A Little Closer To Heaven

One of the easy descents…

I definitely don’t feel like a sissy after doing this crazy bushwack on Saturday. Indian Creek is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. It’s also one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done. It’s definitely not for amatuers or the weak.

The adventure begins as a tiny creek no wider than 5 feet. After going downstream just a couple hundred yards, we found out really quick why this is not a recommended hike…and why it’s a photographer’s dream. We were treated to our first major waterfall, a 40 foot waterfall dropping into a box canyon and it was frozen solid all but a little trickle. Not much farther downstream another falls, and another, and another. The falls just keep coming.

What makes this hike so hard is that there is no trail to follow until you pick up the Buffalo River Trail almost 2 miles to where the stream converges with the Buffalo National River. It’s a combination of boulder hopping and even a little technical climbing. The problem is…there’s no easy way out of this place and once you go a little while…there’s no turning around and heading back. People fall and get hurt every year attempting this hike. Yet something draws you to go further and further downstream.

After several waterfalls and several steep descents down steep canyons, we emerged at the eye of the needle. This is a beautiful rock formation inside the creek with large hole in the middle that looks similar to a sewing needle. It has over a 100 foot drop on the other side. We were surrounded by walls on all sides and a very steep class 2 or 3 climb up and over the needle if we wanted to continue. Of course we did…and it got a little hairy at times. When we got to the top we were treatedwith what comes next…a descent that was just as steep. It took 10 minutes of controlled sliding on our rears before we reached the bottom. What we found at the bottom was another beautiful waterfall.

After leaving this fall we were treated to another steep descent followed by a class 3 scramble down a cliff that required use of a rope. However, at the bottom of this scramble was the most beautiful falls yet. I stopped to take several pictures:

This is the point where I almost died. I was busy photographing this beautiful waterfall when I heard a loud crash. I turned and looked at my buddy, Troy who was pale. I boulder larger than my head that originated from a cliff overhanging those falls had broken loose and fallen no more than five feet from my head! It was time to pack up and head out. Shortly after this point, we picked up a trail because we had arrived at the area of the creek used often. We followed it out to a nearby campground and then had a choice: A 5 mile hike straight uphill back to the truck or hitching a ride…it was 4:30 pm…we hitched a ride back to the top.

This place is an absolutely stunning area that gets very little use once you start getting to the technical climbs. Most people just wander over to the campground. Those people are missing out because the true beauty is on the other side of those climbs. It was one of the most rewarding, yet hardest hikes I’ve ever been on. Not to mention it provided for some of the best photos I’ve ever taken. I’ll definitely be going back again sometime.

How to get there: From Harrison, AR take Highway 7 South to Jasper. Turn Right onto 74. Follow 74 past Kyle’s Landing until you see a sign for Horshoe Canyon Ranch. Just across from the sign is a pond and a little dirt raod. The road dead ends at Indian Creek…just head downstream. A little word of advice: bring two vehicles and park one at Kyle’s Landing Campground. This hike is not for the weak of heart…or the weak of legs.

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Photo courtesy of flickr user obeyken

With cold fronts moving in left and right, and arctic chills taking their tolls, I thought I’d relay my top ten winter camping tips for your enjoyment:

10. Don’t worry about freezing to death in your sleep. Your body will wake you up long before it gets that bad. And if I’m wrong, at least you won’t feel anything.

9. Don’t sleep with your face in a sleeping bag. The humidity increases dampness in the bag and reduces it’s insulation properties. And do you really want to smell your nasty body odor and rank breath all night?

8. Don’t sleep in your underwear, like you’ve probably been told. Sleep in thin layers. Trust me, your hiking buddy isn’t as comfortable as he may look in a 2 person tent and you in your tighties.

7. Start hiking cool. No, not cool like the Fonz. Cool like the temperature. You can always add layers, but the last thing you wanna do is sweat.

6. Pitch a South facing camp. You’ll get more sunshine and longer days. Who doesn’t want that?

5. Store water bottles upside down. Your friends may snicker, but you’ll still be able to get a drink when theirs are frozen.

4. Pee often. There’s no reason to keep that junk in you any longer than necessary. It’s stealing your body heat to keep itself warm.

3. Sleep with your shoes, fuel, and the next morning’s clothes in your bag at your feet. You’ll be rewarded with dry shoes, a better performing stove, and clothes that smell like feet. Hey, at least they’ll be warm.

2. Before bed, fill a lexan water bottle with boiling water and stuff it between your thighs to stay warm. Then, when your buddy goes to sleep, put his hand in the warm water and watch what happens!

