I spent four wonderful days around Christmas together with Connie at Moab. Hiking, searching for rock art, photographing, watching movies (Lord of the Ring) and, of course, paddling. I managed to escape for three short trips with my Sea Wind on the Colorado River in the vicinity of Moab. The river was quite low (~2200 cfs @ Cisco).

12/25/03: Moab - Hall Canyon - Moab. Cloudy, dark day, not very good for photography but great for paddling. I launched at the boat ramp at Moab above the bridge, The first 5 upstream miles were quite easy, further the current was getting stronegr. I had to walk through the last shallow rapid below the Hall Canyon (too shallow to paddle). GPS trip odometer: 14.5 miles (7.6 upstream), moving time 4:17 h, moving average 3.5 mph.

12/26/03: Potash - Gold Bar (almost) - Potash. I launched at Potash landing ~17 miles below Moab. After paddling 5.6 miles upstream I decided to turn back (~0.5 mile below Gold Bar). I was afraid of the strong wind blowing upstream. Indeed, the headwind in the canyon was really brutal creating steep 2-3' waves in places with a stronger current. GPS trip odometer: 11.5 miles (5.6 upstream), moving time 3:33 h, moving average 3.2 mph, max speed 6.6 mph

12/27/03: Moab - Gold Bar - Potash. An easy downriver paddle with a stop for lunch with Connie at Gold Bar. A little breezy at some spots and quite cold. The front deck of my canoe was covered by ice. GPS trip odometer: 17.5 miles, moving time 3:06 h, moving average 5.6 mph, max speed 9.5 mph

a few miles below Moab

... from the Potash Road

above Gold Bar

below Gold Bar

rest stop

Jug Handle Arch

Moab Salt - solution mining of potash

above Potash landing

below Potash landing - wind waves!

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Resources:

river flow: Colorado River near Cisco

My related trips in southwest

Jerry's local river guide