UNIQUE WAY TO EXPERIENCE A CANOPY OF A RAIN FOREST.

HERE IN ARKANSAS YOU CAN HAVE THE SAME ADVENTURE FLYING THROUGH A FOREST IN THE OZARKS.

WE FIGURE IT'S THE PERFECT WAY TO START OFF THIS WEEK'S SHOW.

I HAVE THE CHUCK CAM ATTACHED TO MY HELMET SO YOU'LL BE COMING ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

>> HOLD ON IF YOU WANT TO TO THE SHORT, TIGHT ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> IF YOU ARE AGE 10 AND OLDER AND WEIGH BETWEEN 70-250 POUNDS AND ARE IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE THEN YOU CAN ENJOY FLYING THROUGH THE TREES WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE.

>> GO GET 'EM, JIM!

>> THE BUFFALO OUTDOOR CENTER IN PONCA BEGAN OFFERING THIS ADVENTURE AFTER CONSTRUCTING ARKANSAS' FIRST ZIP LINE CANOPY SYSTEM IN THE SUMMER OF 2010.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THAT'S A RUSH.

>> NICE JOB, CHUCK!

>> ZIPPING FROM TREE TO TREE, THE ENTIRE ROUTE TAKES ABOUT THREE HOURS TO COMPLETE.

>> WHOA, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE JUMPING OFF A CLIFF.

>> HERE WE GO.

>> CHUCK, ZIPPING.

YEAH, BUDDY, JUST LIKE A MODERN DAY TARZAN.

>> EVEN VIDEOGRAPHER JEFFREY JAMES HAD TO GET IN ON ALL OF THE ZIPPING ACTION WITH CAMERA IN HAND.

>> IS IT CLEAR?

>> JEFFREY ZIPPING WITH HIS CAMERA.

>> FOR SOME WHO COME HERE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, IT'S TO ENJOY A UNIQUE BIRTHDAY GIFT.

>> SEE YOU OVER THERE.

>> MY WIFE AND I WERE UP HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO CELEBRATING OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

AND HAD HEARD ABOUT THE ZIP LINE CANOPY TOUR AND CHECKED INTO IT THEN AND IT WAS ALL BOOKED UP WITH RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE AND WE MADE THEM FOR TODAY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.

>> SO FAR WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S EVERYTHING THAT IT WAS TOUTED TO BE AND WE'VE DONE FOUR OF THE SEVEN.

>> HOW DID YOU ENJOY BEING KIND OF STUCK THERE FOR A WHILE?

>> WELL, THAT WAS INTERESTING.

I WAS GLAD THAT THESE GUYS KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

GET RESCUED OUT THERE.

I WOULDN'T BE STUCK ALL NIGHT IN THAT POSITION.

>> GREAT FUN.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN.

THE FIRST JUMP OFF WAS A LITTLE BIT FREAKY BUT AFTER THAT IT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL FUN, PERFECT DAY.

>> BY THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME YOU FEEL LIKE -- >> YEAH, I CAN DO THIS.

YEAH.

AND TO BE ON THIS LAST ONE IS FABULOUS, THOUGH.

>> IT'S A GREAT ENDING.

>> GREAT ENDING, YEAH.

GREAT GROUP, BY THE WAY.

VERY NICE.

>> FEEL SAFE WITH THEM.

>> YOU DO, VERY SAFE.

>> DEBBIE ZIPPING.

>> GO, GIRL!

>> WHOO-HOO!

>> YOU WORKED WITH THIS WHOLE BUNCH AND NOW YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GO DO IT.

>> AND NOW I CAN TELL EVERYBODY WHAT IT'S LIKE AND BE -- WITH EXPERIENCE.

INSTEAD OF SAYING IT'S GREAT.

I HAVEN'T DONE IT YET.

BECAUSE THEY ASK ME, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY ASK ME, HAVE YOU DONE IT NOW AND UP UNTIL NOW I'VE HAD TO SAY NO.

>> MIKE MILLS SAID BY GOLLY, YOU'RE GOING.

>> YOU'RE GOING, THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS GREAT, A LOT OF FUN, DID I FEEL VERY SAFE.

>> IT'S AN ADRENALINE RUSH, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> WHAT ARE WITH YOU GOING TO DO?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> PETER PAN?

TINKER BELL?

