Buffalo River Blog

Winter Wonderland

2010-01-29T10:03:00.003-06:00

Well the weather has turned cold again and for winter it is just right. We have some ice covered in snow on the ground, but we have electricity and that is wonderful! It seems we have been spared from the ice storm that was predicted and after last years horrible ice storm we are all very grateful. The elk are loving the salt mixture the AHTD are putting on the roads and they are licking up as much as possible. It is a really good time to get some good elk pics if anyone is interested and as long as you can drive on iffy roads. Hwy 21 is always cleared quickly, so a trip from Fayetteville would be a piece of cake. Hwy 7 gets cleared fast, so we have no worries of being trapped. We have never been unable to get out, but as long as the school bus can't get down the road the kids are happy. Here are a couple pics from our last snow.

Perfection

2009-09-28T14:47:00.003-05:00

Well perfection is not a word I use often. I very rarely describe anything as perfect. There are to many little things that seem to corrupt or get in way of perfection. That being said the weather here along the river seems to be just that. Perfect. The mornings are cool & foggy-perfect for sleeping in. Mid-day is full of sunshine & cool breezes, perfect for working outdoors or resting in the hammock. Evenings are chilly with no mosquitoes in site, perfect for wrapping up in a quilt and reading a book on the porch. Everything seems just perfect.

Fall Is On It's Way

2009-09-20T16:31:00.004-05:00

The days are noticeably shorter. The nights are definitely cooler. The air is crisp and the leaves are beginning to change. Just a hint, but it is there. If you have never experienced fall along the Buffalo River, you have never experienced fall. It is unsurpassed beauty. The streams are clear, the air is clean and leaves turn a magical shade of gold, orange & red. Not to mention the elk bugle and the other wildlife start moving and preparing for the winter to come. I hope no one thinks that just because they don't float the river to often in fall that there is nothing to do. That is far from the truth. There is so much to do & see! Hiking and horseback riding season is in it's prime during fall. Photography along the river this time of year is wonderful. Rock climbers like the cooler temps and cavers-well not to much changes in the caves-at least that I know of. So please don't think that because the floating has slowed down you have to wait until spring to visit. Come on in- the weather is perfect!

Never a dull moment

2009-06-03T15:26:00.005-05:00

A couple weeks ago I let my daughter ditch school (we'll call it a field trip). Brittany, my husband & I got a raft & started out from Ponca. The water was good, probably the last raft ride this year. We packed our lunch & planned to head to Kyles Landing. Not far from the Steel Creek access point we noticed a nice kayak abandoned on the bank. I knew the outfitters so we decided to float it to Kyles for them. My husband & I have been toying with the idea of buying our own yaks, but didn't know for sure if we would like them. This was the perfect opportunity. Richard decided he would give it a spin. The day was perfect. I manned the raft & Brittany counted turtles. We had a great time. We even hiked into hemmed in hollow. Richard has lived here his entire life & hadn't seen the falls. No better time than the present. We visited with some wonderful folks & made to Kyles & turned in the kayak. I think there will be some kayaks around our house soon. I can't wait!

So Much To Do

2009-06-03T14:47:00.003-05:00

Wow another spring has come and gone. Summer is here. One of my favorite things about living along the Buffalo River is that there is never a time where you are bored. Sure the kids will say, "I'm bored" from time to time. That is easy to fix. Lace up your shoes lets go hiking. Or canoeing. Or horseback riding. Or caving. The possibilities are endless. My daughter says those words every now & then. They make me cringe. So we get outside. Take the camera & Maggie the dog. We are set. We did the Hemmed in Hollow trail recently. Hiked down from Compton & came out the Sneed's Creek horse trail. It was fabulous! We made the day of it. Met some great people & spent time with each other enjoying the beautiful scenery. Wonderful!

Floating Season is Here!

