[Paddlewise] Trip Report-Utah

Desolation/Gray's Canyons- Utah

Two weeks ago I did the 95 mile wilderness trip on the Green river
through Desolation and Gray's canyons in eastern Utah.  My 2 sons, my
son-in-law and I comprised our sub-group and paddled 2 WW kayaks, a solo
WW canoe and rowed a 16' cataraft.  The river has up to Class 3+ rapids
with long stretches of flatwater.  I was longing for my sea kayak on the
latter.  The ranger at the put-in told us an interesting story. A couple
of weeks earlier two people tried to run the river in 2 sea kayaks.  She
said they were beautiful wood boats- so I assume that they were
homemade.  They got so badly worked in the rapids that they abandoned
their trip and got a ride out on a commercial raft- leaving their boats
behind.  The ranger said that she had to haul them out latter- one was
badly damaged.  I paddled the solo canoe most of the time and made it
thru without flipping- but was close several times.  I was considering
the feasibility of running it in my CD Caribou as I proceeded down.  The
most trouble would probably occur in the numerous areas where the river
follows long bends and smashes into vertical rock walls, some of which
are undercut.  There are also typically rock protrusions at places along
the walls.  I could picture the long tip of a sea kayak hitting the
walls as the current forces the cockpit toward the edge.  There is also
a fair amount of rock dodging required at times and numerous sleepers. 
The water is typical of a high desert river- milk chocolate color from
suspended sand particles which makes current reading critical- you can't
see down even 1" into the water.  I decided that a sea kayak is not the
boat I would choose for this trip.  Even a plastic boat, which would
slide over most rocks with minimal damage would still have trouble on
the walls.  The standing waves would present no major problem- as long
as you have a decent roll- but the lack of precise, fast maneuverability
and the length of the boat would present real difficulties in certain
areas.  I don't know where the kayakers encountered their worst
troubles- but at least they got out alive and got their boats back. 
Another observation that came to me on the trip was the fundamental
similarities between solo canoe paddling, WW kayaking and sea kayaking. 
I employed some of the techniques recently discussed in Paddlewise- i.e.
pushing on the foot peg of the paddle stroke, and found them to the
effective in a WW playboat.  I also rigged my deck mount compass from my
SK on the cataraft and enjoyed not having to fumble around with my
orienteering compass to follow the direction of the canyon turns. BTW-
the lower Green from the town of Green River to Mineral Bottom (about 75
miles) is ideal for sea kayakers who want a wilderness river
experience.  It is flat water with slow to moderate current depending on
the flow and goes through some fantastic canyon scenery the last 50
miles.  No permit is required-  it has no whitewater and doesn't attract
the comercial outfitters.  Fall or early spring are the best times to
avoid the worst heat.  You need to carry your water or else do an
overnight settle/pump routine- there is virtually no clear water on the
trip.  Also- if you are a flatlander- be prepared for a Class 3 shuttle
drive down the switchbacks at Mineral Bottom.  My brother from
Pennsylvania almost had cardiac arrest when he had to ride it!

Walt Chudleigh
Park City, Utah
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************