1. If your feet are cold, put on a hat. If you’re a guy and suddenly realize you’ve got two belly buttons, stop hiking naked. Actually, stop hiking naked regardless. It’s just nasty.

So there ya have it. Remember these simple tips on your next winter hike or overnighter and you’ll be all set. Don’t let the cold weather stop you from having a good time!

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*Update 1:00 pm 1/28/08- After arriving at the hospital. They found the boy had a broken arm, frostbite on one foot, and scrapes and bruises.

When I got to church this morning (Sunday), a good friend of mine informed me that an 8 year old boy with down syndrome was lost near Sulfur Mountain. He had went missing on Saturday afternoon and searchers had been looking all night long. I couldn’t imagine being 8 and stranded in the woods overnight with below freezing temps. Immediately, I grabbed one of my friends and we headed out to join the search and rescue team. When we arrived at the command center, the boy had already been found. He had spent the night in the woods but was very responsive. Last I checked he was being transported to a hospital and he should be just fine. Thank God for that miracle! Here’s a link to the story in our local paper.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the top 10 winter camping tips. Check back Wednesday also as I will be giving a trip report from Indian Creek, one of the most amazing, yet challenging places I’ve ever been!

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I just received my favorite annual issue from Backpacker Magazine. It’s the 2008 gear guide and it’s now on sale! Regardless of what you may think about their reviews, they have the details on almost every new piece of hiking gear available. I’ve used their top picks in the past and have not been disappointed for the most part.

This year’s issue is definitely worth a read, if for no other reason than seeing what gear is/soon will be available. In it, you’ll find detailed information on every piece of 2008 gear, tips for taking care of the gear you already own, gear that’s good for the environment, and some of the best gear for the money.

Another awesome place to read about new gear for 2008 is here . I always enjoy reading what the Gear Junkie has to say about things.

2008 looks like it’s gonna be an amazing year for gear. Hey that’s kind of catchy…2008: The Year of Gear. I like it! Honestly though, after checking out the new gear for this year, I’ve definitely added a lot to my wish list.

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Last Saturday, an arctic chill blew into Northwest Arkansas bringing temps down into the low 20’s to mid-teens. If that’s not enough, the wind chill made it feel like a balmy 1 degree fahrenheit. Perfect hiking weather if you ask me!

My wife didn’t feel the same way, but she reluctantly went along. We layered up and headed out for a 6.8 mile out-and-back on the Buffalo River Trail. Our destination: a beautiful overlook of the Buffalo River. We started at the Ponca low water bridge and hopped on the BRT. After a couple of pretty easy miles and some tight squeezes between boulders, we arrived at Steel Creek campground. Most tourists/campers choose this campground, but I absolutely hate it. It’s very noisy and prone to drunken fights. I’ll take a backcountry site any day.

After stopping to use the bathroom, scarf down a PB and J, and downing some precious water, we headed towards the bluff. The hike from Steel Creek to the bluff is a very pretty hike, especially in the leaf-off. It begins with a little elevation gain and some pretty views of Roark bluff before heading deeper into the woods and following beautiful Steel Creek. After crossing the creek, we headed for the overlook on an unnamed bluff (which is the prettiest overlook in the park in my opinion). The trail is pretty steep here and there are definitely some places you don’t want to lose your balance. Nothing fatal, but serious injuries could occur. It follows the side of the ridge for a while before emerging onto the bluff.

Once we arrived at the bluff, we were treated to some tremendous views of the river below. We sat down for a while and took it all in, I downed a Snicker’s marathon bar, and we headed back after about 15 minutes. That was about as long as we could stand up there because the wind just cuts right through you on that bluff.

We retraced our steps back to the campground and it was pretty uneventful except for my wife slipping on some loose rocks and sliding down the ridge only to catch herself on a downed tree (Thank God for that!). Oh yeah, and the group of 35 college kids that made more noise than I’ve ever heard in the woods. That reminds me, we let the kids pass because they were trucking along. One of them must have thought that we were heading in the opposite direction of them because when we stopped to take a break, we saw him coming around the corner with a trowel and a look of nervousness on his face. When he saw us, his face turned beet red and I guess he decided he could hold it because he hustled back to his group! Man, that gave me quite a laugh. I would guess by his face that’s he’s not taken too many dookies in the wood!

All in all, it was a great day to hike and my wife and I are glad we went despite the cold. If you are ever in the area and need a good hike, this is one of the best.

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