In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Colorado River, Ruby Horsethief Canyon
September 2009
We did this trip in only 1 overnight this year, out of character for us since we’ve been trying to take at least 2 nights the last few years.
Planning for the trip starts 4 – 6 weeks before: Whose going? Who isn’t? Can we get time off work? Are there camping spaces at the state park in Fruita for the night before launching?
We’ve done this trip a number of different ways: Last year, for the first time, we launched from the boat ramp at the state park in Fruita (as opposed to the boat launch at Loma) and are definitely sold on the state park as we are able to get on the river quicker and with most people camped there, it makes trip logistics easier.
About 2 years ago, we started to stay in the trailer section of the Fruita Campground which seems to have less light coming from the warehouses close by. Plus, as the host pointed out, if we had a coffee pot or microwave, we’d be in fine shape.
So here we are, arriving at the campground in Fruita at about 6 PM. The rest of our party was already there: Lou Ann and David Hustveld, folks we know from the Rocky Mountain Sea Kayak Club and Karen Moldenhauer, a friend from white water kayaking.
We had 2 sites, across from one another. We hurry and setup the tent, then go over to figure out the shuttle.
We already decided that Karen’s car should be at the takeout since she had rental gear that needed to be back at Rimrock by 4:30 PM on Sunday. So she and I headed to Westwater, Utah exiting at the first Utah exit then down the road toward the Westwater Ranger Station. From years past, I remember this being a really long drive on a gravel road but the road is actually paved and there are many potholes. The drive from the exit to the ranger station is about 20 minutes; from Fruita to the exit about 20 minutes so about 90 minutes round trip.
It was just getting dark as we get back on the highway and head back to Fruita. On the way, we stop at the Loma Boat Ramp and sign up for a camping spot. To my chagrin, Knowles 1 is taken! We sign up for Black Rocks 2.
Back at camp we gather and head to Rib City for supper. We get there at 8:45, just in time to be seated. As last year, the food was good as was the service. Then back to camp and turning in for the night. I sleep soundly.
The weather forecast for this weekend is warm and sunny and so far this is the case and not at all windy.
We are up in the morning at 7 AM. Now the microwave and electric coffee pot come in handy. We nuked our breakfast burritos and I have fresh perked coffee. David is quite taken with the microwave and takes photos for the record. Then we are packing up and figuring out the logistics for the launch. We decide to take our boats over to the launch site, drop them and our gear off and then come back to get Karen’s boat and gear. Gary stays with the gear and starts packing his boat while I drive back and get Karen. By this time, David and Lou Ann are at the launch area as well.
Finally I am at the launch area, madly packing. At a certain point, no matter the trip nor how much I planned, I always get frantic and disorganized. Today is no different. No sooner am I packing and I am frantic and disorganized. But slowly it all comes together: food for lunch, tent/sleeping bag & pad / clothes for tonight; stove and food for supper; food for morning; rain gear.
I did not mention that the canoe club is doing the same run this weekend so we say hello to Bill and Kathy Ashworth. On a side note, I keep thinking that I want to give canoeing a try and eye the ease which they seem to be loading: just stuff everything in a big dry bag and load it into the boat.
Finally I am on the water and suddenly the world rights itself. It is 9:45, 45 minutes later than our planned starting time of 9:00 AM. But I am on the water, the sun is shining, it is warm and there is no wind. The flow is higher this year – just above 4,000 – and I am eager to get on the water and check out the flow. I paddle out of the big eddy at the launch, float down a bit, get into a little eddy and am determined to ferry across. Well, not only am I ferrying across but I am also paddling upstream with hardly any effort! The river is quite flat here so perhaps one would expect to paddle upstream but I have not had many upstream paddling experiences, so needless to say, I am delighted. I pull back into the launch eddy.
At this point, our group is ready to push off. The time is 10 AM, not a bad starting time. The sun is shining. There is a slight breeze which I hope does not pick up.
We all turn downstream. The stretch from Fruita to Loma is uneventful. In the past I have looked down my nose at it due to the closeness of the freeway…but today I like it, it gets us off to an easy start, time to fiddle with gear, adjustments and to warm up. Plus I know that when I am driving, I do like looking over and seeing people and boats on the river.
The terrain in this section is low, covered in grass and brush with some trees but not many. One thing it does not have is wide open views…but this is a canyon trip.
We stop briefly at the Loma Boat Ramp. Gary jumps out and crosses our name off the Knowles 2 campsite for Saturday as we decided to go for Black Rocks.
Now we are at the start of the canyon, beyond the interstate, beyond the paved roads though at Salt Creek the train enters the canyon and closer to Westwater we have seen 4-wheel type vehicles but by and large this area is motor-less, one of the reasons we keep coming back, year after year.
The day continues to be warm and sunny with a light breeze so all signs are encouraging. As a group, we spread out but still keep fairly close and I paddle a little with everyone. Soon we approach Rattlesnake Canyon on the south side of the river. Somewhere up there are the rattlesnake arches; I am pretty sure there is a rattlesnake petroglyph at the mouth of this canyon but I do not start looking for it until it is too late and cannot get close enough to the south side to actually see it.
Next on the south side is Bull Canyon but if memory serves me, it is more an alcove than a canyon. I am enthralled by the red of the canyon, how close yet how remote. The thought that is would be hard for anyone to find me right at this moment is intriguing…the same thought I often have when out for a walk or run.
We continue down river, paddling, floating, staying together then floating apart. It seem like in no time we pass the Cottonwood campground. Then Mee. Then we are at Blackrock and unloading.
Next morning we up up and on our way. Seems like the flow is about 4400 and the rapid is pretty washed out. Not a bad deal.