2009-04-06T11:46:00.003-05:00

Hello Everyone,

Floating season is finally here. The weather last week was perfect. This week however the cold has moved in again. This morning at Steel Creek it was a freezing 30 degrees & it hasn't warmed up much as the day moves on. We have finally started getting much needed rain. The river is just right for rafting, canoeing or kayaking. Richard & I hiked from Ponca to Steel Creek & back to Ponca last Sunday. The weather was so nice. The trees are starting to green out & the dogwoods & redbuds are blooming. I love this time of year. After the terrible ice storm in Feb. we really need a change around here. Hopefully the leaves will help mask the damage. There are several spring flowers blooming & moral mushrooms were springing up last week. The cold will put a halt to that, but warmer weather will eventually come back. The photos above are of our spring in cold weather-notice the icicles & the kayaks are just above the Ponca bridge. I will try to get some more posts on here with more photos.--Misty

Please visit us at www.steelcreekcabins.com for more info.

My Summer Vacation

2008-09-23T16:55:00.003-05:00

I didn't really take a vacation this summer, but I always remember the first assignment in English class each fall. So below are some shots of what we did this summer. Hope you enjoy.

Feels Like Fall!

2008-09-23T16:32:00.004-05:00

Wow, long time no blog! It has been way to long, I am sorry for the delay. We had a wonderful summer. Thank you so much to our loyal guests & new visitors from across the world! This year has been very busy, which is just how we like it.
I can't help but smile when "newbies" call or email me about visiting this area. You can always spot them. They will eventually say "what do you do there?" As if we are in someway oblivious to what is going on in everyday life all over the nation. I usually respond, anything outdoors! I also advise them to take a chance, visit this area, you won't be disappointed.
I have tried to include a few snapshots of what we have been doing all summer. Of course there are the typical hiking, canoeing, caving and animal observing, but there is so much more. Let your mind wonder, let your imagination take control and go for it. Visit the Upper Buffalo River, you will be happy you did!

Just so you know, we are enjoying fall temps. The mornings are around 50 and the highs 75. Perfect weather! The leaves will be changing soon. If you haven't made reservations for fall foliage, you better hurry!

Summer, Buffalo River Style

2008-06-10T14:00:00.005-05:00

Well warmer weather has found us and there is much to do. With hiking & floating in full swing it is easy to forget the other fun things we can enjoy. Horseback riding is one of the best ways to see all the Buffalo River has to offer. Take a ride back in time, follow the trails and old roads my grandpa used to travel. Enjoy visiting the old homesteads along the river and especially enjoy jumping in and taking a swim. There are lots of flowers and wildlife that you can't see just floating down the river. The horse trails take you along the river, but also beyond the banks, so you can see the land surrounding the river as well. If you have your own horses please give us a call about horse and rider packages, we will be glad to visit with you. If you don't have your own horses or aren't up for travelling with them we know of a great outfitter locally who can help you out.

Fishing is another one of my favorite things to do along the river. I love to fish! So do my children. It is a great way to get out & spend time with each other with out all the hustle and bustle of life getting in the way. Take time to go fishing and if all goes well you have supper taken care of! If your adventure doesn't produce your dinner, you can always stop by the Ozark Cafe in Jasper for some great fried catfish! Tim and Mona know how to do it up right.

Remember, you are only limited by what your imagination allows!

Come visit us at http://www.steelcreekcabins.com/ for more info.

Spring Has Sprung!

2008-05-16T13:16:00.004-05:00

Spring is in full bloom!

Wow, it amazes me how time flies. I am sorry for not updating, but there is just so much to do and see outside right now. The weather is perfect. The wildflowers are fragrant. The river is rolling. The birds are chirping. I am loving every minute of it!! My favorite has bloomed, the wild honeysuckles. Oh they smell sooo good! The air is just filled with the sweet smell of spring. Hummingbirds are flying around like fighter pilots & the other birds are chirping a beautiful song.

My mom & I had a wonderful treat yesterday. An old friend has started a new business and will be offering spa & massage services at our cabins! She visited our cabin #1 & gave each of us a chair massage. It was so great! We listened to the waterfall next to the cabin and let everything melt away. Now our guests can enjoy this experience as well, I am so excited. Have a relaxing massage or other treatment on the covered deck overlooking the Ozark Mountains. It doesn't get any better! The rates are surprisingly affordable and the level of service is top notch.

There are so many things to enjoy & I don't want to miss any of them. If you are looking for a good time to visit, there is never a bad time. Please email anytime for information.

