Rafting the Colorado River in SE Utah
Trip duration: September, 2009 - October, 2009
Posted by Joe
Locale:
It was supposed to be a relaxing float down the Colorado River, "the laziest part of our vacation", I promised.
And it started that way, our duckies floating lazily down the green Colorado, allowing us to expore side canyons and the spectacular scenery. We found bear and cougar tracks in one slot canyon.
But then the winds started blowing - hard, gusts that take your breathe away - and the "float" became an all-out battle with the wind to make progress, even downriver. Jake fell out of the ducky when he tried to keep the wind from taking his paddle, Trevor couldn't catch his breathe in the wind, and mommy hypervenilated thru the last rapid; we didn't make camp until sundown, whereupon Trevor and Jake kissed the ground.
But dinner was fantastic, grilled chicken and pasta and smores, and our beachfront campsite was a picture perfect slice of heaven. We watched the full moon rise over the river, and then tired from our unexpected adventure, we retired early.
And then the storms rolled in overnight. First the gusty winds ripped the fly off the tent, and it quickly filled with sand. After securing the fly and battening down the hatches, the lightning and rain moved in. The lightning was spectacular to watch, and we were very safe at the bottom of the canyon, protected by the high cliffs above that absorb the lightning strikes.
The weather seemed to be breaking, enough to enjoy a great breakfast of eggs and muffins and bacon, and of course cowboy coffee. We decided to try to make it 5 miles down to Rocky Rapid, instead of out planned 13 mile trip. But of course another round of storms rolled in, this one complete with pea-sized hail.
Our guides ruled out the duckies in this wind, and all 6 of us plus all our gear piled high into the big raft. For the first mile we made steady, albeit slow, downriver progress. Deb even took a turn at the oars, steering the bulky craft for about a 1/2 hour, even thru one set of rapids.
But then the wind returned, this time with a vengenance. Gusts reported at 60 miles per hour slammed us; Trevor was terrified as the wind snatched his breathe, and the normally calm sections of the river roiled with 4-foot wind-driven swells that crashed coldly over us. Our downriver progress slowed and then reversed, despite Ian's (our lead guide) heroic efforts to paddle against the wind. Just when all seemed hopeless, some friend's of Ian's appeared in a motorized raft! They pushed us the remaining few miles down to Rocky Rapid - we'd have never made it without their motor.
The last few miles were not without their challenges, though, as flash floods from the storms turned to Colorado river red, and we spun in the wind and the rapids. When we did finally make landfall, Deb and the boys had to take shelter in a pit toilet to avoid the sandstorm that was now sandblasting us with sustained gusts that would knock you over if you weren't prepared!
Obviously, we all survived, Jake and I thrilled at the adventure, Debbie proud of overcoming her fear and doing a great job paddling hard. But Trevor told me he's never going on vacation with me again! Can't say I blame him!!!