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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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:<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Now THAT’S a mountain bike trail. Count me in for a trip down the road<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Cool plant I came across on a 7 mile hike<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Nice view of the canyons below through this arch<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>While keeping this chair company I read an article in Adventure Cycling magazine about mountain bikers riding the trail along the rim of the canyon below. How cool is that?<\/p><\/div>\n