COLORADO TRIP 2014 A GREAT SUCCESS By Stewart Noland

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1 Fall September 2014 The challenge goes on. There are other lands and rivers, other wilderness areas, to save and to share with all. I challenge you to step forward to protect and care for the wild places you love best. Dr. Neil Compton COLORADO TRIP 2014 A GREAT SUCCESS By Stewart Noland The river group was as large as we have ever had with about 10 boats. The Vampran family (Mark, Pamela, Trevor, and Travis) from Prairieville, Louisiana paddled rafted on the Arkansas River from Salida East to Vallie Bridge and through Browns Canyon as relative newcomers to paddle rafting. As far as I could tell, the Vamprans had much fun. Other relative newcomers to the rafting group included boatmen John Dean and Bill Wiedower. Thanks are in order to all of the boatmen that volunteered their time to row or paddle others down the river. Many persons helped to make the trip a success including Bob Ritchie, Catherine Tolson, JB Clark, and others that purchased food, hauled equipment, reserved campsites, ran kitchens, rented trailers and the list goes on. We shall return. Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway Photo by Brad Richard

2 SOCIETY OFFICERS: President: Bob Cross, (479) , Vice President: Position Open; Financial Chair: Bob Ritchie, (501) , Recording Secretary: Sandy Roerig, (318) , Conservation Chair: Alice Andrews, (501) , Education Chair: Fred Paillet, (479) cox.net; Membership Chair: Jenny Hackman, (318) , Communications Chair / Editor, Pack & Paddle: Carmen Quinn, (501) , ccquinn23@yahoo.com. STATE DIRECTORS: ARKANSAS: Duane Woltjen, (479) , ozarktraveler1@att.net; Stewart Noland, bosshq@aol.com; MISSOURI: Bill Bates, (417) , cindyandbillbates@ mchsi.com. LOUISIANA: Roy O Neal, (318) , roneal2@bellsouth.net; Catherine Tolson, (318) , catherine.tolson@comcast.net. CHAPTER CHAIRS: Bayou Chapter: Karen Pitts, tuffenufchuck@aol.com; Pulaski Chapter: Charline Manning, (501) , charlinem2@gmail.com; Highlands Chapter: Terry Frederick,(479) , terrfre@att.net; Sugar Creek Chapter: Joseph Meyer, meyer@ipa.net; Buffalo River Chapter: Farrel Couch, (479) , f.t.couch@att. net; Mississippi Valley Chapter: Virginia Wiedefeld, (573) , vwiedefeld@sbcglobal.net. Ozark Society Supplies & Publications: Mary Gordon, (501) , mb2rene@aol.com. Buffalo River Trail Coordinator: Ken Smith, (479) , kennethsmith616@yahoo.com. OZARK SOCIETY DEPOSITORY: Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, AR 71701, (501) MEMBERSHIP: Dues for membership in the Ozark Society are: Individual and Family: $15; Contributing: $25; Sustaining: $25; Life (one-time fee): $200 under 65 years, or $100 for those over 65. Chapter membership adds to the fun of Ozark Society membership, but is not required. However, chapter membership requires membership in the Society. Their dues structure is as follows: Mississippi Valley Chapter of Cape Girardeau, Missouri: $5; Bayou Chapter of Shreveport, Louisiana: $10; Highlands Chapter of Northwest Arkansas: $10; Sugar Creek Chapter of Northwest Arkansas: $5; Buffalo River Chapter of North Central Arkansas: $10, or $5 for newsletters only; and Pulaski Chapter of Central Arkansas: $10; Student Membership: $5. Mail one check for both Society and chapter dues to: Ozark Society, P.O. Box 2914, Little Rock, AR FALL GENERAL MEETING OCTOBER 4 & 5 It s that time of year again for the Ozark Society s General Membership meeting. Hosted by the Buffalo River Chapter of the Ozark Society, two full days of meeting, eating, hiking, canoeing and music making are in store. The event will be located at Buffalo Point National Park & Campground on the lower Buffalo River at Pavilion #1. Group campground #1 is also reserved for those wishing to camp on Friday and Saturday nights for a nominal fee. Those wanting a few more creature comforts can call Buffalo Point Cabins at (870) to reserve either a rustic or modern cabin within the park. Here is the planned schedule in Pavilion #1 on Saturday October 4th: 8:30-10:00 am - Pavilion #1 Meeting Registration, complimentary continental breakfast, visiting with old and new friends. 10:00am-Noon - Welcome by Farrel Couch, BRC Chapter Chair, and Mike Simpson, Buffalo Point Chief Ranger, Ozark Society Business Meeting, CAFO, Lawsuit and Chapter Updates, announcement of proposed slate of Ozark Society Officer candidates, and Buffalo River status report by Superintendent Kevin Cheri. Noon-1:00/1:30 pm Ozark Society Board meeting-everyone is invited to attend-lunch on your own. 1:30-5:00pm Meet Farrel at Pavilion #1 for a hike of the Indian Rock House Loop or exploring Buffalo Point area on your own. 6:00 pm 7:30 pm Potluck dinner and election of OS Officers. 7:30-9:30pm Music to be provided by Dave Smith, possibly accompanied by Mary and Robert Gillihan, all members of the Ozark Society s favorite band, Harmony. 10:00 pm Lights out and sweet dreams. Sunday Oct 5th: Breakfast on your own. 9:00am Meet at Wild Bill s Concession on Hwy 14 at 9am to volunteer for a river cleanup on a section of the Buffalo River near Buffalo Point. Contact Laura Timby at (870) or at ldtimby@ritternet.com by September 30th if interested in participating or if you have any questions about the Fall meeting. If there is enough interest possible alternative activities to the cleanup will be announced at the meeting. Sure hope you all can make it. It promises to be a fun filled, absolutely gorgeous weekend on our beloved Buffalo River. PAGE 2 Fall - September 2014

