Once in a blue moon...outfitting for a new century

Dr. Mudd, I did some time in the Florida Panhandle myself. Moved there just after Andrew went through. And caught Opal and Erin dead center. I lived on the end of the penninsula in Gulf Breeze. In fact, the beech is still there. My exwife, that is. I tried canoing some of the local rivers, but never could really put my heart into it. And the intercoastal was too choppy and busy to enjoy in an open canoe.

I'm still a pretty good ways from my Buffalo, closer to Nashville in fact. But I'll do the drive. 375 miles if I am right. Closer for someone who flys into the Little Rock airport, just 110 miles. Or from Fort Smith, 170 miles.

Codger
 
I should probably feel privileged - it takes me about an hour and 45 minutes to
get to Ponca. Instead, I find myself pining for Minnesota, or New Mexico, or
Wyoming.

I guess it becomes easy to take for granted what you grow up with.
 
Hey Codger,

Thanks for pointing this place out to us. I am going to head there next week for a week of backpacking with my dad. We did not have a place picked out yet, and this looks perfect.

How feasible do you think it is to just stick to the river on foot for a week? We would probably do a few miles a day and then wander around in the woods for a few hours each day. Any areas that you recommend for people on foot? Seclusions and scenery are important to us. If you do not know of any areas, I can call some of the outfitters and rental places for recommendations.

I would have like to do this in kayaks, but it looks like the water levels are too low to float, and I am guessing that will not change in a week.
 
Walking along the river is possible in places but... the river winds like a snake with steep bluffs alternately on the left and right.

Check with the Park Service about their hiking trails. The hike into Lost Valley is a good place to start with a nice campground at the start of the hike. Not very remote, but scenery out of this world.

http://www.harrisonarkansas.org/hiking.htm

Here are PDF files of the hiking trails on the buffalo by sections. Also note that the lower the river level, the further down the river you can move and still have decent water. The section from Buffalo Point to Rush is nearly always floatable.

Ask the rangers at Buffalo Point about specific trails there.

http://www.nps.gov/archive/buff/bp-trail.htm

Or the fine folks at the Ponca concession:

http://www.ozarkmtns.com/buffalo/canoe.html

I hope you enjoy the trip. All of these people will be glad to help you plan and maps and guidebooks are to be found at the visitor centers and concessions. Sorry I can't suggest a best route for you. But these folks can.

Codger
 
I got my BK&T Becker Necker in hand today, a deal from a fellow forum member who threw in some laganape... interesting tidbits.

First the knife. I had not held the BK11 and examined one closely. It was first interesting to see that, while it is deeply stamped with the BK&T U.S.A. logo, nowhere on the knife is there a Camillus maker's mark, nor boast of the steel used.

This one has had the blacktical epoxy stripped off by the original owner. What it reveals is what I have heard several forum members warn others of when stripping Beckers and other coated knives is mentioned... little regard was given to a neat, perfect metal finish under the coating. No matter, the blade grind itself is good with a vertical crocus finish, and a wicked sharp edge. I'll make it a bit wicked-er. And I prefer function over finish on knives that work for a living.

The wirebreaker/bottle opener notch is superflourus to me. Neat functional design addition to an otherwise wasted space on the butt of the handle, but not functions I forsee myself needing. But I have been wrong before. Ask my wife and kids.

The knife is quite heavy for a skeletonized design owing to the relatively thick bladestock. 0.125 is what I measure, 1/8", which is thick for such a small knife. And the thickness isn't just the handle and top of the choil, it continues to within 5/8" of the blade tip on the spine before tapering to the point. Stout isn't the word! While the blade has a flat grind (a favorite of mine), the shape is distinctly reminiscent of the Schrade PH1 and PH2 drop point knives developed from the Loveless designed knife. This has to be a primo skinner. But first impression is that I want to put some thin covers on the handle to improve the fit in my hand. It may grow on me though. It will be my belt backup for the trip in the place of my traditional Sharpfinger. That means a two week wilderness workout. After I break it in here for a bit skinning and processing a few deer. Yup. Hoof to package with a Becker Necker. Surely if it has weaknesses this will reveal them.

The Kydex factory sheath is a super tight fit, even with the coating removed. I can only imagine how tight it was with the factory coating. I understand that it is intended primarily for inverted carry without a keeper strap. That explains why they wanted it tight. It appears to be very well made and the edges appear to be sealed all around. there is no visible seam between the sheath front and back panels until the throat opening. I intend to carry it on my belt right side (handle) up in this sheath until I can arrange to get one made by a custom Kydex sheath pro... Normark. Discussions are in progress for a firesteel sheath. If I carry this one right side up, I'll have to drill a drainage hole near the knife tip. It looks like it would hold water!

Now, the laganape... the extras my friend sent.

