Dallas Downriver Club

 

Mulberry River, Arkansas

Date: April 18-20, 2014 Sponsor: DDRC
River: Mulberry River near Ozark, Ar Trip Leader: Bryan Jackson
Reach: will depend on flow Phone: 972-979-2519
Difficulty: Whitewater Class I to III depending on flow * (See scale below) E-mail: paddlinpals@yahoo.com
Rendezvous: Redding Public Access Required Skills: Moving water/Whitewater experience, proper protective gear, base camping
Campground: Redding Public Access

Trip Description:

We've had wonderful experiences on the Mulberry the last 3 years, so we are doing it again.

 We heading out to Arkansas on Thursday, April 17 and we will be staying at Redding Public Access , right on the river. We will paddle on Friday and Saturday for sure and here will likely be a short run before coming home on Sunday.

 We will decide which reaches to do based on water conditions when we get there. 

Meals:

 Bring lunch stuff for both Friday and Saturday's paddles as well s breakfasts for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

We will do Pot Luck suppers on all three nights and we will be having our Easter pot luck on Friday this year rather than on Saturday. Bring enough food for your group as we always seem to have way too much food on these things. We can coordinate as we get closer. 

THIS TRIP GOES RAIN OR SHINE. We will only cancel if the river conditions are unsafe. Normally we get rain on this trip at least once, so be prepared. 

Directions:

From Dallas


Take US 75 north to US 69 north, follow to I 40 east just south of Checotah, OK. 
Follow I 40 east out of Oklahoma and into Arkansas, through the Fort Smith area and on to the town of Ozark.               
 Exit at AR 23 and follow to the Mulberry river. 
After you cross the river go about two miles and turn right on RT 215. Redding PAs will be on your right about 3 miles up the road. 

  
Alternate

Take I 30 east to Little Rock. Take I 440 north to I 40 west. 
Follow I 40 west to exit 64, US 64W 
Follow US 64 through the town of Lamar (it turns right on Main St and on College Ave.)
Turn Left on to AR 103 N.
Turn Left on AR 215. Redding PA will be on your right about 12 miles down. .







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* International Scale of River Difficulty

Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight, self-rescue is easy.

Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed.

Class III: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims.

Class IV: Advanced. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must" moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting is necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong eskimo roll is highly recommended.

Class V: Expert. Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to above average endangerment. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is mandatory but often difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is difficult even for experts. A very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential for survival.

Class VI: Extreme. One grade more difficult than Class V. These runs often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. This class does not represent drops thought to be unrunnable, but may include rapids which are only occasionally run.

 
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last updated March 17, 2014 5:48 PM