3 MORE ALL-SOCIETY OUTINGS PLANNED IN 2015 The Colorado trip, Bob Cross s Utah hiking trip, and Janet Nye s biking trip are or were all fully subscribed, confirming the notion that Ozark Society members are quick to take advantage of high quality outings. Recognizing this, the following outings are planned for If you are interested in any of these outings, please keep your eye on the OS website ( for announcements concerning these trips. A motor powered commercial raft trip through the Grand Canyon - April 2015 (See details below). Buffalo River trip - June 2015 An Alaska hiking and touring trip - August 2015 Isle Royale backpack - date to be determined. Grand Canyon Trip Details There are many ways to see the Grand Canyon by trail, water, and air. One efficient way to experience the Grand Canyon by water is a motorized raft trip, and an enjoyable month to take this trip is April. Canyoneers, a Grand Canyon concessionnaire, has an April 19, 2015 launch date for an All Grand trip from Lee s Ferry to Lake Mead. This trip originates and terminates in Flagstaff, Arizona, and in between covers 280 river miles in 7 days, spending 6 nights on the river. Details concerning the trip, including logistics and cost, can be found at This trip provides Ozark Society members an opportunity to enjoy the entire Grand Canyon by river in a relatively short period of time compared to oar powered trips. If you are interested you can register for the trip on line. If you have any questions about the trip, please call Mike or Sheri at Canyoneers at C a nyonee r s advises that this trip may fill early, so if you want to go, it is suggested that you register soon. To help gauge our member s response to this trip, and since registration will be through Canyoneers, please notify Stewart Noland at bosshq@aol.com if you plan to participate in this Grand Canyon trip. I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. - Nathaniel Hawthorne Pack & Paddle PAGE 3

4 COLORADO TRIP HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 4 Fall - September 2014

5 Thanks to Brad Richard for his photos from Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway and storm photos taken near Buena Vista, CO; and to David Vandergriff for his rafting trip pictures. Pack & Paddle PAGE 5

6 TRAILBUILDERS WILL TRY TO CLOSE A VITAL LINK This Fall, volunteers need to build one of the most isolated stretches of the Buffalo River Trail s extension from Highway 65 to Highway 14. This piece of the trail isn t very long - less than a mile. But it s up a rocky hillside, and requires driving several miles from the volunteers camp at South Maumee to a jumping-off point, then walking about two miles to the work area east of Little Rocky Creek. Then, after work, return to camp by the same route. Much hiking, but a necessarily short work day. And the route for both driving and hiking is very interesting. Camp at South Maumee is to be open from October 13 until November 14, which includes the weekends of Oct 18-19, Oct , Nov. 1-2, and Nov Volunteer workers are welcome to drop in any time. Our camp will have a well-equipped, tent-sheltered camp kitchen, and picnic tables, grills, mowed tent sites, and a modern vault toilet. Cooking/drinking water will come from a neighbor connected to the Morning Star public water system. There will be no charge for camping. So volunteers need only to bring their own tent, bedding, food, ice chest, stove, cook pot, eating utensils, and daypack. To connect with those leaving for work each morning, it s best to arrive the evening before. The National Park Service provides tools for building trail. Our campsite - at the river and facing an impressive bluff - is at the end of a 7-mile (3 paved, 4 gravel) road to South Maumee from Highway 27 at Morning Star, 6 miles east of Marshall. Questions? Contact Ken Smith, , kennethsmith616@ yahoo.com. But note that Ken will be at South Maumee beginning October 13, without phone service. He ll frequently contact the Tyler Bend Visitor Center, , where the person on duty (8:30-4:30) can give him your important message. ANNUAL RED RIVER CLEANUP Saturday November 8, AM-12PM Clyde Fant Parkway - Stoner Boat Launch Lunch at 11:00AM Prizes for the MOST UNIQUE trash find Since 2010, members of the Bayou Chapter of the Ozark Society and the Arklatex Chapter of the Arkansas Canoe Club have been hosting an annual cleanup along the Red River in Shreveport and Bossier City. Join us this year to make a difference in your community. It will be the most fun you will ever have picking up trash! Cleanup efforts are the direct result of many committed volunteers. Without them none of this would be possible. If you would like to be a part of the team or have any questions, send an to: Lisa@redrivercleanup.com PAGE 6 Fall - September 2014

