Green River Deso-Gray

The map shows Desolation and Gray Canyons sections of the Green river in Utah. We floated from north to south ending just north of Green River, Utah.

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Bill Rivers and I visited numerous petroglyphs site in Nine Mile Canyon including the Great Hunt panel. Then we drove north to Myron where we filled up the cooler with ice and had dinner at the Hideaway Steakhouse. With full bellies and a full ice chest of ice we headed southeast to Sandwash boat launch about one hour and fifteen minutes. There we joined up with the other’s on the float trip: Russ and his wife Carol, Claire and her husband Dave, Lindsey and his nephew Andy, and Bill and his buddy Burt. Russ, the trip organizer and permit holder, knows Claire, Bill, Bill Rivers, and Lindsey. He just me and Andy.

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We rose at 6AM. Bill and I had coffee and breakfast before heading down to the river. I pulled alongside Russ’s truck and trailer. He was progressing rigging his 16 foot raft. I had inflated my raft when Claire shared that there is another ramp not as muddy and encouraged Russ and I to float our boats down river to that location and load there. We could see other groups at our current ramp location had removed their shoes to traverse the 15 feet of 8 inch mud from the dry shore out to the boats. The boats would be to heavy for us to load them on dry dusty land and then move them to the water. So we decided to do as Claire suggested and float the inflated boats while transporting the gear on Russ’s trailer to the other ramp. Even my empty raft took three of us to move it across the mud zone to the river. Russ’s goal had been to launch at 10AM. We pushed off at 10:30AM. It took me much longer to rig the boat than I expected because of the time to rig the three gear bags and the mud. Bill also had problems with a new harness system on his boat that I helped him with. The float to our first campsite was mostly flat water with one long ripple section. Claire wanted to do a short hike up a side Canyon along the way. It was narrow with friable shale vertical walls. We encountered two barn owls. Burt pointed out two Big Horn sheep. The male had a beautiful rack. We didn’t stop for lunch so I snacked along the way. Bill paddled the raft for a spell with his canoe being towed. Our campsite is tucked in a small alcove surrounded by cliffs. There are some trees and other shrubs with at least nine campsites. Claire and Dave provided a delicious meal of curry lamb and curry chicken. About half the group headed to bed by 9PM.

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I was awakened to a couple making love in their tent. This day was mostly about rowing steadily on flat water. The campsite was wonderful with acres of sand and cottonwood trees. A couple of mule deer dined near us seemingly oblivious to our presence. I was introduced to a ball game before it was interrupted by a rain storm. Clair and Dave shared stories of their climbing adventures before they met and how they met. I stayed up till 11PM with Burt and Bill talking and watching the stars come out.

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I was the last person to rise from the tent this morning. I made coffee and oatmeal at my tent before walking over to the kitchen area to eat breakfast. We gradually packed boats. There were several last minute Grover folks. I loaded the boat and Bill helped with the bow items. We floated done to Mushroom rock. Another party was just leaving as we pulled in. A short walk brought us to the rock with some petroglyphs. We explored further into the valley but didn’t see any other rock art. Floating further we arrived at Flat Panel. We stopped on river left near some boulders in the river while we waited for a boating party to leave. I rowed between two of the Boulders and then Russ followed. He was tickled that he didn’t touch the rocks. We rowed the short distance down river to the place just vacated and secured the boats on river right. After eating lunch a short walk downriver brought us the the large petroglyphs panel. It is a very busy panel with suggestions that it was added to many times over a long period. Bill Rivers and Russ then took us to a granary and little further down river. A walk up a short steep trail followed by some rock scrabbling was required. The granary is on a ledge. It is made of flat stones, wood, and mud. Most members of the group choose not to climb up to the ledge. The boating from here involved more minor white water. There was some confusion about camping sites. The up river wind was tough today at times. Bill checked out a couple before we pulled over on river right above a small rapid. It was not a named campground. We were told we could camp anywhere except on the Indian reservation on river left. Russ started walking down river along a fluvial plain. I continued across a field of sand and clumps of grass about two feet apart to the formal campground. It was smaller in size, sandy, and hot with only one shade tree. I walked back the 300 meters and reported my findings to the group. Russ said we were staying out. Lindsay and Andy made a delicious dinner of pulled pork, coleslaw, and the left over beans from the previous night. I drank plenty of Makers Mark and white wine. I chatted at length with Russ learning about his water consulting business in Wyoming. I also talked with Andy. Russ and Burt made a fire in a fire pan.

