In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Sunday, 26 September 2021
We were up at 7 and it was hardly light out. Our plan was to be up at 6:30 but it was still pretty dark. And no movement in the other sites, so I felt we should be a good neighbor and wait.
Since we decided on McDonalds for breakfast, no need to heat water & make coffee. Gary gets a cart a takes the first load while I pack up the bivy gear: pads & sleeping bags & the bivy sacks all seem slightly damp but they will be ok for a day and night in the truck. I am still my PJs and plan to change in the restroom once we have cleared the site.
The truck is loaded, I am changed and we are on our way. First a quick stop at McDonalds for breakfast and coffee then on to Loma, arriving there around 7:45. Lynda & Elaine are already there. Since most everyone is in a solo boat (inflatable kayaks, aka IKs), the plan is for everyone to pack, and then we will do the shuttle. Early on, folks mention Camilla is up in the parking area. We are in process, so Lynda goes up and brings her and her gear down. Char and Tom have arrived.
Next step is the shuttle. Camilla will leave her car here. Elaine will be the return driver. Arrangements are made to get Camiila and Elaine and their gear back to the put in. In the meantime, Kathryn and Chet have arrived with their dory. Janet M is with them as well as Louise and a few others are there so we spend a few minutes catching up.
Folks arrive back from the shuttle and final packing is complete and we are on the water at about 11. Once on the water, I see a canyon on the south side and expect it is Rattlesnake. Turns out, I am wrong. And the map does not show any other named canyons.
After an hour we do pass by Rattlesnake Canyon. There is a post, a large rock and cottonwood trees. The earlier canyon had none of these.
Next is Bull Canyon.
It is pleasant being among the sandstone cliffs. The river is easy though here, though there are low spots. We stop for lunch. We pass the Cottonwood Campsites on river left. Before long the train tracks come in on river right, so Salt Creek must be nearby. But, Salt Creek comes in above the tracks so we missed it. I wonder if it is dry but on the way back I see it does have water so there must have been an active flow.
At this point, I think we are halfway to Mee Corner and we meander down the river. The IK's mostly have skegs, but the skegs are not retractable. A couple of times they are hung up in the shallower spots and the boaters simply got out and relaunch in deeper water. The flow at 2600 is not significant so this is easy to do.
It is approximately 4 PM and we cannot be too far from Mee Corner, our campsite for the night. The map shows islands, my contention is we need to be on the left side of the river, thus left of all the islands. But we approach another island, I stick to its right as it seems like the left is too narrow. Hopefully I will not come out below Mee Corner. As I look ahead, I still do not see a break in the steep wall on the south side. And Mee Corner is at the top of Mee Canyon area, so there should be a break in the wall as well as some trees, so I take my chances and travel down the right.
At the end on the island, on river left there is still a rock wall and not trees so more paddling and I stick to the left side. But then, out of nowhere, I see the tops of cottonwoods. I continue to paddle along slowly and suddenly there is a rock shore. And a sign for MEE CORNER ! We are here! Everyone pulls up, gets out, and check out the site. It is nice with lots of trees. Gary finds a flat spot not far from shore and the others scatter around. We pick a spot close to the landing for a group kitchen and we set up the noah’s tarp which adds some shade. It's a little buggy here, no mosquitos, just those itty-bitty flies. We do have a slight breeze which helps keep them at bay.
We unload, bring gear up, set up the tent. Then sit , have a beer, share horderves. It is a nice time, continuing to get to know people.
Ruby Horsethief, Colorado River
24 September 2021 to 26 September 2021
Saturday, 25 September 2021
Another outing, this time a padding trip on the Colorado River thru Ruby Horsethief Canyon. We have done this route in the past, maybe a half dozen times or so but not recently. The last time was four years ago with Wes and Lori and Steve M.
Gary stayed at my place last night. We slept a bit late this morning, maybe till 8:00 or 8:30 (I still do not have the get up early in retirement going yet, but I do like being fully awake when I get up). Not much to do to get ready, just made the bed, take a shower, stretch, check emails. Gary makes himself a wrap for breakfast. With much indecision, I decide on the leftover quiche in the freezer plus an apple, both which will be eaten on the way.
We load the truck. I make one last check and we are on our way. First stop is to get gas and the next is Whole Foods for sushi. I note they have someone at the door giving out masks. First time I've seen that in a while.