An amber glass vial/mini bottle with a teflon cap to carry water purification tablets. The included instruction sheet says it will hold 40 portable Aqua tabs. Neat spacesaver idea!! It is only 1/2" O.D. x 1 9/10ths tall.

A two inch "golf" pencil. Yeah, it is one of the things I always carry. The lead is graphite for a dry lube (a must in cold weather), and great for temporarily marking maps and writing journals. I learned my lesson about ball point pens and cold weather some years ago when my pen froze. When it thawed, the ball popped out and the pen pooped.

A sewing machine bobbin. Like a miniature reel for fishing line, brass or copper wire, or thread for emergency sewing. I gotta go get a few more and glue or screw them together into an assortment! (with glue, the center of the bobbin roll can hold needles).

A firestarter "wick". I'll try it, and if I like it I'll buy a package to add to my trioxane bars in my fire-makins kits (yes, plural)!

A tiny keychain flashlight. I need to know where this one came from! Teardrop shaped translucent plastic about the size of a quarter and a hell-for-bright LED bulb! Oh! And there are four tiny screws on the backside of the case. The CR2016 3 volt Lithium battery is replacable!! Kewl! It is operated by a squeeze pressure switch inside the case for momentary use, but there is a tiny slide button so it can be switched on and left burning. Of course the butt end has a flimsey keyring attachment. But I am the king of keyrings and THIS has a place in my kit!

A 34" beaded neck chain for the Necker. I'll find a use for it for sure, but as I've said, I don't hang things from my neck.

All in all, the knife, sheath and laganape are great additions to my kit.

Now I have to make up some similar neat packs to mail out to friends!

Codger

PS- Thanks again Mike from Cali! :thumbup:
 
ive been using a clip flashlight for about 8 years now and they are nice and very light. The only bad thing is the lack of freestanding....
 
Codger_64 said:
I got my BK&T Becker Necker in hand today, a deal from a fellow forum member who threw in some laganape... interesting tidbits.

First the knife. I had not held the BK11 and examined one closely. It was first interesting to see that, while it is deeply stamped with the BK&T U.S.A. logo, nowhere on the knife is there a Camillus maker's mark, nor boast of the steel used.

This one has had the blacktical epoxy stripped off by the original owner. What it reveals is what I have heard several forum members warn others of when stripping Beckers and other coated knives is mentioned... little regard was given to a neat, perfect metal finish under the coating. No matter, the blade grind itself is good with a vertical crocus finish, and a wicked sharp edge. I'll make it a bit wicked-er. And I prefer function over finish on knives that work for a living.

The wirebreaker/bottle opener notch is superflourus to me. Neat functional design addition to an otherwise wasted space on the butt of the handle, but not functions I forsee myself needing. But I have been wrong before. Ask my wife and kids.

The knife is quite heavy for a skeletonized design owing to the relatively thick bladestock. 0.125 is what I measure, 1/8", which is thick for such a small knife. And the thickness isn't just the handle and top of the choil, it continues to within 5/8" of the blade tip on the spine before tapering to the point. Stout isn't the word! While the blade has a flat grind (a favorite of mine), the shape is distinctly reminiscent of the Schrade PH1 and PH2 drop point knives developed from the Loveless designed knife. This has to be a primo skinner. But first impression is that I want to put some thin covers on the handle to improve the fit in my hand. It may grow on me though. It will be my belt backup for the trip in the place of my traditional Sharpfinger. That means a two week wilderness workout. After I break it in here for a bit skinning and processing a few deer. Yup. Hoof to package with a Becker Necker. Surely if it has weaknesses this will reveal them.

The Kydex factory sheath is a super tight fit, even with the coating removed. I can only imagine how tight it was with the factory coating. I understand that it is intended primarily for inverted carry without a keeper strap. That explains why they wanted it tight. It appears to be very well made and the edges appear to be sealed all around. there is no visible seam between the sheath front and back panels until the throat opening. I intend to carry it on my belt right side (handle) up in this sheath until I can arrange to get one made by a custom Kydex sheath pro... Normark. Discussions are in progress for a firesteel sheath. If I carry this one right side up, I'll have to drill a drainage hole near the knife tip. It looks like it would hold water!

Now, the laganape... the extras my friend sent.

An amber glass vial/mini bottle with a teflon cap to carry water purification tablets. The included instruction sheet says it will hold 40 portable Aqua tabs. Neat spacesaver idea!! It is only 1/2" O.D. x 1 9/10ths tall.

A two inch "golf" pencil. Yeah, it is one of the things I always carry. The lead is graphite for a dry lube (a must in cold weather), and great for temporarily marking maps and writing journals. I learned my lesson about ball point pens and cold weather some years ago when my pen froze. When it thawed, the ball popped out and the pen pooped.

A sewing machine bobbin. Like a miniature reel for fishing line, brass or copper wire, or thread for emergency sewing. I gotta go get a few more and glue or screw them together into an assortment! (with glue, the center of the bobbin roll can hold needles).