3 Generations Rafting Down the Buffalo River!

2008-03-27T08:41:00.003-05:00

Well last week was spring break, it rained for 3 days (8 inches of rain here at Steel Creek) and the spring flowers are blooming! I am so excited. I have been out taking loads of photos, getting flower beds ready, hiking every trail possible before the snakes come out and rafting! Yes I said rafting. Those 8 inches of rain came in pretty handy last Friday. I was blessed enough to go rafting with my mother (who is a ovarian cancer survivor and is 61 years young-she won't mind that I shared her age) and my eleven year old daughter. That's correct, 3 generations took the Buffalo River by storm. We visited several old home places that our family had settled many years ago and just had a great day. All the rafts in the area were occupied, but a couple friends of ours were nice enough to loan us their raft (thanks Kay & Tommy). The river was so nice, just right to be exact. It was barely under the low water bridge in Ponca and the water level was perfect. We enjoyed the day together and with the many new friends we made along the way. Everyone should be so lucky!

Spring Wild Flowers

2008-03-26T15:48:00.003-05:00

We have some lovely little wild flowers blooming. I have been enjoying going out in the evenings and taking lots of photos of them. They never have a frown on their face and when you see them you can't help but smile. I hope you take time to stop and smell the flowers of all varieties. Happy Spring!

Misty

Last Snow This Winter-Maybe

2008-03-26T14:16:00.003-05:00

Sorry, it has been so long since I have updated the blog. We have had a variety of weather since the last post I wrote. We were blessed with 10 inches of snow March 6! It was one of those wet sticky snows! The best kind! I was able to take a few photos around the property and it was sooo pretty. The kids enjoyed it a lot-they were out of school for a 4 day weekend. This photo is taken up Steel Creek. I had been shooting and could never get the sun to look just right. I was leaving & turned around to see this "dove" in the clouds. Well with our weather we can't be sure, but I think this was our last snow for this season. Bring on spring!!

Misty

Is It Spring Yet?

2008-02-27T13:35:00.002-06:00

Our March calendar is filling up, floating is on the brain, and the wind is blowing fiercely. Is spring almost here? My tulips are poking their heads through the dirt and I am hoping they won't get nipped by frost. I am ready. Ready to see the trees covered in their green foliage. Ready to hear the frogs holler and the crickets sing. I always look forward to each season but by the time the next is ready to break I can't wait. Winter is always nice because that is my hiking season,mainly because there are no snakes and bugs out, but the weather has been really cold and I am ready to thaw out. Now I will hike the rest of the year, but there is nothing like being totally free, not looking down to see any slithering things in the trails. But for every pro there is a con. One of the great things about living along the Buffalo River is that we get to enjoy each season. Each season has something to offer locals and visitors alike. Whether it is floating, hiking, fishing, caving, horseback riding, biking or whatever your fancy- you can definitely have your cake and eat it too. I love it here and you will to. Just come and visit, you'll see. Email me anytime to hear the latest specials. Horseback riding packages now available.

See you soon!

Buffalo River Winter Activities

2008-02-11T14:40:00.000-06:00

Well I have decided to create a blog. I will do my best to keep things to the point and provide information that Buffalo River visitors will appreciate.
Last week we had a wonderfully warm couple of days to explore outside. Sunday, the 2nd, I hiked at Lost Valley with my husband and 11 year old daughter. We have taken this route many times, but never get tired of it. The temp was 60 degrees! And due to rain and melted snow the cave at the end of the trail was awesome. We got some great photos and had an even better time. The week before that we had snow on the ground. We drove to see the elk, but they have the good sense to stay in the woods and out of the falling snow. So after striking out at Boxley Valley, we headed to Steel Creek campground (which is just next door for us). There I got a really nice river and snow pic. The rest of the day was spent sledding down "the big hill". Very appropriately named I might add. We had a blast!

I have been monitoring the new additions at the mill pond in Boxley. There are now 3 trumpeter swans who are enjoying the Ozarks. I have faithfully traveled down the mountain to get a good shot of them. Finally, my persistence paid off.

Enough for now, but I will try to keep updates posted on hiking, canoeing and other outdoor adventures that await here at Steel Creek Cabins along the Buffalo National River.

http://www.steelcreekcabins.com/