100% Hydro. A fun filled day of paddling on the Okatoma river
Closest thing ya'll will see to white water this far south. Read posted web site for details! (http://okatoma.com/)
*********WE'LL MEET THERE FOR 8:30AM*********
-WEATHER SENSATIVE CACHE USE YOUR BETTER JUDGEMENT. We will be there rain or shine.
They have in the past "closed" the river while it was too high and too dangerous.
-DO NOT bring little children!
-Wear your caching gear so we can find everyone.
-Boat rentals are available (Canoes (up to 3 people) and Kayaks)
-$25 per kayak or canoe (extra for third person in canoe)
-If you have your own boat they do offer shuttle services(rates vary depending on where you take out.)
-We plan on taking the Upper Run which is 13 creek miles.
-YOU MUST CALL AND MAKE RESERVATIONS ONCE YOU DEFINITELY KNOW YOU ARE GOING. (601) 722-4297.
****Things to bring****
Lunch, snacks and drinks. We will stop at the "lunch spot" to enjoy our meal and to talk "shop"
(caching. Make sure to get coords. for any local caches you think we might hit on the way home (we'll
bring some too), but as a FYI we'll be tired after the trip down the river.
To ensure non soggy food I like to wrap my sandwich in plastic wrap then Ziploc bag, then put all of them
in a large Ziploc bag. It seems overkill but it isn’t any fun eating a pre moistened sandwich!
Best if you bring a small personal ice chest we MAY be able to tie to the back of your yak.
*A towel and change of clothes. These will stay in the cars while we paddle, along with keys and phones.
*Sandals that strap to your feet, aqua socks, or old tennis shoes to keep you from hurting your feet on
unseen objects underwater.
*If you are going to wear glasses buy a string that is adjustable to keep them on your face when you flip
and go into the “drink” (expect this to happen although a few people will not flip) Remember if you don’t wear ‘em they don’t do any good, Dad found out the hard way.
*Sun screen, I don’t use it so you can’t borrow mine.
*Money, not only for the Canoes and Yaks but we usually stop at Waffle House (aka WaHa), afterwards.
Here we can discuss the day of fun, hitting any local caches and our next event.
*Bug spray although I’ve never had a problem with bugs.
*Plastic bags for trash.
*Bring rope or twine to secure your belongings to the canoe or kayak!!!
Other things to know
*If you don’t wear your PFD (Personal Flotation Devise) it won’t do you any good.
*Canoeists you may be haggled to carry other’s belongings, because you will have a lot of empty space.
However if you flip it is a nice revenge (because they will laugh at you for flipping)
to watch people do an all out mad dash for all there stuff before it gets washed down the river forever
never being seen again.
*Being Safe On The Water(this is kind of important, don’t ya think?)
*PFDs. I know they are uncomfortable and people take them off while paddling.
PLEASE PUT THEM ON BEFORE YOU GO OVER ANY OF THE “RAPIDS“!!! You will hear them and see them before
you go over them.
*If/when you flip people have a natural tendency to swim to fallen trees because they are easy to grab
onto. DO NOT DO THIS IT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING YOU CAN DO!!! THIS IS HOW MOST PEOPLE DIE ON
RIVERS, EVEN RIVERS THAT SEEM TO HAVE SLOW CURRENTS!!! The water is stronger than YOU no matter how
slow it seems. Also you don’t know about branches underneath the surface of the water and the current
WILL PUSH YOU UNDER SUBMURGED BRANCHES, rather than to safety even if you are wearing your PFD. I am
not trying to scare anyone so they do not go, I just want EVERYONE to be aware of this threat!
*If/when you flip let everything go, and concentrate on getting to the river bank. Remember don’t go to
fallen trees, besides snakes like to hang out in them. Others will get your boat, paddle, and also come
to assist you. Those of you who go to assist someone don’t paddle straight to them, this usually ends
up as a head ache for the person you are trying to help, because you run over them with your boat.
I know it sounds funny but it does happen, paddle to the side of them and let them get you. You’ll
have a long paddle to reach them with. One more thing
*Those of you who are lucky enough to not flip, but laugh at those who did, usually unexpectedly get
flipped by their fellow paddlers. Lets go have some fun!!!
THIS IS A "LOUISIANA" CACHE EVENT (in Mississippi!?) ANY AND ALL CACHERS FROM WHATEVER STATE, COUNTRY
OR PLANET ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO JOIN US!!!
EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS. RIVERS CAN BE DANGEROUS. PADDLEYAKKING
AND SILVERFIRE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSE OF LIFE, VALUEBLES, OR ANY INJURIES SUSTAINED. PARTISIPATE
AT YOUR OWN RISK.