Mile 637.5 - Island 63 Chute
LBD 637.5 Island 63 Chute
Mark Twain relates an amusing tale set in this channel in his 1883 Life on the Mississippi concerning the steamboat the Skylark. At that time this was the main channel of the river. See chapter XXX Sketches by the Way.
Mississippi River Paddlers often wonder where all the wildlife is. It's difficult (if not impossible) to see deer, coyote, armadillos, beaver and all the other forms of wildlife common to the mid-South from the middle of the main channel. The best opportunities for viewing birds & amphibians & other animals is when paddling through the back channel. If you practice quiet paddling, feathering your paddle and curtailing conversation, most likely you will encounter something. Be vigilant and keep your eyes keen on distant points, depressions in the muddy banks and openings through the forests. Commonly seen in this area are small herds of white-tailed deer, wild turkey, beaver, and turtles. Turtles enjoy sunning themselves on the slopes of muddy banks, on snags, or perched atop floating driftwood. In warmer months they're sometimes joined by snakes. Hint: turn off your cell phone. You shouldn't paddle & talk on the cell phone anyway. Its hazardous to your health and will ruin any attempt to get away from the rat race.
As you float out of the Chute of Island 63 you will be greeted by a large area of boiling and whirlpooling water where the back channel rejoins the main channel. Across the main channel are remains of the bottom end of Island 62. Twenty years ago this was a forested island bottom, but today only a thin sliver of rip-rap remains to be seen, and then only visible below medium water levels (20HG and below). The forested bottoms have been completely removed by the forever roaming and unpredictable appetite of the river. Further off towards the Arkansas forests a large sandbar emerges at low water, and if you are ready for lunch or a rest stop paddle across the main channel one mile and choose your spot. As always, look both ways before crossing!