Utah Canoeing Trip – Day 13, Canyonlands NP

The centerpiece of this trip is canoeing the Green River with my good friend Dave from Tucson. We met while working together at Texas Instruments there and became lifelong friends in the process. We have taken several great trips together:

• 2007 – Cycling tour of the Mickelson Rail/Trail, SD
• 2009 – 5th wheel tour of War of Northern Aggression (Civil War), the Smithsonian and other interesting spots
• 2010 – Cycling tour of the Alleghany Mountains and Greenbrier Rail/Trail in VA and WV
• 2014 – Cycling tour of the Selkirk Loop in MT, ID and BC Canada

Earlier this year I suggested we try a paddling trip and after some discussion we said yeah, let’s go for it. I got some recommendations from my friends in the Carolina Kayak Club, we downselected and decided on this trip. As other paddlers have told me “The Green River is epic!!!” We have similar interests, incredibly fun discussions and I am sure will continue to travel together pretty much annually from here on out.

Since we will be paddling the Green River through Canyonlands National Park, I wanted to take the time to see it from above. This is a totally cool place. There are basically three tiers of geography: first, the Island in the Sky” at 6,100 ft; second the White Rim at 4,500 ft; third the Green River at 3,900 ft. The cliff walls are sheer, straight drops because the water eroded through a very tough first layer that has resisted further erosion, not unlike Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

I did about 10 miles of hiking and visited every overlook. In the pictures you can see the three levels and can imagine what the pictures from the bottom will look like. As my paddling colleagues have also said: “This is the paddling trip of a lifetime”. Here are some pics from above, click on them to get larger views, they are worth it:

 

I met Dave later in the evening. We camped on BLM land south of Moab with partial view of the city lights and a pretty intense bucket of wind. Tomorrow we sort gear, prep for the trip and catch up. You can expect another post sometime after we take out on June 3rd. Maybe as late as June 10th or 11th depending on when I find time on my drive back. Wish us luck!