Tomahawk Creek near Mountain View, Arkansas. August 5, 2012.
(Note: All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)
Don’t get me wrong — Betsy and I had a wonderful time in Arkansas as we celebrated her birthday. But I have to admit that our timing wasn’t the greatest. We enjoy ‘collecting’ waterfalls, and we planned our trip — several months ago — in order to see some waterfalls in a part of Arkansas we hadn’t visited before.
But Arkansas is in the midst of a terrible drought. We thought things were dry here in eastern Tennessee, but the situation is much worse in Arkansas. We were amazed at how dry and brown the pastures and lawns appeared.
Tomahawk Creek, Mountain View, Arkansas. August 5, 2012.
All of the rivers we saw were low, and many of the creeks were bone dry. The two above pictures show Tomahawk Creek near Mountain View, Arkansas.
We hiked the Lost Valley Trail of the Buffalo National River. Although there was no water in Clark Creek which paralleled the trail, we enjoyed the hike. Since there was no water in the creek, we were able to explore a natural bridge carved by the creek in greater detail than we could if water had been flowing (more about that in a later post).
Clark Creek, Lost Valley Trail, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. August 6, 2012.
We didn’t see the waterfalls we had hoped to see, but we did enjoy our trip very much.
Senior Moments 
August 22, 2012 at 4:18 am |
Bummer! Did you find anything interesting where the water should have been? Any treasures?
Can’t wait to see the natural bridge!
August 22, 2012 at 4:25 am |
It has been a terribly dry summer in most of the country. I’m happy that you enjoyed hiking in a new area.
August 22, 2012 at 4:44 am |
That sure is dry George. What this Arkansas area doesn’t want now is heavy and torrential rain, it would be catastrophic. Steady rain to seep in and then all would get back to normal. The last thing this area needs is torrential flooding.
The USA certainly is having a “mean” summer with all the fires.
All being shown here on news broadcasts, maybe preparing us for what may be in store this coming summer.
This present August has been so mild – quite frankly unbelievable.
Now we do need some rain as bushfires have started even very close to the outer suburbs of Brisbane.
Nature has a weird sense of humour when it comes to “kicking us up the butt”!
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane.Australia)
August 22, 2012 at 4:52 am |
Well trying again – gremlins took the first attempt!!
Terrible to see this drought in Arkansas, the last thing Arkansas and this area needs now is torrential rains, it would be catastrophic.
Just steady rain to get back to normality.
Here August has been so strange – never really arrived!
The fires in the USA are getting big TV coverage here on TV, I just hope that come summer here, we don’t try to match the USA in this department. Bushfires have started around Brisbane, so rain is needed now.
A great report as always George to show places in the USA.
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
August 22, 2012 at 5:58 am |
I sure hope this year’s drought is not a view of the future.
August 22, 2012 at 8:16 am |
this is sad and scary at the same time. it is beautiful without the water but i do hope they get some rain. we are watching hurricane Isaac as he heads toward FL this morning. if he continues this way they will have to cancel the Republican convention
August 22, 2012 at 8:17 am |
WOW<that is very dry. It is sad to see the lack of rain in so many parts of our world. Glad you were still able to enjoy the scenery which was there.
August 22, 2012 at 8:53 am |
Glad you enjoyed the trip. Hopefully, the water falls will be back soon. We count ourselves as lucky that we’ve had pretty consistent rain this summer.
August 22, 2012 at 9:16 am |
Disturbing photos — looks like the view around here in Texas! We just spent a day driving across Arkansas and had rain almost the entire way, so maybe things are getting a little better there. Hope so!
August 22, 2012 at 10:20 am |
So many sad sights showing up everywhere these days with the drought and such hot, dry weather! And really sad to see the waterfall dried up!! But I’m so glad you and Betsy had a good trip in spite of that! Hope your week is going well, George!!
August 22, 2012 at 10:27 am |
That darn drought is really having a wide impact. Sorry you didn’t spot any flowing waterfalls. Your hikes and pics are nice though. Belated birthday greetings to your lovely wife!
August 22, 2012 at 11:50 am |
We have been watching the drought monitor and amazed that this year, the drought is USA wide, every state is effected. Nothing like it since sometime in the 1950s.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
August 22, 2012 at 12:21 pm |
This is not good news.
Here also the situation is same. This year the rain is not on time and it is 30% less when compared to previous year.
August 22, 2012 at 1:38 pm |
Wow it is so dry there!!! The rivers look like walking trails!!
August 22, 2012 at 3:16 pm |
That is a problem when looking for waterfalls in the late summertime. In winter they roar. MB
August 22, 2012 at 5:00 pm |
Other people have called me contrary–haha!
Since I am all stove up I haven’t worked in the garden but Jim, Bob’s son is the head gardener. He has done a wonderful job and we get to reap the benefits. YAY!! Bob works hard too. MB
August 23, 2012 at 1:06 am |
HI George, no wonder your waterfalls are gone, and water is much wanted there. It has fallen here so much with a lot of floodings in Metro Manila and nearby provinces giving many families and the government a not deserved problems. I am glad our falls are in real water ways and they don’t dry up. But last weekend despite my severe cough and intermittent fever, i visited a small flood waterfall at the back of our property. With big umbrella and jacket i braved the heavy rains, and i saw a small brown waterfall, which actually is funny. And the price i paid, i lost my lens cap!
August 23, 2012 at 8:08 am |
Like looking for water in the desert!
August 23, 2012 at 9:30 am |
Lovely hike – but it looks so dry.
August 23, 2012 at 1:06 pm |
I’m so sorry you didn’t see any waterfalls but it sounds like you made the best of it anyway!
August 23, 2012 at 11:56 pm |
The weather can cause problems indeed. Last year when we made car trip beyond the Arctic Circle, it rained and rained. This summer when I photographed unique wooden Poor Man statues beside churches, it rained so much that many times I had umbrella in other hand and camera in other hand.
August 24, 2012 at 12:14 am |
Sometimes, when the water is down, you find new treasures.
August 24, 2012 at 3:25 am |
Green it being interested in story, nice photographs, beauties. I am greeting
August 25, 2012 at 11:02 am |
It’s going to take awhile, but around Mtn View is getting some beautiful much needed rain right now!