Bushwacking the Lower Buffalo Wilderness
Bushwacking the Lower Buffalo Wilderness
by ulhiker on Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:27 am
For those of you who are looking for an off-trail experience, you might want to check out the following:
This 15 1/2 mile long route begins at the Highway 14 bridge (North of Harriet, AR) and ends at the Spring Creek Trailhead of the Ozark Highland Trail, Sylamore Section, Mile 0.
You will need the USGS Cozahome and Big Flat topo maps. You will also need Trails Illustrated, #233, Buffalo River, East Half map to locate the boundaries of the Buffalo National River.
There is also a fantastic guide book for this trail route section - "Ozark Highlands Trail Route, Lower Buffalo Wilderness", by Duane W. Woltjen. This book describes in detail the traverse of this trail route. There is no trail tread per se, just a described route.
One thing that Duane does emphasize in his book - "If you are thinking about hiking alone in this backcountry, please read no further. Just keep thinking until the idea goes away"!!!
Gotta love it.
Just thought I'd share this trail idea with you. I'm thinking about doing this in the spring.
UL
This 15 1/2 mile long route begins at the Highway 14 bridge (North of Harriet, AR) and ends at the Spring Creek Trailhead of the Ozark Highland Trail, Sylamore Section, Mile 0.
You will need the USGS Cozahome and Big Flat topo maps. You will also need Trails Illustrated, #233, Buffalo River, East Half map to locate the boundaries of the Buffalo National River.
There is also a fantastic guide book for this trail route section - "Ozark Highlands Trail Route, Lower Buffalo Wilderness", by Duane W. Woltjen. This book describes in detail the traverse of this trail route. There is no trail tread per se, just a described route.
One thing that Duane does emphasize in his book - "If you are thinking about hiking alone in this backcountry, please read no further. Just keep thinking until the idea goes away"!!!
Gotta love it.
Just thought I'd share this trail idea with you. I'm thinking about doing this in the spring.
UL
_________________
Life is not a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving safely with a well-preserved body. Rather, the real goal is to skid into the grave broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, shouting "WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!!!" - Anonymous
ulhiker- Mountain Man
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Re: Bushwacking the Lower Buffalo Wilderness
by HillbillyHkr on Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:44 am
UL,
I have been thinking of a trip into that area. I would like to get one of the White river trout guide boats to drop me at the bottom of the Leatherwood wilderness area on the Buffalo and then bushwhack out to the top. Not sure why but then again...why not. One more trip to put on the "I will do it one day" list. Fortunately I have done a great job of keeping this list up to date. I have yet to let one roll off the bottom of the list unchecked.
Thanks for the heads up on the book.
HBH
I have been thinking of a trip into that area. I would like to get one of the White river trout guide boats to drop me at the bottom of the Leatherwood wilderness area on the Buffalo and then bushwhack out to the top. Not sure why but then again...why not. One more trip to put on the "I will do it one day" list. Fortunately I have done a great job of keeping this list up to date. I have yet to let one roll off the bottom of the list unchecked.
Thanks for the heads up on the book.
HBH
HillbillyHkr- Backcountry Explorer
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Re: Bushwacking the Lower Buffalo Wilderness
by Preacha Man on Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:52 am
I would love to do that with you, it has been very long since I had to read a topo map and use a compass. I would lOVE to go bushwack around there. Keep me informed for when you would want to do this.
_________________
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Psalm 19:1-3 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard."
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Re: Bushwacking the Lower Buffalo Wilderness
by ulhiker on Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:59 am
Preacha:
I will definitely keep you updated. This might be a good hike to plan for late February, March or April. I know your schedule prevents you from including Sunday, so I'll have to see what I can do with my schedule to work around that.
UL
I will definitely keep you updated. This might be a good hike to plan for late February, March or April. I know your schedule prevents you from including Sunday, so I'll have to see what I can do with my schedule to work around that.
UL
_________________
Life is not a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving safely with a well-preserved body. Rather, the real goal is to skid into the grave broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, shouting "WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!!!" - Anonymous
ulhiker- Mountain Man
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Join date: 2008-04-17
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Re: Bushwacking the Lower Buffalo Wilderness
by Preacha Man on Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:29 pm
Don't change your plans for me, I can plan mine around yours. I am going kinda going offtrail this Suday afternoon and Monday with my neighor in Devil's Den. It's really in the National Forest that abutts Devil's Den, but we hope to do around 16 miles. That will help with the challenge. Thanks UL for planning this, I think the whole group of us need to get out, and kick off the challenge together.
_________________
Dwight
Psalm 19:1-3 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard."
Preacha Man- Mountain Man
- Posts: 832
Join date: 2008-06-25
Age: 30
Location: Northwest Arkansas -
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