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Lower Buffalo Wilderness
Lower Buffalo Wilderness, Duck's Head area, bluff to Buffalo River hike7/14/18
So Susie the waitress says "that's not on the menu", and I say "well, it should be" and we both laugh heartily. This was the scene at Ihop in Conway at 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning. The breakfast was pretty damned good and the service was decent. I drove north just after. At 4:30 the forest engulfed my carcass with darkness and silk. Spider silk, as every three feet a spider had laid its web of death at face height just to make things interesting. I find this not to be interesting, but just one of the usual hazards of hiking through the woods in the middle of summer. Ticks are another unpleasant aspect, but on this morning they leave me be. I am well protected but the little bastards are not even trying. This was not the case more than three years ago when I explored this area for the first time. The onslaught of tick action was relentless on that occasion.The day begins with clear skies and 76°. After the passing of a small amount of time, the bluff line appears before me. It is bumpy on the surface and affords very sparse views of the valley below. I continue on towards into the depths of said valley.
At 6:20 the forest breaks away to reveal the Buffalo River. On the map my location is near the tip of the beak of the duck's head. This is a prominent series of bends that when combined, resembles the profile of an arrogant duck with its nose pointed skyward. The area is known as Laffoon Bottom, named after a family of goobers that terrorized the valley in the mid 1800's. My path continues downstream. Male voices are heard upstream from a solitary canoe. This surprises me as the water level is a might bit low and it's early for most paddlers. I take care of business behind a nearby vegetated gravel bar and let them pass. The quiet river is mine once more. Some fishing is partaken of and a few small and colorful fresh water inhabitants are landed and released. Soon, a gathering of say, six watercraft, overtake me at the point I am to exit the river. Here I swim and eat lunch even though it is only 10:00. The party passes by and tranquility resumes.
My next move is to head up Lonely Hollow, which will take me back the upper plateau. The creek here is spring fed and feels quite refreshing as I trace it up the slope. At the bluff line the spring's source is revealed to be a small cave in the base of the bluff. I enter it but am unable to pass much beyond the mouth into its deadly depths. The temp as the the summit is reached is 89°. A breeze with minimal effect helps to cool my ass. At 12:00, my parking location appears and there is much rejoicing. This hike covered a distance of 6.9 miles. It was pleasant and will be cherished when recalled on future dates.
