, as is providing you with a raft guide who is professional in appearance, conduct, and skill. (Unfortunately, the same cannot always be said of some outfitting companies.) We left feeling that these people are dedicated to crossing their T’s and dotting their I’s in order to give clients a fun-but-safety-conscious rafting experience---a very important quality for a company to have when running folks down a river that is routinely Class IV/V. Echo can help you decide if this stretch of the Arkansas River is appropriate for those in your party. As a quality adventure alternative, they also offer family-friendly rafting trips in scenic, wildlife-rich Bighorn Sheep Canyon or Brown's Canyon (the latter via their Four Corners Rafting company). Unexpected Fun Side Trip: Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve Tell your 17-year old son that you’re taking him to “…these giant sand dune things…” in an obscure part of Colorado and you’re sure to get the please-mom-tell-me-you’re-kidding look. Fortunately, Braden is a good-natured kid who cheerfully went along with the idea, even though he probably wanted to claim bubonic plague or a sudden desire to spend all day brushing his teeth in hopes of escaping the ordeal. Turns out, we were all pleasantly surprised and inspired by our day spent exploring Sand Dunes’ country, which is about a 2.5 hour drive southwest of Canon City. We particularly enjoyed taking the high-clearance, primitive 4WD Medano Pass road that climbs from the east base of the dunes upwards through miles of lush, Sangre de Cristo alpine meadow. As a result, the kid got in some fun off-road driving experience (with Mike coaching from shotgun position) while Mom sat happily in the back of the Jeep, spotting ptarmigan and wildflowers along the way. A good time, we are pleased to report, was had by all. PREVIOUS ENTRIES: The Rogue River in OregonThe Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park So, is This Stuff Reliable? The opinions and recommendations in this blog posting are founded on the actual been-there-done-that experiences of Mike and Rhonda Mills. We are not compensated in any way for saying positive (or negative) things about these places, outfitters, things to do, restaurants, etc. We do it because we feel the information may be of help to others wishing to explore rivers beyond the Buffalo. This posting reflects the genuine opinions we formed at the time of the experience. We hope you find the information useful in planning a future river adventure. http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=109Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:28:58 -0600The roads into Steel Creek and Kyle's Landing are open, however, 4WD is recommended. The National Park Service warns that the road into Camp Orr has a very gnarly spot where even 4WD may not be of help.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=106Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:31:25 -0600A second entry in our winter series on other rivers we enjoy paddling.If you’re looking to plan a family river vacation out West, the Rogue River in southwestern Oregon is one of the finest experiences you can choose. The wildlife viewing is superb and the river canyon is absolutely beautiful. It will remind you of the Buffalo River’s lush, narrow corridor, only with larger, more engaging rapids.Selected by Congress as a Wild & Scenic River in 1968, the Rogue lives up to its expectation as a pristine wilderness destination. You’ll feel miles and miles from nowhere and gorgeous scenery is waiting around every bend in the river. It’s no wonder that National Geographic Adventure magazine (see news article) recently ranked the Rogue as one of the country's top river rafting adventures.As for whitewater action, we agree with outfitter Echo Trips: the Rogue is a wonderful rafting river for families and beginners, yet it offers enough whitewater excitement for teens and river veterans.Some of the highlights of our 3-day trip included countless wildlife watching opportunities: numerous osprey and bald eagle swooping down for fish; salmon soaring through the air as they gallantly tried to overcome rapids in their quest to return upstream; and black bear ambling along the mountainous shoreline. We also enjoyed visiting Zane Grey’s cabin, which was so intact and well preserved that you expected the famous author to open the front door and say hello any moment.We highly recommend Echo Trips for your adventure as the company’s ownership and staff have a deep, genuine affection for the landscape, as well as the guests they serve. Safety, top guides, interesting interpretive, protection of the resource, and wholesome, family-friendly adventure were hallmarks of our experience.The Rogue may be a long way from Arkansas, but to us it was worth the few extra hours of travel time for the privilege of exploring this iconic American waterway.So, Is This Stuff Reliable? The opinions and recommendations in this blog posting are founded on the actual been-there-done-that experiences of Mike and Rhonda Mills. We are not compensated in any way for saying positive (or negative) things about these places, outfitters, things to do, restaurants, etc. This posting reflects the genuine opinions we formed at the time of the experience. We hope you find the information helpful in planning a future river adventure. http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=105Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:21:55 -0600Several of you have asked if we would share some of our personal adventure travel experiences as a means of providing you with a springboard of ideas for your own vacations. While our First Love is and always will be the Buffalo National River (and we hope yours, too!), this winter we'll include some posts about other noteworthy American rivers trips that we’ve found particularly rewarding in recent years, and which might appeal to those of you looking to answer the call of the river wild in 2010.Looking to Disappear from the Face of the Planet? Mission Accomplished Here.Big Bend National Park, TX: Next time you're wanting to get way the heck outta Dodge (and we do mean waaaaaaaaaaay), this is a prime place in which to do it. Big Bend is truly one of America’s last wild frontiers, sprawled in a landscape richly imbued with some of the most beautiful, fascinating river mileage on the continent. Towering canyon walls and intriguing desert scenery are just two of the many worthwhile reasons to paddle the canyons of the Rio Grande. You’ll have javelina, mule deer, wild burros, and the occasional mountain lion for company (or at least the paw prints he left in the wet sand) and an abundance of desert flora at which to marvel.We never tire of paddling the Santa Elena Canyon stretch, but, like the Buffalo River, every section of the Rio Grande in Big Bend has its special merits: you’ll eventually want to paddle them all.In general, the Rio Grande is a Class I/Class II experience, but water level, technical difficulty (the Rock Slide, for example) and remoteness can vary, which impacts the class rating. Your outfitter should be able to help you determine whether your paddling skills and the current water level are a good match or if a guided raft trip would be more suitable for your party.Big Bend is also a vast wonderland of hiking trails, scenic vistas, and backroad driving opportunities, so it’s hard to run out of quality things to do here. It's also a shutterbug's paradise, especially if you're into big landscapes or gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.While Big Bend is certainly an ideal couple's getaway, it's also a great family adventure. We took our kids there a few years ago and they absolutely fell in love with the place. From guided ATV tours to running canyons in canoes to spending the day hiking with an archeologist to eating great Mexican food night after night, the kids loved every moment in Big Bend and to this day still talk about all the fun they had while there.The Buffalo River and Big Bend are similar in that they both offer visitors stellar scenery, a high quality paddling experience, and that beautiful "middle of nowhere" feeling. If you love "getting lost" on the Buffalo, then Big Bend is going to quickly find its way onto your list of favorite outdoor adventures.Outfitting Services: We always use Far Flung Outdoor Center as they have an extensive knowledge of Big Bend, they're skilled paddlers and outdoorspeople, and the service and equipment is always top notch. FFOC offers guided Big Bend rafting trips (single- and multi-day trips), as well as private canoe rental and shuttle services for those wanting to go it alone. You can even rent camping gear from FFOC should you not wish to lug yours along.Best Money You'll Spend: If this is your first time in Big Bend, we suggest taking at least one guided river trip in order to get a feel for the area and have exposure to interesting interpretive about the flora, fauna, and history of Big Bend.Dining Tip: Mornings, try a Pancho Villa breakfast burrito with a cup of fresh-ground pinon nut coffee at Kathy’s Kosmic Kowgirl Kafe. Evenings, check out the prickly pear margaritas and lip-smacking chili at the Starlight in the ghost town of Terlingua. The authentic Mexican food at Rio Bravo is also terrific (located next door to FFOC); we especially love the chili rellenos.Other Services: Terlingua and neighboring Study Butte are the "jumping off" towns for exploring Big Bend. Both have gas and food services, including a couple of small local grocery stores that will surprise you with what they offer. The nearest Wal-Mart, however, is 2.5 hours away in Fort Stockton. So, can you buy a box of Kleenex, some hiking snacks, and a tube of sunscreen in Study Butte? Yes. Can you buy a pair of hiking boots because yours just blew a sole? No. Although FFOC does carry some good, inexpensive river shoes should you forget yours.When To Go: We like October through March for optimum enjoyment as July/August temperatures frequently hover in the 100-degree+ range.What Not to Be Without: Water. Agua. H2O. All you can pack; any time of year. And, plenty of sunscreen. A hat is also a good preventive measure against the sun's rays.Where To Stay: Ten Bits Ranch is located about 20 minutes from Study Butte and offers a good lodging experience. We enjoyed staying in "The Bank," a cabin for two which features a pretty view of Hen Egg Mountain. Ten BIts is off the grid, too, so staying there adds a green element to your vacation. Ten Bits is quite popular, so make your reservation well in advance. While there, book the Lost World tour, an intro to the archeology and paleontology of Big Bend by Ten BIts owner Steve Wick. He's both an archeologist and paleontologist (we tease him about being an underachiever), so you're in qualified hands on this tour. Coming Soon: Quality cabins at Far Flung Outdoor Center, conveniently located right in Study Butte and a stone's throw from