>> I DON'T KNOW, WE'LL SEE, PROBABLY NOTHING.

>> ZIPPING.

>> STACEY BEING THE THRILL-SEEKER THAT YOU ARE WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS EXCURSION?

>> I REALLY LIKED IT, I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND IT TO ALL MY FRIENDS, I CAN PROBABLY GET A PRETTY WILD BUNCH OUT HERE AND I'M DEFINITELY COMING BACK.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, I SUSPECTED YOU PROBABLY WOULD COME BACK.

>> I WAS THE GUINEA PIG FOR MY GROUP, I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL THEM IT WAS AWESOME, PERFECT DAY, THE GUYS WERE COOL, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.

GOOD TO HANG OUT WITH CHUCK DOVISH.

>> CHUCK ZIPPING.

O OOH YEAH.

>> THE THING I'VE ENJOYED THE MOST IS GETTING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE COMING IN FROM ST. LOUIS AND MEMPHIS AND WE HAD FOLKS FROM NEW ORLEANS YESTERDAY AND SO THEIR STORIES ARE GREAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL INTERESTED IN SEEING, YOU KNOW, THE BUFFALO RIVER VALLEY, IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

AND WE'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME DOING IT.

FLYING THROUGH THE TREES, BEING IN THIS GORGEOUS PLACE WITH FRIENDS IS GORGEOUS STUFF.

>> WHAT HAVE SOME OF THE COMMENTS BEEN IN THE PAST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH IT, SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT, ACCOMPLISHMENT, I GUESS?

>> YEAH, SURE.

THERE WERE FOLKS THAT WEREN'T SURE, MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SCARED AND THEY MADE IT THROUGH AND OUR VERY FIRST GROUP WE HAD A GRANDMA WHO WAS 76, I MEAN OUR VERY, VERY FIRST GROUP.

AND SHE SAID,"LET'S GO, LET'S GET IT GOING."

I SAID, WELL, ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

WE'VE HAD SOME GENERATIONAL.

WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, GRANDSON AND DAD AND GRANDPA AND THAT SORT OF THING.

IT'S KIND OF THING IS IT'S AN ADVENTURE AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO DO SOME SCARY STUFF BUT JUST ABOUT ANYBODY CAN DO IT.

>> AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO COSTA RICA ANYMORE.

>> NO, NO, RIGHT HERE IN ARKANSAS.

>> YOU MUST BE FROM AROUND HERE.

>> WHILE TROUNCING THROUGH THE WOODS IN A NATURAL STATE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MAY RUN INTO.

ELEPHANTS?

THAT'S RIGHT, ELEPHANTS.

JUST OUTSIDE OF GUY AT A REMARKABLE SANCTUARY.

RIDDLE'S ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IS DEAD INDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF ASIAN AND AFRICAN ELEPHANTS.

IT'S CURRENTLY THE ONLY FACILITY TO OFFER SANCTUARY TO ANY ELEPHANT IN NEED.

THIS ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IS LOCATED NEAR THE TOWN OF GUY OFF HIGHWAY 25.

330 ANGERS OF WOODS, FIELDS AND STREAMS PROVIDE A SAFE AND SPACIOUS SURROUNDING FOR THESE ELEPHANTS WHICH WERE GIVEN THE HOME HERE AT THE REQUEST OF VARIOUS ZOOS, CIRCUSES AND PRIVATE OWNERS.

>> WE CAME TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS IN 1989.

WE INCORPORATED A NONPROFIT SANCTUARY IN 1990.

AND WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT, ACTUALLY.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY, ANY SMALL NONPROFIT IS.

BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF CONSERVATION IN THE WILD WITH ELEPHANTS, NOT ONLY TAKING ELEPHANTS IN HERE THAT NEED A HOME, BUT ALSO EDUCATING ELEPHANT PEOPLE BY DOING SCHOOLS, BY HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE -- BACK UP, BACK UP.

>> SHE'S KIND OF CHECKING ME OUT.

>> YEAH, SHE'S SMELLING YOU.

AND ALSO HAVING THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR ELEPHANTS, PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF ELEPHANTS PROPERLY SO WE'VE ALWAYS MOVED FORWARD WITH OUR IDEAS AND ALSO IN TRYING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON SUPPLY TO THE ELEPHANT AND WHAT'S NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T DIS.

