The Buffalo River
My husband and I both backpacked before we had children, but didn’t think our sons would be ready until they were around 8 and 11. Well, they are 9 and 12 and the time is ripe. We want them to experience success, but also feel a little of that famous backpack suffering: prioritizing needs over wants and the feeling of accomplishment after carrying bare necessities overnight in the wilderness. We met these goals with an overnighter in the Buffalo National River this past weekend.
The Plan
Pay Lost Valley Canoe Rental to shuttle our car from Ponca to Kyles. (We love those people and would shout their praises from the rooftop.) Backpack 10 miles from Ponca Access to Kyles Landing on the Old River Trail with camping somewhere in between.
Modifications
About 100 yards in we encountered our first river crossing on the Old River Trail (Horse Trail). It was too deep and wide to safely cross, so we turned back and took the Buffalo River Trail (BRT). The BRT traveled along the mountainside through the forest. It provided nice views of the river without any crossings. At Steel Creek we transferred back to the Old River Trail for the remainder of the trip. We camped for the night just past Goat Bluff, about 5 miles in.
The Gear
All four of us carried packs. They were as follows:
Brian (36 pounds):
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Dana Design Pack from his pre-family backpacking life
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Marmot Tungsten 3 Person Tent (it’s our river tent)
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Sleeping Bag
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Sleeping Pad
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Cook Stove
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Water Filter
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Toilet Paper and Poop Shovel
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His clothes
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Dinner (mashed potatoes with two hamburgers)
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Breakfast (4 breakfast burritos)
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Trail Mix
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Water
Jenny (26 Pounds):
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Dana Design Pack from pre-family life
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Marmot Tungsten 2 Person Tent (for the boys)
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Sleeping Bag
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Sleeping Pad
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Clothes
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Coffee
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Toilet Paper
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Snacks
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Water
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Map and Camera
The Boys Age 9 and 12 (15 Pounds Each):
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Gregory Pack and REI Packs borrowed from dear friends
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Sleeping Bag
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Sleeping Pad
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Clothes
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Snacks
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Dishes for the Family
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Water
The Trip
I would consider this trip a success. The weather was surprisingly warm for early December (highs in the 60s, low in the 40s). The river was very low, so all of the creek crossings (besides the first at Ponca) were manageable. With only ten miles we were able to take time to check out the history along the Buffalo River and take breaks as needed. We paddle this section multiple times each year, so it was quite interesting to see it from the trail perspective. Here is the peace and tranquility of our first family backpacking adventure. I look forward to many more family backpacking trips in our future.