Apparently on Saturday, I completely forgot how to pilot a canoe…
Ponca to Kyle’s Landing was running awesome, the best conditions I have ever experienced! The very friendly park ranger informed us of the river height and cfs, but she might as well have been re-teaching me algebra. “Rapids big, water fast,” that’s all I needed
to hear. I over-packed the canoe, and threw my poor clueless brother-in-law in the front, yelled “TALLYHO,” and we were off!
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Thursday night 8 of my friends from all over the place descended upon the campground for a very short night. I was dejected that some other friends couldn’t make due to work, new babies, cancelled flights, and other emergencies, but still determined to have
a good time. We sat up late in the cabin like a bunch of middle-schoolers goofing off. That was a rough 2 ½ hours of sleep.
Friday morning came early.
Hiking gear stowed; we took off for the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Trailhead at Boxley. Stopped in at Kyle’s Landing to peek at the river and drop off 2 trucks needed for Saturday afternoon. Short drive from Kyle’s to the trailhead where we began our 2-day 11.1-mile
hike to the Ponca Low Water Bridge.
Not one person trained for this hike.
What gorgeous scenery! Immediately crossing Smith creek, and then straight up into the hills. We found ourselves huffing it far sooner than we anticipated. We knew what kind of bad shape we were in when we discovered one in our group brought more energy drinks
than water. Rather than going on and on about all the struggles a group of grown men get themselves into, I’ll just tell you that 8 miles on day 1 was tough, but worth it.
They all asked me what to pack, and no one listened.
We lugged 25 lbs of beef, potatos, onions, and cream of mushroom soup up and down all those hills, but it was worth it having that hot meal at camp. We passed several great campsites but decided to push on because we needed a short hike on Saturday. Camped
next to a stream, and there was plenty of firewood around. And buddy, did we need it! My advice on long underwear, warm sleeping bag, and a mat or cushion was not heeded. I woke up around 3am to a full moon, a dying fire, and several sets of teeth chattering.
Thankfully no one froze to death.
Aging knees of middle-aged men still had a few miles to go.
Coffee, oatmeal, and Kize bars made up our breakfast. We broke camp and hustled on towards the Buffalo. Thank goodness our packs were lighter! We arrived at the Ponca low-water bridge just before 11 am completing the first part of our adventure. Ate lunch,
got the boats packed, got in the water. Cowabunga dude!
I pleaded, “Come on, it’ll be fine!” My father-in-law may never trust me again.
I thought we’d never make it to Steel Creek. 11 vessels capsized for a total of 14 times in the first 1.8 miles. After peeling him off a submerged log and watching his son flip (for the 3rd time) in front of him, my father-in-law crawled up the bank and offered
the first person he saw, “I’ll pay you to drive me in your truck back to Ponca, or I’ll just buy your truck.” The expedition suffered 2 casualties. With them squared away the rest of us got back in the river and decided to get a move on!
We were going way too fast.
Every time we heard white water Caleb started paddling faster. Crazy? Dumb? Reckless? Maybe. For certain we were unintendedly suicidal. My canoe sank 3 times. What a rookie. When that icy blue water starts pouring in it’s like young Mike Tyson punching you
in the face. Whatever plan you had in your mind is gone. Your cooler, paddles, shoes, phone, and nerves are also gone. When you see rapids
ahead it’s exciting. When you see rapids ahead and 20 people standing on the bank watching you…you’re going in.
Kyle’s Landing! We made it!
We didn’t high five or fist-bump like buddies normally would. We shook hands like Shackleton’s men surviving a year on the Antarctic ice. We loaded up the boats, picked up the remaining vehicles, and stopped to get some steaks on the way back to Marshall. My
wife, who was responsible for so much of this trip going perfectly to plan, had dinner waiting for us at the campground. It was delicious! We sat around the fire and retold all our brushes with death to each other like we weren’t right there living it too.
Man did we sleep good.
I had reserved an RV site for the motor home, both cabins, the tiny house, and the glamping tent. We spread out and slept anywhere and everywhere. Two of my friends spent a more romantically inclined night in the glamping tent than they bargained for, but we
all rested! Grassy Road Cabins and Camping really is the perfect place for a get-together like this, and I happed to “know a guy” so we always look forward to these times.
Next year? Who knows!
