Buffalo River Trail: South Boxley to Ponca

[east_stingray]

I hiked the BRT this weekend as a sort of personal reflection time for remembering and honoring those killed on 9/11.

Full trip report with pictures is at www.geocities.com/east_stingray/index.html

Last link on the page.

[Hawk-eye]

Hanging over a bed of poison ivy huh? That's gutsy! Not sure how you managed not to get any on you that night.

Looks like an interesting trip. Kinda nice how you can hang places that you'd normally have to pass up on to find a tent site isn't it.

[east_stingray]

It's just not possible to avoid poison ivy in the ozarks this time of year. I usually knock the vines off of whatever tree I'm going to hang on, and that's about as much as I worry about it.

I walked through the stuff all day and had my pants in the hammock with me, so I'll probably end up with some spots, but I'm not very sensitive to the stuff.

From what I've heard, once you get a little bit of that oil on you it ends up on everything, so I try to wipe down with some wet wipes before I hit the sack, but I also realize that probably won't protect me at all.

[Hawk-eye]

I use to get it by looking at a picture of it! Doesn't seem to bother me as much anymore unless I really get into it. Of course that might just be a by product of being older than dirt!

Glad you had a good trip.

[BillyBob58]

It's just not possible to avoid poison ivy in the ozarks this time of year. I usually knock the vines off of whatever tree I'm going to hang on, and that's about as much as I worry about it.

I walked through the stuff all day and had my pants in the hammock with me, so I'll probably end up with some spots, but I'm not very sensitive to the stuff.

From what I've heard, once you get a little bit of that oil on you it ends up on everything, so I try to wipe down with some wet wipes before I hit the sack, but I also realize that probably won't protect me at all.

Looks like a good trip, Stingray, thanks for the report. Is it possible that it is actually worse for poison Ivy up there than in MS? Hard to imagine. I spend a lot of time trying to avoid that evil stuff. But mostly I can stay out of it. I'm going to look closer next time I'm there, but I don't think I saw as much when hiking in TN the other day, even though it's only about 65 miles from here.

[east_stingray]

Part of the "problem" is that the BRT is not heavily used. I had a guy at the local gear store tell me the AT is like a "muddy road" and that the BRT is like an "overgrown deer trail". I consider that a good thing, but it means that even if you stay on the trail your legs are brushing through poison ivy much of the time.

I haven't posted a trip report of the hike I took with my brother in June because all the pictures are on his camera 10+ hours away, but it was even worse then. If you drop your hiking poles even once they disappear into a carpet of poison ivy. ALL of the trees have vines on them... the best you can do is find young vines that are easy to pull off with your hiking poles.

I'd say that for anyone who is moderately+ sensitive to the stuff, hiking in the ozarks when there are leaves on the trees is a no-go unless you have a stellar decon system.

[oldgringo]

Nice!

I get over to the Upper Buffalo for some fishing occasionally...you're absolutely correct re: PI...the stuff is everywhere.

[Shug]

I like the looks of out there!!
Good cigar?
Shug

[Perkolady]

Mannn, there really are some trips where hammocks are a must! Looks like a very peaceful place to hike. Nice photos

[SmokeHouse]

very nice,,, I'm making the same trip in Nov... I think I'll bypass the poison ivy.