In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Glendo To Guernsey
04 August 2012
North Platte River from below Glendo Dam to the Wendover train crossing just above Guernsey Reservoir
My maiden voyage of this run, which has been on the list since my memories of boating upstream from Guernsey Reservoir with Warren and Kari many years ago and that photo that Rod S., my instructor at LCCC, had of himself and a buddy canoeing this route.
A tough drive from Lyons on Friday, reminiscent of memorial day drive back from Green River with all the highway signs touting wind gusts of 35+ mph.
Despite the forecast for today of winds less than 10 mph I was sure we were facing a replay of memorial day and it would end up being too windy to paddle but we were lucky as the winds calmed sometime after midnight and we awoke to clear skies at 6 AM
After a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, ham, cheese and peppers, compliments of Gary, sandwiches were made, the car packed and we were all at the put-in before the 7:30 agreed upon time.
Boats were deposited and the drivers began the began the shuttle to Wendover, some 50 miles away. Like clockwork, 2 hours later, 2 cars reappear and after a short safety talk we were underway.
What a wonderful river! At the put-in, the current moved right along (at 5100 cfs) but the way was wide and clear with no funny swirls: yes, my kind of river!
The description called for a rapid about 10 minutes into the trip and there it was: At this level it was straightforward and really quite mild.
The scenery: We were in a canyon of pine and junipers which varied to include low-lying fields and some deciduous trees.
There were lots of twists and turns and a sprinkling of islands. We kept to the lines where we could see our way through Gary and others explored various side channels and all were fine.
A wonderful group of 8 boats and 11 people: 3 sea kayaks, 1 white water kayak and 4 canoes, including one solo. Everyone stayed together, a most pleasing group.
We passed “lunch island” since we’d hardly been on the river for 45 minutes but soon spied a picnic table with 2 grills on river right, decided that was the ‘lunch place’ and headed that way. Gary had settled on a log that I noted some had carved rectangles into – as we were finishing up, Kerry Adams referred to ‘the alligator’ and noted there were teeth carved into it, a la Seymour Lipton, so photos were in order.,
Now back on the water. At 5100, we really just floated along, with just a few strokes added here and there.
More junipers, more pines, more canyon walls which became high and reminiscent of Utah except that their composition seemed to be of a material much softer and lighter and grayer in color. Another similarity is the trains running upstream empty and downstream full of coal, perhaps heading to the power plant we spied south of Guernsey.
Now we make a very sharp left hand turn: This must be the spot where Ron H mentioned a large river-wide whirlpool: The current flowed to the far side on river right with a huge eddy on river left. Across the river, up on the hill, was evidence of the recent burn.
We turn and continue downstream. I wonder where the haystacks as we enter a different kind of canyon, much higher though of a composition similar to what we’ve seen all along. Ahead I see Kerry Adams has stopped and as I get near, there is the roar of water in the distance so we must be approaching the haystacks. The canoeists get out and try to observe the route. I stay in, preferring to try and find a route as we approach (slowly). The canoeists follow Kerry and Andrea follows Gary. Jud seems to have disappeared and I hope all is well.
I hear Gary say someone is swimming. I focus on following the tongue, turning right then look up. Gary is in the eddy on river left. This is not what I expected, the waves are pretty high, not very wide: Not the river-wide south-canyonesque river wide bumps I imagined.
I turn into the eddy, a few seconds too late but manage to stay up. Now I am being pulled back upstream and really work hard to move downstream, finally getting up enough of a head of steam to overcome the eddy and catch up with the others. Jud’s boat is on the bank and he is draining it. Steve is on the side of the river; not sure where Mary Jo is but then she appears behind one of the canoes and others are draining their boat.
All is well. The water is cool but not cold and none of the swimmers appear to be chilled.
Andrea and Greg and Fred all take another pass as does Jud. Then another. After a bit, we all head downstream.
More canyons, more pines, more junipers, more railroad tracks.
The river widens and slows just a bit and I get the sense we are nearing the end. Up ahead, Kerry and Pauline are pulling out with others lined up behind them. Its around 3:30. I head toward the others, sad that the trip is over. We pull boats up, get cars, load up.
What a cool route and I hope to be back!