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Floating past the campsite I had inspected the previous day, it was agreed we’d made the better choice. We ran a few rapids and then pulled over on river left to scout Steer Ridge rapid. I ran it first just right of center going left of a pour over near the top. Russ and Rivers came next picking slightly different lines but still toward right of center. The park ranger had said to run it left, but that looked to be the most challenging. The park service had pulled a raft off a large rock on river left a day or so earlier. Bill (not Rivers) ran the Joe Hutch rapid on the sport route punctuating it by hitting the main rapid rock to be avoided on the left! He promptly rolled. I yelled swimmer, Bill Rivers blew his whistle, and Bill, myself, and Russ pulled the boats away from shore and headed to pull Bill from the water. Lindsay and Andy were just ahead of Bill and tossed a bag but it came up short. I made it to him and hollered for him to grab my boat when I realized he had the paddle in one hand and the duckie in the other. I got the paddle from him and then tried to hold the duckie and nearly went in the river. I realized my error and instead grabbed his PFD and pulled him onto the raft. Bill Rivers arrived and between the two Bill’s they managed to right the duckie. I was managing the raft as we had floated downstream into a ripple to stay from rocks. Bill climbed back onto the duckie from the raft and with the paddle was good to continue. By this time we were out of sight of the rapid so we all pulled over to wait for Claire and Dave. We hadn’t seen how their run of the rapid went. I was relieved when the came into view. They had not been aware that Bill had swum. Bill was apologetic and I told him there was no need as that is why we’re all together. He enjoyed the experience in the end and we all had much to share of the event. The remainder of the rapids went smoothly. Camp tonight is at a river rat’s favorite with a large sandy beach, a tree shaded cooking area, tent sites with views and close to the boats, and a sandy quickly steepening river shoulder for swimming, cleaning, and diving. The sliver of setting moon was beautiful. Early the next morning a view of the Milky Way was crisp and distinct.

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After breakfast and breaking camp Claire led a safety talk mostly for the benefit of Bill and Burt. The river had become very muddy over night making river reading difficult. On about the third rapid Rivers took a River right course down a large wave train with what turned out to be a large jumbled pour over near the bottom. Uncharacteristically he swam. He managed to self rescue which was good because the rest of us were well behind him. I learned that was the first time for him to swim while using that boat. He was more cautious the remainder of the day. We scouted Joe Hutch rapid from river right. Dave decided he would lead Bill and Burt down the right side with a short portage at the top to avoid an awkward section. Rivers took the same line but paddled the whole thing. I ran the left side taking the tongue but turning right near the top just past a large pour over to move to river right by the time I reached the right hand turn. I made it before the river right eddy passing Rivers taking the slower water right side line and stopping on the shore well before he’d arrived despite him starting before me. Everyone made it without incident. We proceeded further down river before pulling over for lunch. We stopped above Wire Fence rapid to scout it. Russ decided we’d spend the night there above the rapid. We watched several rafts and a couple of packrafts pass through the rapid. All but one did it on river left. Russ and Carol made chili for dinner.

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Today we floated some of the biggest and most challenging rapids of the trip. The first rapid we’d scouted the previous day and all ran it on the left channel entering it on the narrow tongue. The second rapid immediately after turned out to be perhaps the biggest ride of the entire trip. We didn’t scout it! I followed Russ and Dave. The entrance was narrow and with a large pour over on the left side I stayed right catching more of a wave than I would have liked. The boat went very steep dropping off the backside of the wave. Toward the bottom I was a few feet off and got hit by a side splash. Amazingly, no one swam. We stopped for lunch after a short rapid and waited for Lindsay and Andy. They struggled with the wind. Clair, Dave and I did a short hike up a clear water side creek taking showers in an eight inch waterfall - very refreshing. Lindsay rowed my boat for about thirty minutes to see how he liked it. The wind was very challenging today. The day ended with Coal Creek Rapid. It look tumultuous during the scout, but was a straight forward run. I entered it toward the right side of the main channel to avoid a small pour over toward the top. Then I moved left slight aiding the current to avoid a large protruding rock on river right while aiming for the ‘v’ of two opposing curling waves in the center of the channel. This kept well right of a large pour over near the bottom of the main rapid. There where a couple of rocks to skirt on the tail out. Everyone made it without incident. We camped immediately afterward on river left near the stone cabin. This rapid was investigated in the early 1900’s for a dam location. We sat in the shade of the only meager cottonwood chatting before sharing a potluck dinner.