The Christmas break is a great time for family and friends to gather together and celebrate the passing of another year. It is also time for the members of the Jackals to begin planning the float trips for the upcoming year. Busy schedules, families, and the curve balls that life throws us make planning anything difficult, which makes it so important to start six months away. This years annual planning meeting in the man barn was fueled by Platte Valley corn whiskey and Red Bull, helping the creativity to flow freely like Loko-Bombs on Flat Creek. As per the Jackal standard, three major trips were scheduled for the summer. Throughout the last three years we have continued to expand the repertoire of rivers that we float. It seems like each trip brings something new. 2011 brought us amazing cliff diving, frigged springs, bat caves, and the gauntlet. 2012 has a lot to live up to.
When looking at this year's schedule the Jackals will notice that we are moving away from some of our more traditional dates for trips. Our first float of the season is scheduled for the weekend of June 2nd through the 4th. This is in honor of one of the senior Jackals wedding anniversary. It was a unanimous decision that the Master Motor-Boater should stay married so the first trip got pushed back a week, because its just wouldn't be a float trip without his unique brand of river violence. The location of this float is one that I'm really pumped up about. Everyone that I talk to about floating asks me, "Have you floated the Buffalo yet?" When I tell them the answer is no they inevitably tell me that, "Well you haven't seen anything yet." My first reaction is to punch them in the mouth and tell them they should stop being faggots and try Flat Creek in May, but I hold back and tell them that its on my list of trips to make. This year we will have scheduled it early in the year to hopefully catch good water and see if the Buffalo can handle the River Jackals. Everyone has great things to say about this river so it should mean for a great time. When thinking about this float make sure you are able to leave on Friday night, the 1st, so that we can get down there and to make camp and shuttle vehicles.
The second trip of the year is a short four weeks after the Buffalo trip on June 30th through July 1. We tried to avoid the fourth of July so that KC Paul and others might not have to give up family events for the trip. This trip is on the Jackal staple, Flat Creek, which proves to be one of the best year after year. Last year was a true test of the Jackal temper but was one of the most memorable for me. We had a great group on the water last year and I really hope we can get another big group of Jackals out to this one. And back by popular request the annual Man Barn Crawdad Boil will take place the Friday night before we leave.
The third major for the summer will be on August 18 - 20. This trip is going to be another new trip for me and many Jackals. The Gasconade river is another one that I have heard great things about but haven't had the opportunity to try out. The Dreaded Rear Admiral is the lead for this trip as it coincides with Josh Summers' (aka Sunshine) birthday bash. While everything isn't set in stone yet for this trip it might include a stop at a riverside cabin and a rendezvous with another group of party goers. Look for more details on this trip on the blog in the future.
Make a note of the dates on the side of the blog and get them on your calendar, the quicker you mark the dates down the less likely it will be that girlfriends and wives can ruin your trip! Also it would be great to have an idea of who is planning on making what trips for planning purposes. Keep an eye on the blog for the RSVP button so that we don't have to haze you, unless you just like it. Let it be know that I plan on seeing Tug-boat and his Kurt Warner jersey on every trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment