16th April Moab to south of Potash 17 miles
Our plan from here was to hire two sea kayaks in Moab and paddle down the Colorado River from just outside the town where we walked past yesterday. Loaded with 9 days of food we intended to paddle for 70 miles or so, have the kayaks picked up for us and returned to Moab whilst we shoulder our backpacks and hike on for another 65 miles through Canyonlands National Park before reaching a road.
National Park inspection before we set off |
We are off! |
Our schedule gave us plenty of time so we stopped at midday to hike up to Corona Arch. The shore was made up of deep silty mud and we already become caked in it! We passed a canoeist on this first day and a motorized tour boat came up river but that was all the river traffic we see. Later on we see Potash Mine but soon float by in our own world.
We found ourselves an idyllic sand flat to hitch up the kayaks and set up camp for the evening. What a great day!
First river camp by the Colorado |
And so we followed the meandering river for another day underneath red and pink and orange and maroon walls and towers, camping on sandbars and ledges. The unexpected things were 1) the deep incredibly sticky mud and 2) the number of beavers and Canada geese we encountered!
Today we crossed into Canyonlands National Park and the water levels dropped along with the water flow rate- probably settling after the rain a few days ago.
2nd sandbank island campsite |
A slow start today as we had plenty of time. Martina paddled into the inlet again to collect some fresh drinking water to save us cleaning the silty Colorado River water. It was cool first thing but the cloud overhead soon dispersed to give hot conditions again. The dreamlike meandering down the river continued until we stop at midday at Rustler Canyon on a steep mudslope. Behind the thick tamarisk though there was a cleared area for camping and we met a family there paddling with their children- what an adventure!
We hike up Rustler Canyon to a scenic waterfall and pools and manage a dip in lovely cold water. Further upstream the Hayduke trail crosses Rustler Canyon.
Rustler Canyon |
Petroglyph panel |
Camp 3 above the river |
There was rain overnight but otherwise we had a very comfortable camp in a dramatic spot with no-one else around. In the morning we hiked up to the narrow neck between the loop of the Colorado river in a unique spot.
After a bit of ferrying the gear down to the mud take off point, we float off again in a very still, gently flowing river.
Brian spotted a beaver at close quarters swimming near a sandbank. We guess the river is too powerful for dams so we think they stay in burrows in the river banks instead.
Later the clouds break up and the sun pokes out so we 'raft up' to remove our fleeces before paddling on to 'the slide'. This is an area of small rapids which we were a bit unsure about! Its a narrowing of the river caused by a rock slide and we knew we were nearing it as a dull roar rather intimidatingly got louder and louder. It was short though and we were soon through but the eddies afterwards swept us round off to the side before we both managed to take control again and paddle on.
The confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers is an iconic landmark which we passed by quickly before settling onto a sand bank for some lunch.
We had three miles now of faster flowing water down to 'Spanish Bottom', an open area of the canyon where we had pre-arranged for the kayaks to be picked up by a tourist boat the next day. We both agreed we will be sad to leave the river- it has been sublime! Just beyond 'Spanish Bottom' the canyon narrows and the river plummets into a series of rapids- 'Cataract Canyon', a no-go area for us!
At Spanish Bottom |
Approaching the rapids |
Tomorrow the boat hire company will picked up the kayaks and we will shoulder our packs and continued on foot, taking as our drinking water some of the Colorado (and its silt).
Desert bloom |
We used Alum to sort the sediment out of the silty Colorado River water for drinking |
Raven looks on |
Great photos guys. That water sure looks muddy!
ReplyDeleteLooks magic!
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