ERL yo-yo + (early June 10')

Just wanted to put this out there and see what you guys thought of this plan. Main objective is to complete approximately 10 miles / day for six days as a JMT shake down of gear and camp routine. Since the trail is around 27 miles I'll overlap it by 3 miles to get in roughly 60 miles. I also hope to take more than snap shots along the way and some video to create an interactive map of the ERL later this summer.

Clockwise
Day 1: Albert Pike to East Saline Creek (9.4 miles)
Day 2: East Saline Creek past Little Missouri Falls TH (approx. 11 miles)
Day 3: Past Little Mo Falls TH just shy of Little Mo Crossing prior to Winding Stairs (10 miles)

Counter Clockwise
Day 4 - 6 Reverse above

I know Preacher Man suggested doing the mountains back to back days, but I didn't see an easy way to do that so I'll have a day in between the mountains with Eagle Rock to it's own day coupled with the jaunt outside of Albert Pike. I won't be in a rush so that should allow me to plan out some good photo opps and hopefully do some trail maintenance along the way.

Your input is welcome.

Sean

Sounds like a great week. The mountains make it difficult to plan a yo-yo, so I just say get them out of the way. Have a great trip, and if its early early June, I may see you out there

I'll start the yo-yo tomorrow and will report when I get back. For the record - 6 days of food barely fits in a bear canister.

Seems that food is always the problem on longer hikes. I can improve all other aspects of the sport but seems that I am
always learning about food!

Good luck!!

Have a great trip RED, 6 days out there will be a blast. Have fun, stay dry, and if you absolutely need cell reception, I got some on top of Spirit Rock. Oh, and if you start to run out of food, just eat less

Good luck Red.....my only advice is leave early in the am, rest in the afternoon and wear pants!

Red,

Here is wishing you the best but, and I am sure you know, we are under a flash flood watch till Fri. morning. Watch those river crossings. I am going to PM you some more info.

Sounds like your going to have a great time... Maybe a little warm, but still be great just to be out there...

Well Red should get some good practical experience on crossing rivers with all this rain we have been having! Just hope he stays safe. Who would have thought that after all of this dry weather we have been having he plans his trip and we have flooding rains! Now that is my kinda luck!

I hope Red is OK,,, I just heard that 12 people are dead from FlashFloods. one creek raised from 3' at 5pm to 23' 3am this morning.

Here is a link. Not much info. at this time.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/11/arkansas.campground.deaths/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

This is Red's wife and I just received word from Nathan that he is okay. May have lost his truck, but he is good. Thank God.

I was thinking about going to see him today and hike a little with him. I am so glad that he is doing ok, and Mrs. Dupre', please let me know if there is anything I can do to help!!!

I just got off the phone w/ the Montgomery Co. Sheriff and the Arkansas State Police (asking about Red before I saw the update that he's ok).

They said they do not have names yet for the living/deceased that have been recovered, but that they are setting up a command post in Glenville. I mentioned that we have some medics/ex medics hanging around here who know the trail well and have SAR training if they needed more volunteers, and the guy in charge of it over at ASP told me that they don't need any more help at this time.

-Nate

I have been so frustrated this morning! I came in to work, still on contract, at the school and was told about this. Our internet is down, long distance is out due to a fiberoptic cable cut at Glenwood probably due to the high water, and the at&t tower is out locally! I have also heard that at least 12 are dead and that the police are retriving the bodies out of the little mo on the AP bridge as they float by. Two campers were washed down stream with the people still in them! Also the Hwy bridge over the Caddo River at Glenwood has water touching the bottom of the bridge! My prayers go out to the families.

Has been a very frustrating day for me..

Very Sad for all that was involved in the flood and my prayers go out to all of them.

Check out the Little Mo Gauge That is one heck of a spike in water level.


MSNBC fooding account also on the Arkansas Canoe Club page it is mentioned that a local doctor has mentioned on his Face Book Account that up to 50 are still missing.

Most of the bridges in the area and roads are also washed out.

I'm so glad to hear that Red is okay. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families that have been impacted by this tragic event.

I saw pictures of the massive flooding on the national news. What a tragedy! I'm glad Red is safe.

I know a few of you guys contacted my wife about my whereabouts and I sincerely appreciate that. As you may know, I road out the storm on the high bank side of Saline Creek. My tent was overcome with water at 3 am and I huddled up to a tree until daybreak. Once the water dropped it was just backpacking as usual with lots of soaked gear and every water crossing from Saline to Blaylock a wet one. After getting to Blaylock and seeing it would be a chest high crossing I decided to dry out my gear at that parking area. A fella from La. was there and had slept in his truck during the storm. Soon after FS personnel began coming down 106 and that's when I first heard the news of casualties and damaged vehicles.

Long story short - I got to Shreveport (I'm in the library) awaiting my wife's arrival so we can see about my truck. Ark. State Trooper's are putting together a list of where the vehicles are being towed to so we'll probably head up that way before lunch. I was parked in the hiker's parking lot closest to the camp host. I did talk to a rescue worker who confirmed seeing it pushed up to a picnic table. I'm not very hopeful, but just want to get whatever I can out of it and take pictures for insurance.

It was one heck of storm to ride out! The Big Agnes SL1 held together great until the water came in the front door. I woke to a deafening thunder boom and found myself floating on my pad. Anyway, I feel lucky to have been camped in the backcountry and not along the Little Mo. As all have mentioned, I pray for those families that lost loved ones.

Red,

So glad to have you back! One nagging question that keeps popping up in my mind is was there anyone camped at winding stairs? Off course you might even know that. Also the bottom land area that the trail goes thru I am assuming is clogged high now with debris. Any way I feel like it will be a long time before we have the trail back.

SOOO good to hear from you, I am glad that you were able to huddle up until day break at least. If you need any help today let me know.

When I started hiking from Albert Pike at noon it was raining and basically rained all day. I did not see anyone throughout the hike (no one at Winding Stairs) until I set camp at Saline Creek. It stopped raining around 5 pm and started back up a little after 7 pm. Three boy scouts came through around 6:30 and were going to camp atop Eagle Rock (I bet the lightening gave them heck). Their remaining party of 7 did not make it that evening, but came through after the storm the next morning around 7:15 am. We made comments about the storm and they plowed through Saline Creek and were up the trail. I never heard how they ended up getting out, but I figure up Athens Big Fork TH? I have some video of Saline Creek and 106 that I'll try to get up when we get back home later today. Glad to be "out of the woods."

Well I am glad that no one was apparently camping in low areas. Sure glad you made it out ok.

Red,,, glad to see u back safe... I know it was an adventure u will never forget.