TEAM GREEN: April 2009

While spring isn't quite over here in Arkansas, creeking season for us is coming to a close and playboats are getting dusted off as natural flows begin to diminish. As my main interest in boating is exploring creeks and rivers, I thought I would start a blog to help pass the time in between missions!

For my first blog attempt, I'll wrap up Team Green's '09 Arkansas creeking season thus far. This season we had a horrible ice storm that devastated much of the Ozark Mountains. It blocked tons of access roads, and clogged classic runs to the point that many are still not boatable! However, boaters pulled together and cleared several classics that were high on the list, and even a few 1st d's may have been fired off because of the lack of clean creeks available. Team Green's 1st bittersweet outing was just a couple of days after the ice storm. We attempted to go north to the EFLB drainage, but we were shutdown quickly. We then retreated towards the Richland Creek area and were also shutdown by lumber issues. We even got shut down on Graves Creek in the Big Piney area!WTF! We are talking major tree damage everywhere! As a last resort we reluctantly did upper Spadra Creek to save face. It was cold and unsatisfying for a day w/ plenty of water in those hills to say the least. During the run, Chuck B. had an epiphany, we could go fire up Horsehead spillway a few times to end our day with a little spillway hair! Excellent idea Chuck, you saved the day! Here are a few pics of Horsehead.

Joe on top left, Tracy looking small in the middle, and Chuck on bottom.

Not to far into the season, we got a few inches of h20 in the Barberry Creek watershed. Barberry Creek is a tributary of EFLB and is as sweet as it gets for steepies in the Ozarks. I was completely stoked to get on this run as I had wanted to be a "Barbarian" for some time now! Our flows were elf status but the big drops were bedrock and all went well considering the lack of flow we experienced in the boogie water. As we approached Barbarian Falls, I was prepared for a sh!tty portage. However, Chuck felt like it was still good to go, and he fired away w/ a solid line. Wes da Mauler fired next, and I gave er as well! Good lines were had by all, and then the lumber portagefest ensued on the remaining boogie water. The hike out was brutal, but a small price to pay for becoming a "Barbarian"! Pics of Barberry Creek.

Top-Chuck on entryslide to Monday Morning Surprise! Bottom- Chuck hucking Monday proper!

Top -Wes @ Monday Morning! Middle-Chuck entering Barbarian Falls!

Left-Chuck hucking off Barbarian Falls proper!

The Ouachita's provided us with much needed tree free creeking as the ice storm only struck the northern half of AR. Team Green 1st d'ed "South" Cedar Creek of the Ouachita's during the next large rain event, and after 4 or 5 days of probing all possible lines, I am in love with this one!I can honestly say now after getting some folks on it that it is a sweet alternative steep creeking destination. It has burly and continous goods w/ the option to make fast laps and get strong!Long live da Chief!Here is some footy of "South" Cedar Creek below.

We also were fortunate enough to get on the Norrell Creek run a few times during the same period.It was Amy's 1st run on it and she loved it's continous feel!Here are a few Norrell pics of me.

Me on Norrell lappin it up!

Team Green made a few trips to the Cossatot River this season as we always do.It is our staple river run here in Arkansas, it is technical when low, and bigwater fun when it is pumped up phat!The smooth river worn boulders and fun rapids make for an excellent river experience. The water is clear and the sandbar camping is stellar! This year my buddy Nick H., and his 8 yr. old son Hunter, have been doing a lot of father/son boating. Lil Hunter is firing up everything in sight, and even caught the bonus eddy at the Washing Machine! Keep firin 'em off lil buddy, you are the man. Cossatot pics below. Esses below
Tracy @ Whiplash!

Jermdog (on left) and Spanke(bottom left) longboating the Machine w/ old school style!

Amy @ the Machine! Bottom-Joe @ the Machine!

Team Green rallied to Richland Creek several times during the season and caught phat enough flows to have a huckfest on both falls at Twin Devils Falls on 1 of the trips. Long Devils Falls still had the log in it to spice things up a bit, and Big Devils Falls was sweet.Amy had her 1st big huck off of Long Devils Falls and I had my 1st day of firing 'em both off in a day!Bob (c-1), Tracy, Kyle, Lazer, Wes, Amy, and I all ran Long Devils Falls. Chuck, Wes da Mauler, and I all ran Big Devils Falls! We then paddled the gorge at a sweet flow and stayed the night for another good lap the next day. Richland Creek is gorgeous and it will always have a special place in all of us hillbilly boaters' hearts! Good times for sure!Huckfest pics below. Top-Chuck @ Big Devils Falls! Bottom-Wes da Mauler @ Big Devils Falls!