>> THE PLIGHT OF THE ELEPHANT IS PRETTY SERIOUS RIGHT NOW.

THE ASIAN ELEPHANTS ARE ON THE ENDANGERED LIST AND YOU SAID THE FROZEN ELEPHANTS MAY BE ON THAT LIST.

>> YEAH, ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS DROP IN NUMBERS AND THAT'S HAPPENING ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS.

THEY APPROXIMATE THAT THERE'S 30 TO 50,000 ASIANS LEFT, THAT'S IT.

ACTUALLY, FOR WHAT THEY ARE IS A LOW NUMBER.

THAT'S A VERY DANGEROUS NUMBER.

THEY THINK THERE'S CLOSE TO MAYBE 500,000 AFRICANS LEFT BUT IN THE 1980s, IN 10 YEARS, THEY LOST OVER 500,000 ELEPHANTS FROM POACHING SO THEY LOST HALF THEIR POPULATION IN ONE DECADE.

IF THAT HAPPENS AGAIN, THEY'RE GONE.

SO THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT IS THREATENED, THE ASIAN ELEPHANT'S ENDANGERED, IF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT'S DROPS IN NUMBER THEY'LL BE ON THE ENDANGERED LIST ALSO.

EVERYONE HAS TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO DO WHAT THEY CAN DO TO TO MAKE SURE THE ELEPHANTS DON'T LEAVE THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

IT WOULD BE A GREAT LOSS TO HUMANITY NOT TO HAVE THESE ELEPHANTS ANYMORE.

>> THESE ARE REMARKABLE CREATURES, THEY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, THEY HAVE A SPECIAL WAY -- TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> THEY CAN TALK BY CHEMICAL.

THEY CAN CHEMICALLY COMMUNICATE.

THEY COMMUNICATE BY TOUCH.

THEY CAN COMMUNICATE VOCALLY THAT WE CAN HEAR BUT THEY ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH INFRASOUND WHICH IS LOW PITCH SOUND THAT WE CANNOT HEAR BUT THEY CAN HEAR FROM AS MUCH AS 10 MILES AWAY.

DOLPHINS USE HIGH PITCH, ELEPHANTS USE LOW PITCH.

BECCA, BECCA.

>> PEOPLE CAN ADOPT A ELEPHANT.

>> YES, WE HAVE AN ADOPTION PROGRAM THAT HELPS RUN THE FARM AND TAKES CARE OF THE ELEPHANTS.

IT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE CARE OF THE ELEPHANTS, THE MONEY THAT PEOPLE USE TO ADOPT WITH.

AS DO ALL OF OUR FUNCTIONS AT THE SANCTUARY.

WE HAVE -- WHEN THE WEATHER PERMITS WE HAVE ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE WEEKENDS WHERE PEOPLE COME ON FRIDAY AND SPEND THE WEEKEND HERE AND GET TO INTERACT WITH THE ELEPHANTS A BIT AND LEAVE AROUND LUNCHTIME ON SUNDAY.

>> YOU HAVE AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM?

>> YES, WE HAVE AN INTERNSHIP WHERE PEOPLE COME IN FOR 30 DAYS AND GET TO WORK THEIRSELVES HALF TO DEATH AND TO BE AROUND THE ELEPHANTS A LITTLE BIT AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF THEM PROPERLY.

AND WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY, FROM COLLEGES AND MED SCHOOLS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

>> SPEAK, SPEAK.

>> AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO EXPERIENCE THE ELEPHANTS FIRSTHAND FOR YOURSELF VISITATION DAY IS THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH FROM 11:00 TO 3:00.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE ELEPHANTSANCTUARY.ORG ISN'T THAT RIGHT, BETTY BOOP?

YOU BETCHA.

>>> WHILE DRIVING DOWN SCENIC HIGHWAY 7 RECENTLY SOUTH OF HOLLIS THIS SIGN CAUGHT OUR EYE, LITTLE BEAR LAKE.

I REMEMBER READING STORIES ABOUT LITTLE BEAR TO MY KIDS FOR MANY A YEAR SO NATURALLY WE HAD TO STOP AND DO A LITTLE EXPLORING.

>> LITTLE BEAR LAKE IS ONE OF THREE LAKES WE VISITED IN THE SCENIC AREA.

