Winter Wonderland

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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.