Duane Hecklesberg, Calvin Doody, Sam and I met at 1:00 at the Cajun Boiler and probed a few potential take-out points on Bull Bayou at the northwest end of Lake Hamilton.  We determined that there were two excellent candidates: Bull Bayou Picnic Area and the bridge at Blacksnake Road. 

 

Here is the extent of the non-avian wildlife we saw on this trip:

We headed up to the two potential put-ins where Sam and Duane started down from the highest point on Wildcat Road where “Private Property” was the predominant theme.  Calvin and I drove back down to the next, more likely put-in at Wildcat/Maxim Road and waited about 10 minutes for them.  We made final decisions about walking sticks and boots and set off downriver. 

 

As always, the Arkansas rocks are a treat:

We determined that the water level would have to reach the top of the Wildcat bridge abutment base to make it navigable, so that would be our future go/nogo gage. 

There are no convenient USGS metrics for this watershed.  It didn’t take long to spot the first potential trouble spots – multiple sweepers which could allow passage around the end at higher water levels

Then came the serious log jams – a lot of them.  Most afforded a way to get out and around, but some were between steep banks.

Last three photos by Sam Reyna

 

Alas, the first segment was judged a bust for pleasurable paddling.  We continued downriver to the next put-in / take-out at the Bull Bayou Picnic Area, was not so bad, but did have a few very difficult logjams, along with some additional barriers intentionally erected by the landowners to prevent kayakers from having a good day.

Photo by Sam Reyna

 

LESSONS LEARNED:

Pick smaller segments to scout.


The author, Kent Walters (photo by Same Reyna)