THIS LAKE IS ALSO THE ONE THAT'S MOST EASILY ACCESSIBLE, BEING ONLY LESS THAN A MILE OFF HIGHWAY 7.

IN ALL, A TOTAL OF SIX LAKES WERE CONSTRUCTED FROM THE 1970s TO EARLY 1990s HERE IN THE EASTERN SECTION OF THE WASHATAW NATIONAL FOREST ALONG SCENIC HIGHWAY.

ALL WERE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE WATER HAD HE HAD AND FLOOD PREVENTION ACT.

, WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION ACT.

THE LAKES ARE MANAGED COOPERATIVELY BY THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND THE ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION.

ALTHOUGH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE FOR THE LAKES IS, OF COURSE, FLOOD CONTROL THEY ARE ALSO MANAGED FOR RECREATION AND FISHING.

PERIODICALLY, THE FOREST SERVICE CONDUCTS FISH SAMPLING AND THE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION DOES DO SOME STOCKING.

SO YOUR CHANCES USUALLY ARE PRETTY GOOD FOR CATCHING SOMETHING.

I SAY USUALLY ARE PRETTY GOOD, EXCEPT FOR THIS DAY.

ACTUALLY, THE OTHER TWO LAKES WE VISITED ARE KNOWN TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE FOR SPORTS FISHING.

WEST OF HOLLIS, OFF HIGHWAY 314, AFTER ABOUT FOUR-AND-A-HALF-MILES IS DRY FORK LAKE.

AT THE FAR END OF DRY FORK IS A STUMP FILLED AREA WHICH WOULD BE YOUR BEST BET FOR HAVING THE MOST LUCK, EXCEPT FOR MINE.

ALL I MANAGED TO GET WAS A SNAG.

ANYWAY, DRIVING RIGHT ALONG TO OUR THIRD LAKE, COVE CREEK IS ALSO ABOUT FOUR-AND-A-HALF-MILES DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD.

BOTH OF THESE LAKES, BY THE WAY, ARE ALSO MORE BOAT ACCESSIBLE.

MAYBE THAT WAS MY PROBLEM, I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT ALONG A BOAT.

TO PROVE THAT THERE ARE INDEED DECENT-SIZED FISH IN THESE LAKES WE NEED TO SHOW YOU A SHOT OF A BASS THAT WAS CAUGHT BY COVE CREEK LAKE BY FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEE DAVE SMITH.

GOOD JOB, DAVE.

YOU SAVED THE DAY.

BUT EVEN IF YOU DON'T CATCH ANYTHING THERE IS WILDLIFE.

SO HAPPENED THIS PARTICULAR DAY AN OSPREY DECIDED TO PUT ON A SHOW FOR US MAKING IT AN OUTING WELL WORTH TAKING.

AGAIN.

>> DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR OWN IN AN OLD WESTERN OUT THERE.

>> YEAH, WHEN THE HORSES STARTED TROTTING SO KIND OF FAST UP AND DOWN THE HILLS I DID FEEL LIKE I WAS ON A SHOW LIKE "BONANZA," SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT SO, YEAH, YEAH, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY EXCITING.

>> IT WAS GREAT.

I CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY WITH MY FAMILY.

AND I ENJOYED IT.

THE TOUR GUIDE WAS WONDERFUL.

THE SCENERY WAS BEAUTIFUL.

THE WEATHER.

EVERYTHING WAS JUST GREAT.

I WOULD DO IT AGAIN.

>> IT'S REALLY NICE, THOUGH, RIDING BY THE RIVER.

>> YES, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

>> WHAT I ENJOYED THE MOST WAS COMING HERE WITH MY FAMILY, YOU KNOW.

GOING OUT FOR MY AUNTIE'S BIRTHDAY.

THE EXPERIENCE WAS REAL NICE, YOU KNOW.

TO PARTS OF MAYFLOWER I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

RIDING A HORSE, IT WAS REALLY GREAT.

>> IT'S LIKE THERAPY.

>> REAL RELAXING.

WHAT SOME PEOPLE SHOULD DO ON A REGULAR BASIS.

GETTING OUT AND ABOUT, RIDING HORSES.

>> WE DON'T GO BY RESERVATIONS 90% OF THE TIME.

WE ALWAYS HAVE A GUIDE.

IF WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE WE'LL HAVE TWO TRAIL GUIDES, ANYTIME WE HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE.

WE WON'T TAKE THEM AT 5 BUT I'VE HAD THEM OUT HERE 95 YEARS OLD RIDING OK. AND THEN -- BUT IT'S -- THE PRICE DEPENDS ON HOW LONG YOU WANT TO RIDE AND IT TAKES AN HOUR -- MOST PEOPLE TAKE AN HOUR ROAD BEFORE THEY SAY THEY WANT TO TAKE A TWO-HOUR RIDE WHEN THEY SAY THE TWO-HOUR RIDE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW SORE THEY'LL BE.

MOST OF THE TIME THEY SAY I'LL TAKE THIS FIRST HOUR AND I'LL COME BACK ANOTHER TIME.

NOTHING HARD ABOUT THIS.

IT'S SCENIC ALONG THE FRINGE AND FALL.

ARKANSAS RIVER, CATTLE RANCH GET A TASTE OF ARKANSAS IN YOUR OWN YARD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PAY A DUDE RANCH $3,000 FOR THREE DAYS.

>> SKIP HOP AND AWAY.

>> CENTRALLY LOCATED IN ARKANSAS.

EASY TO BE HERE.

GIVE US A CALL, WE'RE IN THE PHONE BOOK AND WE'VE GOT TWO WEBSITES AND I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE BEST HORSES AROUND ARKANSAS AS FAR AS BEING GENTLE FOR BEGINNER RIDERS.

>> AND THOSE FOLKS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE YOU HAVE WESTERN COOKOUTS.

>> WE DO, THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A CUSTOM RIDE.

AND DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY WANT TO EAT, IF IT'S A STEAK IT'S NATURALLY GOING TO COST A LITTLE MORE AND IF IT'S -- WELL, WE DO A SUBMARINE SANDWICH IF THEY WANT, YOU KNOW, AND DO WHATEVER -- CUSTOMIZE WHAT THEY ASK FOR.

WE DON'T REALLY PEOPLE WANT TO COME OUT AND HAVE A PARTY WITH A LOT OF ALCOHOL UNLESS THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE THAT WITH ME.

I'M JUST KIDDING.

NO, WE DON'T WANT TO RIDE A HORSE WIPED OUT OUT HERE.

BUT YOU DO GET TO RIDE THROUGH A CATTLE RANCH AND THAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT AND THE BLUFFS OF THE RIVER.

I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT'S SCENIC OUT HERE.

>> YOU GET THE CITY SLICKERS FROM LITTLE ROCK TO COME AND EXPERIENCE A WESTERN -- >> CHICKENS ARE WELCOME.

BUT WE GO THROUGH A PRETRIP ORIENTATION.

WE WON'T JUST TURN YOU LOOSE AND SAY GOOD LUCK.

WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO RIDE THE HORSE, WE'LL ADJUST YOUR STIRRUPS, LIKE I SAY, EVERYBODY'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

SOME PEOPLE SAY I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RIDE A HORSE AND THIS ONE WOMAN RODE LIKE A PRO.

APPROXIMATE I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE WILD HORSES OUT HERE.

SO, YEAH, IT'S -- I GET ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE OUT HERE, I DO.

AND AS FAR AS MAJESTIC SCENERY I THINK ARKANSAS' GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

AND THIS IS A PRIVATE FARM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO GO BY A FOUR WHEELER AND STUFF LIKE MAYBE A NATIONAL PARK WOULD HAVE AND OTHER THAN THAT WHAT CAN I SAY?

>> NOT MUCH ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT TO ENJOY A WESTERN COOKOUT BY THE ARKANSAS RIVER AND THEN TAKE IN A MAGNIFICENT SUNSET CLOSING OUT A WILD WEST ADVENTURE-PACKED DAY.

>> SO HITCH YOURSELF UP AT CHIEF WIT HORSE RANCH MAYFLOWER FOR A WESTERN EXPERIENCE BY THE ARKANSAS RIVER.

FOR MORE ON THIS DESTINATION PLUS MANY OTHERS, CHECK OUT OUR VIEWERS OR ORDER A COPY OF AN EPISODE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AETN.ORG SLASH EXPLORINGARKANSAS.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU, AGAIN, NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE ON ""EXPLORING ARKANSAS"."