7 FALL CALENDAR Below are selected events coming up this fall. For more information and updates from other chapters, check September 16 - BCOS Meeting: Joe Goodwin presents Rafting 101. September 20 Pulaski Chapter: Bona Dea Trails Russellville 5 Miles Easy. We ll visit the Bona Dea Trails on the edge of Lake Dardenelle just west of Russellville. Mostly flat, it will be a good warm up hike to get rid of our summer rust. The hike will be about 5 miles or so, bring good shoes and a snack. Lunch at Wattaburger? Meet at the Morgan I-40 exit McDonald s at 8:30 a.m to car pool or be at Bona Dea by 10. September OS Southwest Canyon Country Adventure This trip to Zion National Park is full, but you can check with Bob Cross, racross@uark.edu, about joining the waiting list. October 4-5 Ozark Society Fall General Meeting Buffalo River Chapter to host at Buffalo Point, Pavilion #1. Campgrounds available at the park, or contact Buffalo Point Concessions for Cabins at the Park: (See page 2 for schedule). October 11 Pulaski Chapter: Ouachita Pinnacle West Ouachita Trail Near Jessieville Miles Down Hill Moderate. Meet at the Bryant Walmart at 8 am and we ll car pool over to the trail head on Hwy. 298, west of Hot Springs Village. We ll drop cars there and head to the top of Ouachita Pinnacle. The hike is nearly all down hill. You can join us at the Hwy. 298 trail head at 930 if you don t go to Bryant. Bring boots, lunch and water. October 21 - BCOS Chapter Meeting. November 1 4 OS Delta Cycling Tour Contact Janet Nye to see if there are any openings left - jbnye14@swbell.net or November 8 Pulaski Chapter: F.R 1003 To Ft. Douglas West Of Pelsor - Ozark Highlands Trail - 6 Miles Moderate. Another almost-downhill hike. We ll meet at the Morgan McDonald s at 8 a.m. and carpool up to the Ft. Douglas trail head on Hwy Or you can join us at Ft. Douglas at 10. We ll then head up to the start off Forest Rd 1003 (C.R. 58). The trail follows Gee Creek down to Haw Creek and the falls. From there we walk over to Ft. Douglas and the Big Piney River. Bring a lunch, snacks and water. Wear good boots. The leaves should be great!! November 8 BCOS: Red River Cleanup (See Page 6.) November 19 - BCOS Meeting: Lydia Thomas and Josh Fast present Permanent Gardens. December 6 Pulaski Chapter: Cane Creek State Park Near Star City 6 Miles Easy. We check out another area of the state with a hike at Cane Creek. We ll have great bird watching opportunities and hike along a lake. The hike will be about 6 miles from the Visitors Center to a backcountry campground. Bring good shoes and a lunch. Be at the downtown Little Rock Post Office, off I-30 at 5th (use 6th street exit) at 8 a.m. We ll carpool to the park; or be at the park by 10. The poetry of the earth is never dead. - John Keats Drawing by Fred Paillet Pack & Paddle PAGE 7

8 The Ozark Society P.O. Box 2914 Little Rock, AR FIRST CLASS US Postage PAID Permit No Little Rock, AR Please Note: If you would like to receive Pack & Paddle ONLY by , not through US Mail, please contact Mary Gordon at Stay Informed on the Web! Visit us at For your convenience, donations and dues may now be submitted via website! Friend us on Facebook! Search for The Ozark Society or click on website links. If you wish to participate in Ozark Society outdoor events, please make note of the following statement and requirement: I acknowledge that I understand the nature of this event and represent that I am qualified, in good health and proper physical condition to participate in the activity. I understand the risks to my person and property associated with the event. I agree to release from liability and not to sue the Ozark Society (including the individual Chapters of the Ozark Society) and their officers, directors, the event leaders, coordinators or instructors for any injury, damage, death or other loss in any way connected with the event. Pack & Paddle is printed on recycled paper.