the park entrance. Call them at 1-800-839-7238 to book for the fall of 2010 (some cabins may be available this spring).What To Avoid: Chili Cook-Off Weekend (the first weekend in November), unless you want to share Big Bend with 6,000 other people who have come to celebrate award-winning bowls of red in the Chili Center of the Universe. We hear it's a fun, zany weekend filled with all manner of interesting folks, but we prefer to show up a week later after the dust, Mardis Gras beads, and general hoopla have settled.So, Is This Stuff Reliable? The opinions and recommendations in this blog posting are founded on the actual been-there-done-that experiences of Mike and Rhonda Mills. We are not compensated in any way for saying positive (or negative) things about these places, outfitters, things to do, restaurants, etc. This posting reflects the genuine opinions we formed at the time of the experience. We hope you find the information helpful in planning a future river adventure.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=104Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:06:11 -0600Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean you can't enjoy a sparkly, romantic winter escape! We're keeping Cabin X aglow with icicle lights and winter finery---both inside and out---through February 22nd!Begin your day with a hot cup of Celestial Seasonings tea while wrapped in a fluffy, cozy bathrobe...or swirl a candy cane in the hot cocoa that's awaiting your arrival...take the tingle out of your toes with a dip in the cabin's outdoor hot tub, overlooking 30 miles of Buffalo River scenery...enjoy hiking a peaceful Buffalo River trail during one of our favorite seasons to explore...watch our magnificent elk herd or the trumpeter swans that frequent the Boxley Valley...and escape a hectic world to one of the most secluded cabins in Arkansas: Cabin X.To book, call us toll-free at 1-800-221-5514. We're open 7 days a week; office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Winter is one of the Buffalo River's finest moments---don't miss it, as well as the chance to celebrate romance in secluded Cabin X while it's afire with twinkling lights! http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=103Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:04:23 -0600We recently came across this lovely blog article featuring the story and photos of an upper Buffalo River hiking adventure to Whitaker Point (aka Hawksbill Crag) that a dad and his two young girls recently enjoyed together. We found Steve Rush's account of his outing with the kids to represent how perfectly the charm of wintertime on the Buffalo can be enjoyed by families with youngsters. Steve's 11-year old daughter Abby wrote a blog entry of her own about yet another fun-filled Buffalo River adventure the girls shared with their dad in December. Abby's enthusiasm for the Buffalo was catching, making us want to grab our fleece and head out the door for an adventure of our own! The Rush family owns Mystic Caverns on Scenic Highway 7 just south of Harrison, Arkansas. If you've not yet experienced their beautiful caverns, be sure to put a tour of Mystic Caverns on your next visit to Ponca. Mystic Caverns is open March - November (closed Sundays).http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=101Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:41:06 -0600The National Park Service is offering an Artist in Residence program for the Buffalo National River. Residencies are being offered for spring (March - May), summer (June - August) and fall (September - November). Learn more about this program at this link: Buffalo River Artist in Residence. Applications are currently being accepted and can be found at the aforementioned link. http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=100Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:20:20 -0600The National Park Service has advised us that the Corps of Engineers is opening 5 gates on Bull Shoals dam today, which is the equivalent of 10 generators running at once. This release will impact the Buffalo Point and Norfork accesses often used to paddle upstream on the lower Buffalo River. This release is expected to continue for several days.http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=99Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:46:24 -0600If you'd like to give a loved one an extra special and unique gift this Christmas, consider a BOC Gift Certificate! A BOC Gift Certificate can be purchased in any dollar amount and be paid for by Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, or personal check. A gift certificates may be used toward a cabin stay, canoe trip, or hot air balloon adventure---however your loved one wishes to spend it! Just call us at 1-800-221-5514 to purchase. http://www.buffaloriver.com/Blog/?id=98Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:05:14 -0600The National Park Service is managing yet another control burn of the Erbie area today. The size of the parcel being burned is 1,300 acres. Visitors to the park should not be alarmed at the sight of smoke; however, the smoke generated from that large of a parcel might make for uncomfortable breathing if you are planning to hike or camp in the immediate Erbie area today. A lot of how the smoke does or doesn't affect air conditions depends on wind direction. A significant smoke haze from yesterday's 700-acre burn made it to Ponca about 5:00 PM, creating hazy conditions for a couple of hours.