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When a rock falls in Traveler Country, we hear about it. When an entire bluff falls, we want to find out more, and then bring you the story.
On July 12, Traveler reader and Facebook friend Leonard Butts posted a photo of an enormous rock fall at Black Bluff, just upstream of Campbell Bridge on the [...]

ShareI’ve followed the current issue with road closures in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and would like to put in my thoughts on the matter.
Although I live a couple hours away from the Current and Jacks Fork, I’ve spent quite a bit of time on these wonderful rivers over the years and have seen the [...]

ShareKenny Collins and Aaron Pruiett, both of West Plains, DID NOT win the annual Dale Kipp Birthday Goggle-eye Tournament on Current River at Van Buren.  John Conner, West Plains, and Merlin Pyrtle of Jackson — in the new shirts — did win the tournament. They were so sure of themselves they had these shirts printed [...]

ShareTraveler assistant editor Jo Schaper was at Johnson’s Shut-Ins on June 29, and shot these short videos of the Black River while standing in the Shut-Ins. People sometimes still ask about water quality…it looks pretty good from where she stood.

Looking upstream:

ShareEveryone has to be from somewhere, and Jo has spent the great majority of her life somewhere in the Meramec River Valley. Seven years ago she wrote a short piece (reproduced here) about the origin of the word “Meramec”. Enjoy!
So: just what is a “Meramec” anyway?
The earliest in-print reference to the Miaramigoua River seems [...]

ShareThough many Traveler readers are very familiar with the smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) for those who aren’t, these web links may give you some insight into this species of fish native to the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys.

ShareI first heard about the Albert Pike Recreation Area flood event (June 11, Caddo Gap, AR) this morning, not on the news, but in an email from a former geology professor of mine at Mizzou.
Dr. Tom Freeman is from Hot Springs, AR, about 40 miles east-north-east of the campground in the Ouachita Mountains where [...]

ShareA few weeks have passed since the end of the Missouri legislative session. Efforts to remedy the “which plastic is this?” cooler comedy of chemical errors from 2009 died in committee in both houses of the Missouri General Assembly in 2010, so fans of polystyrene (trade name Styrofoam) coolers can relax for another year.

ShareBy Jo Schaper
“Without bloodshed,” was one person’s answer to what he wanted to get out of the recent workshop of varied stakeholders to discuss the proposed alternatives in the new Ozark National Scenic Riverways General Management Plan.
That’s according to Doug Warren, Reynolds County Commissioner, who attended as a representative of the Current River Smallmouth Association. [...]

ShareHouse Bill 1744 and Senate Bill 941 are the ones to watch if you’re concerned about polystyrene coolers on Missouri’s rivers.
HB 1744, introduced by David Day of Dixon, and SB 941 by Dan Clemens, Marshfield, contain three nearly identical provisions having to do with boat recreation on Missouri’s rivers and lakes.