A firestarter "wick". I'll try it, and if I like it I'll buy a package to add to my trioxane bars in my fire-makins kits (yes, plural)!

A tiny keychain flashlight. I need to know where this one came from! Teardrop shaped translucent plastic about the size of a quarter and a hell-for-bright LED bulb! Oh! And there are four tiny screws on the backside of the case. The CR2016 3 volt Lithium battery is replacable!! Kewl! It is operated by a squeeze pressure switch inside the case for momentary use, but there is a tiny slide button so it can be switched on and left burning. Of course the butt end has a flimsey keyring attachment. But I am the king of keyrings and THIS has a place in my kit!

A 34" beaded neck chain for the Necker. I'll find a use for it for sure, but as I've said, I don't hang things from my neck.

All in all, the knife, sheath and laganape are great additions to my kit.

Now I have to make up some similar neat packs to mail out to friends!

Codger

PS- Thanks again Mike from Cali! :thumbup:
Click to expand...

i'm glad you liked it..... :thumbup: it's an awesome little knife... fully capable of most woods chores...
i had 2 so i figured i would pass one along...
my other becker necker was soooo rediculously hard to get out of the sheath... i had to have another one made.... :(

the little extras i added, were left over from last years x-mas, i made a few PSK's for some bowhunting and mtn.biking buddy's...

those little LED'S kick butt... i had a gang of them, i think you might have gotten the last one... a friend of mine and fellow forum member used to get them from china for really cheap.... i don't know if he can get them anymore...:( they are a knock off of the photon II's, did you notice the little lock on it too.....

enjoy.... :thumbup:

mike t
 
I'm going through my containers of old camping gear bit by bit. Most of it is long-forgotten in large plastic containers (Navy Helocopter gyro shippers) from as far back as 1994. I am picking through the assortment and putting bits and pieces into another military surplus box for the trip this winter.

Today I found one of my old Sierra cups and a mil-surp water bag, still new in the package. The outdoor shops locally are sorely lacking in innovations, so I'll have to make a few special trips to REI near Nashville, and a Gander Mountain recently opened in Jackson to find some do-dads.

I still haven't settled on a tent and tarp. I dearly love the Whelen tent pointed out to me...

http://www.frostriver.com/tents_tarps/whelen.html

I like that style, but I am concerned about being able to set it up on a river gravel bar where the majority of this camping will take place. This is where a free-standing dome shines. Also, I wonder about the Whelen's usefulness in a cold driven snow with high wind gusts. Floorless isn't a problem due to the good drainage of the river gravel. I can use a groundcloth. But I wonder about keeping the wind from whistling thru under the edges.

I am also taken with the Kelty Noah Tarps. In my mind's eye, I see my neat camp set up with the Noah on one side, the Whelen on the other, and a small, warm fire inbetween. But again... the Noah requires staking or tying, and trees on the gravel bars are few and far between. Still...

Stoves are another area of puzzlement. Unless I can find my old Optimus stove, I am probably going to have to get a new one of some sort. Dang they have gotten expensive! I bought mine circa 1973. Compressed gas stoves are ok, but I don't like lugging around those cartridges (I have a Coleman Peak 1 which works). Alcohol stoves are neat, but I don't think they have the BTU output to make me happy. That leaves me with white gas or dual fuel stoves like my old Optimus. I never had problems with it that I didn't cause myself by inattention or neglect. A Light-my-fire spork will replace the old nesting KFS set. And of course the Australian Billy can is on it's way soon. I need to find my folding handle U.S. Army surplus aluminum 7" skillet. Not sure how old it is, not seen another one like it. And I should have a small campfire cook grate somewhere. And boxes of Trioxane. I did buy a three-pack of camper's coreless toilet paper at Wal-Mart. And probably have several more rolls stashed in my hunting gear.

I certainly don't need any more knives to choose from. I'll be of course taking my tried and true trio of Schrade carbon steel knives, the 152OT Sharpfinger, the 165OT Woodsman, and an 8OT Stockman. But I will add another four old and new fixed blades to try out. One will be the Becker BK&T Necker for sure. Maybe the 1915 Marbles Woodcraft, and the Western States version or the Remington version.

I'm not nearly ready to pack clothes yet, but I have been eyeing my assortment of those as well. My Aussie felt hat for most of the time. A wool balclava for cold and wind covered with either my tanker's helmet liner (wool lined) or the Aussie hat for daytime. I need new polypro insulated underwear and socks too. Boots and shoes I am good on with an assortment of cheap sneakers for evenings in camp, Danners for hiking, and insulated Bog Boots if I have to step off into the water to drag over shoals or fish. I have matching gloves for paddling as well, neoprene lined with fleece. I have a good fleece L.L.Beans jacket too (same as the old Patagonia).