We are on our way. It's about 11 AM as we head towards Boulder on the Diagonal, across 30th and south on CO 93. There is lots of traffic going into Golden and many cars are lined up to take a left into Golden Gate Canyon, so perhaps there is an event going on. It is National Parks Day (free admission to the Park). And I did read that this weekend is prime viewing for leaf peeping.
We continue to C-470, then west on I-70. There is heavy traffic going up that first hill from the Morrison Exit, not that unusual for a Saturday. The traffic is stop & go approaching Floyd Hill, also not unusual for a Saturday. We continue heading downhill into the Hidden Valley area. The new toll lane is open, starting just before the new tunnel just east of Idaho Springs. But by this time, the traffic has thinned out. But there are still lots of cars all the way to the tunnel, down into Silverthorne and Frisco and to Vail and beyond. But no traffic slowdowns.
This is our first excursion thru Glenwood Canyon since the flash floods earlier in the summer. There are many scarred areas on both the north and south side of the road. The drive is uneventful and we arrive in Grand Junction at about 4:30 and gas up as usual at Road 22 and head to the State Park at Fruita, site 55T in the tent only area.
I chose this site to save myself 10 bucks but now I wonder if it's worth it since it requires 3 hauls of gear to the site which is not that far but does take effort. Plus, we were planning to bivy, and the site is not that private. We set up the bivy, have a beer, and write in our journals. I take a couple of photos. It’s still pretty light for 6.30 so I think we'll eat at about 7. There are a couple of house finches in a nearby tree. The first "birding" I've done in a while.
Now it’s time to such eat! Sushi from Whole Foods which as always is good. Next is cocktails. One is enough!
I can hear birds over the little lake by our site but I cannot pick out any in my binoculars. It’s 7:15 and just starting to get dark. The sun has dropped behind the ridge and the light sky is reflected in the pond lake. The crickets sing. There are a few bugs but not bad.
Monday, 27 September 2021
We get up about 7 or so and it seems like the others are stirring. And it doesn't seems to be as chilly as yesterday. Coffee gets made, as does my mashed potato breakfast; Gary has eggs & spam. Everyone packs up and we are off at about 10 AM.
First we pass Mee Canyon proper, then take the right hand branch around the next island just below Mee and from past trips I remember good sized standing waves. I am traveling across the waves. At this level, there are clearly rocks just below the surface. I hit a couple but stay upright. But the funniest thing: there appears to be something large and dark moving upstream! Logic says no, there is nothing that big in this river. I believe what I saw were a couple of big rocks that I floated by downstream faster than I realized, giving the illusion that they were moving.
Enough adventure for one day and we haven't even gotten to Black Rocks! About 45 minutes from our starting time, there are some tell-tale black gneiss rocks along the side and I realize we are there, at Black Rocks. I was hopeful that we had a ways yet to go, but here we are!
First there are standing waves, big enough to break over my cockpit. Later I realize I had taken on water, but no adventures maneuvering thru. Closer to Black Rocks proper, I see the big rock in river center to avoid but go a little too far left and am hitting bottom. Not confidence inspiring, but manage move back into the main stream. Am I done? Is this it? No, more rapids ahead, and I take the tongue and feel like I hardly miss another set of big rocks. Then there is the swirly section. Then another rapid. There into the calm waters of the lower rock section. I am relieved. Everyone comes thru without incident.
Now finally I relax and start enjoying the trip. Next is McDonald & Knowles Canyon then May Flat. Then on the north wall we see “UTAH COLORADO" in white letters. The winds come up and down but not too bad so far. I keep an eye out for wild turkeys but see none.
At this point we stay right of most islands. There is one we have paddled on the left negotiate some narrows but we bypass that today. I wonder if there is even enough water today to go that way. Now the railroad turns away from the river, a telltale sign that we are getting close to the Westwater takeout, and there is a ranch operation on the south. Then, the glitter of metal on river right. We continue down and before long see cars in the main parking area.
We pull up, sneak in among the rafts. Everyone joins in and we do 4-person carries of all the beats up beyond the ramp.
Good trip! Good River! Good weather! Good People!
Note: Turns out, we lucked out on the timing of this trip. The next few days brought a hugh storm to the Grand Junction area and the flow popped up to 5200 cfs! The highest I ever paddled this stretch was about 4500, which 'washed out' the rapid at Black Rock. But I was paddling rivers alot more at the time, so it may have been perception.