Issue #114
Updated Thursday, October 25, 2000

Welcome to my on-line newsletter about Harrison, the Buffalo National River, and the Ozark Mountains. It is always under construction!

Picture of the Week.



Wandering The Buffalo River


The Buffalo Outdoor Center

What a spectacular fall we are having in Northwest Arkansas. The colors have been stunning this past week, as we reach our peak in fall colors. This week and weekend will probably be the last of the good color. The weather here has been most enjoyable, with high temperatures in the upper 70's and the low's in the 50's. Just perfect for hiking. My good friend Mike Mills had invited me to spend a weekend at the Buffalo Outdoor Center's President's Cabin so on Friday nite, I found myself on the road to Ponca. I arrived and was informed by the staff that a cold front would be moving through that night.


The President's Cabin Has A Great View

The President's Cabin sits high atop a mountain, with a spectacular view. I brought in my clothes and hiking gear, and put my cooler full of food into the refrigerator. I decided that I had better heed the warning, and get a fire going.



Nothing Like A Nice Fire To Snuggle Up To.

Even though it was sunny outside, there was a cold wind blowing, and the fire kept the cabin nice and toasty throughout the afternoon and into the evening. A friend of mine, Ann Lasater had stopped by to visit, and I offered to cook supper for her. The kitchen in the President's Cabin was very nice. Lots of space to cook and of course all the necessary utensils, flatware, pots and pans were there, plus a microwave, coffee pot and toaster.



The Kitchen, Large And Well Furnished

While we waited for our supper to finish cooking, Ann and I sipped on a very fine bottle of wine that she had brought, and talked about all the fun things we did this past summer. There is no place like the Ozarks to have an adventure or two. I was suprised to find that between us, we had covered much of the Boston Mountain area. We sat down in the dining area to a steak dinner, with mashed potatoes, a salad and wine. It was a very enjoyable time.



The Dining Area

Ann and I talked well into the night, and after consuming the rather large bottle of wine, Ann decided it would not be wise to drive home, so she took over the upstairs bedroom. It had a queen bed and a private bathroom. I had already put my stuff in the master bedroom which was downstairs. I decided that I would try out the jacuzzi tub before retiring for the evening.



The Jacuzzi Tub



The Very Comfortable King-sized Bed

"Hey, it's snowing outside", exclaimed Ann from the upstairs bedroom. "No, it can't be", I said as I rubbed my eyes and woke up. Glancing out the window I could see large snowflakes falling! It is not uncommon to see a dusting of snow in the higher elevations of the Ozark Mountains. The snow did not last long, and melted quickly, but the cold wind that had accompanied the front was still with us. I stoked the fire back to life, and we had a good breakfast. Ann had to leave, so I spent the rest of the morning reading a good book while I waited for my friends to arrive. We had planned to go hiking, but the bitter cold weather put a damper on things. We decided to just hang out at the cabin all day. It turned into quite an impromptu party which lasted until early evening.



A Warm Corner To Read A Book In

I woke up Sunday, and the weather had gotten nicer. I decided to make my way down to the Boxley swimming hole, and work my way upriver from there. Although there was not a lot of water in the river, as I meandered up the river, I did find areas where there was still clean water running. It was a fine afternoon, with the sun shining brightly and a crisp breeze blowing. Eventually I made my way back up to the cabin and sat on the porch, soaking in the view. All good things come to an end, and after a hearty Sunday brunch, I began packing up and getting ready to return home.


The Buffalo River Above Boxley


Sitting On The Front Porch, Admiring The View

As always, I enjoyed my stay at The Buffalo Outdoor Center and recommend this fine establishment to you. They have a variety of different cabin arrangements to fit everyone's needs and budget. Fall and winter are prime hiking times here in the Northwest Mountains of Arkansas and I encourage you to make time to visit the area. Give The Buffalo Outdoor Center a call, and make a reservation to have an Ozark Adventure. You won't regret it!!

Buffalo Outdoor Center
P.O. Box 1
Ponca, Arkansas 72670
800-221-5514
Email BOC