Wed - December 1, 2004

Colorado River, Utah - Winter Paddling above Moab


Colorado River above Castle Creek
Moab in Utah is my favorite location for off-season paddling. In February of 2001 I stayed in Moab for a few days and paddled short segments of Colorado and Green Rivers as well as Lake Powell (4 winter days in Canyonlands ). Last year, I spent Christmas with Connie there and paddled Colorado River between Moab and Potash . Of course, paddling is only one of many attractions offered by Moab and Canyonlands. This year, my mother from Poland was visited us for a few weeks, so I decided to take both my ladies and spend a part of Thanksgiving weekend in a more luxury setting of Red Cliff Lodge in the canyon of Colorado River about 14 miles upstream of Moab. Well, they offer 50% rate off-season.

We left Ft Collins early morning on Friday after Thanksgiving day worrying about winter storm advisory for the mountains. Very soon we learned that I-70 was closed west of Vail due to a serious rock slide. A quick change of driving plans and I drove north to Wyoming to take I-80. So, the trip was several hours longer than expected, winter driving conditions were difficult in some areas of Wyoming. We took a look at Flaming Gorge Reservoir just before sunset. Strong wind and high waves didn't invite for paddling.

On Saturday I had time for only short paddle. I started just at the lodge which is located above Castle Creek (Whites) Rapid and paddled a couple miles upstream. It was cloudy day with heavy snow clouds hanging on red cliffs and buttes. I had problems with some shallow spots. Polling with a ski pole which I mastered on South Platte River last winter didn't work well in a strong current and rocky bottom of the Colorado River. I had to walk through one place, but I manage to reach Ida Gulch Rapid and had a longer photo session on the right shore of the river overlooking Professor Valley and Fisher Towers. Some pictures I shot there were stitched together to create an addition to my panorama gallery. I paddled down river all way to the Castle Creek Rapid. It didn't look difficult at that river flow.

GPS trip odometer: 5.34 miles, moving time 1:53 h stopped time: 1:01 h, moving average 2.8 mph, max speed 10.20 mph. Average HRM: 115.
River flow: Colorado River near Cisco : ~3200 cfs.
A nice surprise about half hour before sunset. I got a few minutes of great light to photograph the river from a patio of our room. I haven't had too many such occasions during my last visits at Moab.


On Sunday I did a little bit more paddling down river from Cisco to Hittle Bottom. There was some fresh snow in the canyon and much more snow around Cisco. This section of Colorado River is not very popular since it is not so spectacular as Westwater Canyon above Cisco or "daily run" between Hittle Bottom and Moab. It is a flat water without any rapids, although, there is a strong current with small waves in several places. I had a very nice paddling with a mixture of sun and snow showers. It was a little bit cold when wind was picking up, but I enjoyed a winter scenery. The water level dropped down recently and shores were covered by mud. Hittle Bottom landing was especially muddy.

GPS trip odometer: 23.1 miles, moving time 3:47 h stopped time: 0:34 h, moving average 6.1 mph, max speed 10.7 mph. Average HRM: 129.

Driving back to Ft Collins on Monday was great: not much traffic on my traditional route along I-70 (icy in many areas), canyons and Rocky Mountains were beautiful in deep fresh snow, a lunch break in Georgetown covered by snow. Pictures from the trip are still waiting to be displayed on my web pages. It was first time when I paddle my Sea Wind canoe after summer season spent mostly with Sisson kayak or Spencer X-treme and a wing paddle. Last time I paddled Sea Wind in Florida in March during WaterTribe Everglades challenge.

Posted at 11:06 PM    


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