Day 2: We packed up from our campsite (on the right side of the picture) and headed out for a full day of hiking, covering approximately 8.5 miles.
Following the "Old River Trail" meant fording the Buffalo River multiple times. The river had been at a flood stage just a few days before, and the current was strong and cold.
Joel's long, chicken-legs gave him an advantage: first because they kept his torso farther out of the water, and secondly because they had less resistance in the current. Chicken-legs do come in handy from time to time.
Joel's long, chicken-legs gave him an advantage: first because they kept his torso farther out of the water, and secondly because they had less resistance in the current. Chicken-legs do come in handy from time to time.
The river bottom views were spectacular.
After fording the river here, we hiked uphill toward the tallest waterfall between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain Ranges.
Doesn't look too impressive here.
The vertical panorama gives a bit more perspective on the sheer height of this waterfall.
For the sake of scale, compare this picture of me crouching down behind the waterfall to the vertical panorama. Not bad for Arkansas.
Fording the river... sadly I didn't get my pants rolled up high enough this time, and some major soakage occurred. But a good backpacker is always prepared with a second pair of pants.
Joel crossing like a pro. We actually followed the Old River Trail until we got turned back by a river crossing that was a bit too deep with a current that was a bit too strong. I tried crossing without my pack, got 3/4 of the way across, nearly slipped into a deep gully in the river bed, almost lost my balance in nearly waist-deep, rushing water, and with a white-knuckle grip on my walking stick, turned back upon deciding I'd rather not cross with a 40 lb pack on. I had visions of a cold swim and fishing downstream for my backpack. Maybe on Day 4, but that seemed a bit risky on Day 2. So in defeat, we backtracked a ways and found a different trail.
Random surprises like this barn dotted the landscape.
After a long day of fording the river 5 times, getting denied by a river crossing that was too deep and too fast for comfort, and trudging up and down, we finally arrived at this nice, secluded campsite near a stream.