I do need to update my maps and reference books on the Buffalo. Most of mine are copyrighted in the sixties or seventies. I'm pretty sure there have been some revisions and updated new editions since then. Topo maps, of course, don't change. Some of the quads date to the 1940's-1960's. Only a few of those have been updated for Arkansas. I have mine trimmed to the river sections in waterproof sheet protectors which are now brittle. Perhaps I should get them laminated. I have a good protractor Brunton compass in addition to my pin-on ball compass. These are good enough for river orienteering.

Well, that is the update so far.

Codger
 
Codger_64 said:
I like that style, but I am concerned about being able to set it up on a river gravel bar where the majority of this camping will take place. This is where a free-standing dome shines. Also, I wonder about the Whelen's usefulness in a cold driven snow with high wind gusts.
Click to expand...

While at Silver Dollar City this weekend, I saw an interesting tent that was
referred to as a "Cowboy Tipi". It used three poles - your head and torso
went under the "tipi" formed by the poles and your lower body stuck out
but was still covered by the tarp.

A search on the net hasn't revealed anything that looks like it - I 'm still looking.
 
I tuned into the outdoor channel yesterday just in time to see a guy camping along a river (kayak/canoe in background) and his stove was a debris stove. I missed who made it and only caught a portion of the shows title. Either white water trails or whiletail trails, but the stove was awesome. If anyone saw the show, please post the name of the stove. I would be interested in getting one and Codger_64 just might be interested as well.
 
I just finished going thru the last of the six containers. No stove. And the surprise was a mini-bic whose flint has turned to powder, and all of the gas leaked out. No, the button never had been depressed. I guess they just are not intended for long term storage. The two cans of Ronson and Zippo fluid were still full though. No skillet. No second Sierra cup. No hanks of paracord. So... it looks like my buy list just enlarged a bit. I did find a new pair of short neoprene paddling gloves and three watertight decon kits (empty) with a space blanket and two packs of trioxane.

I have no aversion to open campfires on the river gravel bars. In fact, they are the norm even though this is a National Park Service administered area. But I need to be able to cook occasionally in socked in weather and on quick noon stops. I may wind up with a cannister gas stove after all.

Time to dig thru the hunting boxes now and see what else is missing. :(

Codger

PS- Did I ever mention that I had a ex? She don't camp. She yard sales. :mad:
 
Codger_64 said:
Alcohol stoves are neat, but I don't think they have the BTU output to make me happy.
Click to expand...

You just need to look in the right places. :)

This one will boil 2 cups of water in 4 mins according to the maker. I own one and that is about right in my tests. 2 cups of water is what most of the dehydrated meals and ramen take, so that is perfect. Here is a video review of the stove.

The Jetboil is another good option for a stove. It is faster, but you are more limited unless you get the group pot. It is also heavier and quite a bit more expensive. That said, I used one on my last trip and it worked great.
 
Great trip report! Glad you enjoyed it! In the early spring, the river can look like a carnaval with dozens of canoes both in front and behind you. It thins out big time in the fall. By hard winter, it is abandoned. On one of my two week trips, the only human I saw between putting my canoe in the water and taking it out on the White River was a ranger checking my progress with glasses from a bluff five days out.

Sorry the weather turned on you. But at least you had a "plan B". Doing a two week tour, there is little room for other plans absent a dire emergency. You just learn to build in days for sitting by the fire playing the blues harp for the coyotes and eagles. And learn where the old bluff shelters are. And how to batten down a camp for rough weather, white or wet.

Codger
 
Yeah, I will definitely be going back, but next time will be with a kayak with waterproof compartments and lots of dry bags. I don't mind being in the rain or snow, but being in a CANOE in heavy rain pretty much sucks.
 
During a heavy rain or wet snow is a good time to enjoy a dry camp. That is why I wanted a two-to-three man tent and a seperate fly/tarp. With a bit of rigging, it can make a day of dreary weather tolerable. Arts and crafts time. Writing in a journal. Looking for seasonal waterfalls on feeder creeks. Finding fresh wet-weather springs. Taking the time to explore is half the fun. Caddo and Quapaw indians used the area for hunting and their old camps can be found with a bit of thoughtful searching.

I agree on the need for drybags. I'll have a mixed set with me. Wal-Mart here carries one type. Suitable for cook kit or a small sleeping bag. I need a large one for my pack and another for my arctic sleeping bag. Even compressed, it is huge. Food I mostly carry in an aluminum mil-surp ice chest. It meets the regulations for a secure top and tie-ins for the canoe. It takes little or no ice to keep food in cold weather. Dunno yet about bear-proof.

Codger
 
Codger,I'm glad things are falling in place. I truly wish I was going with you. I think that would be an interesting trip, in fact we could possibly qualify for some kind of senior citizen considerations. :D

Doc
 
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