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Paddling
Exploration of the Pearl River and its Basin
Exploration of the Pearl River Basin – paddling, hiking and
wilderness camping
Friday morning Nov 25th to Sunday afternoon Nov 27th (Thanksgiving weekend)
Feel like a pioneer exploring new territory, paddle below an “overhead” forest, walk through stands of cypress, listen to scattered sounds of the forest, wilderness camp in a forest clearing or on a spacious river beach, enjoy a campfire with new found friends and feel like you are spending your holiday time in a memorable way.
If the above appeals to you, then join Canoe and Trail for three days and two nights exploring the Pearl River Basin – a gem of two southern states located between Bogalusa, La and Picayune, Ms.
The Pearl River Basin is the floodplain of the Pearl River from the Louisiana - Mississippi line to the Mississippi Sound. The basin approximately 200 square miles of public lands is mostly bottomland hardwood trees – oaks, sweetgums, hickory and other broadleaf trees. Scattered about are stands of cypress in backwater ponds. A web of waterway overlays the entire basin – the Pearl itself plus innumerable named and unnamed creeks, sloughs, open lakes and bayous.
In the fall, the Pearl River is usually very low which means that most of the basin is high and dry. At times, paddlers are in the unfamiliar position of being beneath the forest with tree trunks and shrubbery overhead. The basin features in late November, creeks with ten foot high clay banks draped with exposed roots. In the streambeds are remnants of old bridges, shallow waters filled with beds of open clam shells, dams of natural debris and century old stumps. Sights that can never been seen in the spring during high water conditions.
Another example of the fall season is that of the opportunity to walk through a stand of bald cypress which normally would be underwater. The cypress are accessible on foot with swollen trunks and knees completely visible and the ground carpeted by fallen brown needles. Elsewhere clearings in the hardwoods make for superb wilderness camping sites. Other possible campsites are spacious sandbars of the Pearl River itself – sites that are underwater most of the year.
Wilderness camping in the fall has its own appeals. Due to an early sunset, the streamside meals tend to be leisurely, the campfires cozy and stories told exaggerated. Another appeal of the autumn season is the silence in the deep woods both day and at night. An occasional woodpecker may drum or an owl hoot but often there are no sounds in the fall. It is so quiet that a camper’s ears may ring.
Often one of the best results of an overnight outing are the people you meet. Without electronic distractions, campers actually talk to each other and friendships are made. New paddlers and wilderness campers are welcome. This is a very leisurely outing with ample time to learn paddling and wilderness camping skills.
The leader will be Byron Almquist, who has for the past 35 years explored the upper Pearl River Basin while paddling, hiking and wilderness camping. Besides the guide service, also provided will be canoes, paddling accessories, camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags and pads), dry bags and all group equipment. Meals provided are breakfasts (2) and dinners (2). Each paddler provides their own nylon rain suit, appropriate clothing and footwear and three river lunches.
The trip fee is $245 per paddler or $425 for two related paddlers. There is a credit of $50 per paddler if a paddler furnishes his or her own canoe or kayak. After Friday November 11th, there is a $25 late registration fee whether for one paddler or two. Once a person signs up, more information including checklists and driving directions will be provided.