​​In The Shadow of Longs Peak

Flaming Gorge

03 July 2021 – 05 July 2021 

Another 4th of July outing to Flaming Gorge.  This year’s adventure is to put in at the Brinegar Launch, paddle down and camp north of Anvil to watch the fireworks then southward, first stopping just past Antelope Flat, then on to  King Fisher Island and Hideout Boat Camp Area finding a place to camp in that area, on to the Jarvis boat camp, spending a night in that area and out at the dam where my car will be parked.

Saturday, 03 July 2021

Gary headed out a bit earlier with a plan to wait for me at Ted’s Place, just north of Ft. Collins at the intersection of Highway 287 & 14, the entrance to Poudre Canyon.  I left my house at 10:15 heading north on 75th thru Ft Collins to Ted;s Place.  From there, we continued north on US 287, with the next stop being the boat inspection station on the south side of Laramie.  We get our paperwork, then on to I-80 west, with the next planned stop being the Flying J truck stop just past Rawlins. 

Then on to Rock Springs and US 191 south which runs on the East Side of Flaming Gorge Reservoir.  This is an amazing landscape, deep, dry canyons red and tan.  An interesting note is that we also drive thru stands of juniper and pinon so we must be a bit higher but the covered hillsides seem to be east facing, so not in the path of the hot afternoon sun. 

Our first destination is the marina area near the dam where we will leave my car in the overnight parking lot.  I park, being sure there are boat straps for the trips end copies of the Utah Aquatic Species Permits on the dashboard, as well as my parks pass hanging from the mirror.  Everything is set and I join Gary in the truck and we head to the Brinegar Launch with a quick stop at the intersection of the road to the Anvil Launch for a 2nd Wyoming boat inspection.  Since we have already done this once, the attendant only needs to review our paperwork then sends us on our way.

We arrive at Brinegar around 7 PM, so 90 minutes from the dam.  Our camping spot for the evening is along a spur road to the south and we pull into a previously used pull out.  The wind was up a bit so we pull the truck cross-wise to it, set up the chairs and enjoy a beer before supper which were leftovers:  salad, chicken and quesadillas.  A cocktail for desert.  Then set up the bivy. 

I am not sure what time we turned in.  There were lots of stars out overnight, my favorite part of bivy’s.  And even better, no rain.

Sunday, 04 July 2021
I think it was close to 7:45 before we got up.  I work at making coffee and then packing up. 

A difference this time is that I did not bring the old north face sleeping bag, instead using the down bag, same one as for boat camping, as its one less thing to pack.  This morning both it and the bivy sack were damp on the inside but dried out quickly. 

We finish packing up and drive down to the boat launch, unload the boats and gear, and pack the boats and we were underway by 10:30 am. The winds were light, but it was very hot, above 90 though it did not seem too bad once we were on the water. 

By 12:30, we were at our destination, except it was occupied so we continued a bit further into a cove between 2 rock outcroppings which was quite nice and the rock outcroppings prevented easy approach by road so it was quite private. 

We setup the tent and camping gear then put up the Noah’s Tarp, but it was quite windy, so we ended up stashing it.  The afternoon storms brought enough rain to put on a rain jacket and I was wishing my rain pants were handy.  These I did get out once the storm passed to keep the hot sun off my legs.

It was not much fun hanging out in the hot sun waiting for the fireworks.  If we do this outing again, we should put in at Buckboard Marina, more time on the water, less time sitting.

I was wondering if there would be any fireworks, given how dry everything is.  But there were fireworks and they were fun to watch.  The rock outcroppings of the cove we blocked the view to the north so we could only see across the lake to the Anvil area and south.   We could hear fireworks to the north but could not see any. 

I crawl into the tent about 10:30 or so.  It would have been nice to bivy and continue to watch the explosions, but I ended up falling asleep right away.

The next morning, I wake up feeling ill and lethargic, so we break camp, head back to Brinegar, back to the dam to get my car and head home.

In retrospect, I decide I am dehydrated, beginning with the day before.  Since we have the Teton Trip coming up I decide to be sure I hydrate well on the trip up and see if that makes a difference.