We just finished up the Powell to Powell leg of our journey at Hite, UT, after running Cataract Canyon. After about 43 days, we have completed paddling the length of the upper Colorado River. Stay tuned for a more detailed write-up of the last part of the journey; for now, here are a few photos.
This pretty much sums up rafting.
Evening light downstream of Moab, UT.
White stripe in Cataract Canyon.
Hackysack high above the river, at The Loop.
The Doll’s House, Cataract Canyon.
Big Drop #3 in Cataract Canyon.
The team at Hite, UT, with Lake Powell in the background. Photo by Brendan Boepple.
Desert plains near Hanksville, UT
David paddles a fish ladder/diversion dam upstream from Grand Junction, CO.
Will stands at the last in a series of diversions before the “15 miles reach” between Pallisade and Grand Junction, CO. The 15 mile reach is a section of river that is nearly dewatered to irrigate crops in the Grand Valley. Most of the water returns to the river by seeping through the ground or by flowing all the way through the irrigation ditches. We began the day with approximately 2700 CFS. Only 400 cfs remained for the 15 mile reach.
Sunset in Ruby Horsetheif, just downstream from Fruita, CO. A park ranger informed us that this section of river sees 25,000 visitors each year.
The crew paddles through the rapids of Westwater Canyon, UT. This is the first long stretch of river away from roads and railroads since Rocky Mountain National Park.
Lightning illuminates the clouds and canyon walls in Westwater.
Floating through the flat water on a hot day.
Hiding out in the shade of our sweet wing on day 2 of Westwater. We discussed the Colorado Plateau with author Steve Trimble, left.
Mike White joined us to float from Westwater to the Dolores Confluence. Mike works with the Southwest Conservation Corps to coordinate wilderness work crews that remove invasive tamarisk trees along the Dolores river. Behind him you can see an entire bank of defoliated tamarisk.
We were greeted with beautiful afternoon light on the canyon walls as we approached the Canyons near Moab, Utah.
