This is not the seed of an ancient Chinese proverb or the title of a posthumously discovered Tolkien novel. It’s not even the beginning of a joke involving a frog, an elf and a mink that walked into a bar, although it does occur to me that would make an excellent joke. What it is, my fellow adventurers, is a trip report – but not just any trip report.
In The Natural State there are certain things upon which an adventurer can depend. The weather is not one of these things. This fact is especially important to the Arkansas Adventure Guide crew, because we have learned to control the weather! Okay, we haven’t learned to control the weather, but we have learned to use it to our advantage when choosing adventures to pursue. Let me explain.
We had resolved to spend last weekend, which we logically assumed would be a typical hot, humid Arkansas weekend, at Lake Catherine. However, we discovered that the River Valley had been favored by the river gods and we were staring down the barrel of a whitewater boating weekend in August. Conditions would still be hot and humid, but we’d be boating! This is unusual, but it’s becoming less so. We could debate the reasons, but we’re not here to debate. We’re here to revel in another glorious Arkansas adventure.
Ribbit
We checked the gauges (more on that later), consulted friends in the area and resolved to head to Rudy Saturday morning to rendezvous with a crew planning to run Frog Bayou. If you’ve ever visited Lake Fort Smith State Park you’ve seen the Frog, albeit in lake form.
Nick and Clay Hobbs, Father and Son Playing
Now, the term bayou conjures up all sorts of images, none of which applies to the Frog. The Ribbit Run, as it’s affectionately known, is a lively class II+ trip down a southern Ozarks stream well loved by whitewater boaters of all skill levels.
Clay Hobbs, Thirteen Year Old Paddling Prodigy
Rapids include Waterfall Drop, The Pourover, Railroad Trestle #1, Five Eddies, Railroad Trestle #2, Rapid Transit, Squirter’s Eddy, and Canyon Rapids. There are no outfitters servicing the Frog and most of the riverbanks are private property, so if you’d like to test your mettle on this little gem plan accordingly.
That Way! Gordon and Katie Kumpuris, Fauther/Daughter Tandem Kayak Team
Our flotilla was sizable, and although kayaks outnumbered other craft by a wide margin canoes and rafts were represented, thanks in part to our decision to deploy Blue Steel after subjecting him to a protracted timeout.
Hitching a Ride on Blue Steel
We wrapped up an enjoyable day on The Frog and headed to Fort Smith. We would spend the night there then find ELF and the mink the following day – but that’s part II. Stay tuned, and in the meantime we will…………….
See you out there!
Deuce
