Has anyone here floated the Green River in Utah?

“From Green River Utah to the Colorado River Confluence?

I know that backpacer mag did a story on it, but I'm looking for some "real person" experience and story telling. Thanks...”

“I did from Green River and got out at Mineral Bottoms. That's about halfway to the confluence. We did it several years ago when the water flow was real low, and had to get out of the boats many times and walk them through the shallows. A few of the adults called it "the trip from hell". It was 100 degrees and sun for 4 days.

I have a few rafts so we did the trip ourselves instead of a guided trip. It was a tremendous amount of work packing up camp, loading the boats, rowing and walking for 10 hours, then unloading the boats and cooking dinner every day. Your pretty exhausted at the end of the day.

All in all, it was a great trip. We did the 5 day float in 4 days. The kids had a blast. Great food and lots of liquid refreshment. Some of the most beautiful scenery you will ever see. Extremely remote place. If you go past Mineral Bottoms, you have to arrange a jetboat ride at the confluence to get to Moab.

Are you thinkin of doin it? The water levels should be good this year. We have like 200% of normal snowpack this year in the mountains.”

“late Sept. There are shuttle companies that would be able to jet boat us up the colorado. Whats the confluence like, will canoes be able to run it?”

“Mmmmmmm, that sounds nice.”

“I'm reading "River" by Colin Fletcher. this section that I'm talkin about is the longest stretch of Wilderness flat water in the lower 48. cuts through a large section of Canyonlands NP. I'm seriously thinking of doing this trip either this year, or next.”

“Like I said, we got out before the confluence. I don't think that it's any big deal. I have seen it from the canyon rim and it is pretty mellow. If you miss the getout point just past the confluence, your in big trouble. The next place out is near Lake Powell through Cataract Canyon. You don't want to go through that with a canoe.

Be aware of the regulations of firepans and porta potties. The rangers are real picky about those.”

“I've done a little research on this run awhile ago.....it's definitely a cool run and I really want to go with ya....in fact the little lady would love it....but this year is booking up fast and i'm not sure where i'd be able to squeeze it in....my suggestion....save it for next year....

Here's a cool trip report on this run....

http://www.hollowtop.com/journals/jgreenriver.htm
last edited: 2/02/05 8:00:26 AM”

“The road to Mineral Bottoms is something else. It is the most hair raising road I have ever driven. On the river, just before we got to Mineral Bottoms, it started to rain. I told everyone that I would not drive out on that road if the road was wet. They threatened my life if I didn't. It was just a little sprinkle, and it seemed dry enough to drive out.

When we got to the top, they understood why I wouldn't drive on it when wet.

It is a truly terrifying road.”

“:-) Memories...

I gotta dig out my slides from Island in the Sky part of Canyonlands and see what you can see of the rivers. Was at the south overlook at sunset. I recall stopping on the Green River side overlooks as it was getting darker.

So is the road to Mineral Bottoms worse than the one on the opposite side of that "mesa," that comes from the Colorado River up to the White Rim Trail? Hey, don't ya want to mt. bike 103 miles looping around Island in the Sky and just below the rim on that? :-) And it gets down to the river, too, doesn't it, at places?
last edited: 2/02/05 10:28:32 AM”

“Its the same on the Rio Grand River in Big Bend. No worries...we are trained Perfessanals...not to be confused with Professionals...

I'm really wanting to do this river trip...and I know that Dutch Oven Dave does too.”

“Has this site been referenced:

http://members.aol.com/mmcbs2/green.html

Lots of good info on other rivers up a few levels at the same site. Look at the regional maps:

http://members.aol.com/Mmcbs/index.html”

“We were floating along peacefully, going around Horseshoe Bend, and I lookup and see this dot in the sky above the canyon. I hear this high pitched whine and the dot is getting bigger. It was a F-4 fighter jet heading right for us. No more than 1/4 mile away and only a couple of hundred feet up, the nose of the jet points straight up, flaps go down and it banks to the side, engines cranked and takes off around horseshoe bend at less than 100 feet above the river. It was so close, you could see the pilots helmet.

My buddie Rick stood up in his boat and was ready to dive in the water, thinkin it was going to hit us. It was pretty wild.”

“If you miss the getout point just past the confluence, your in big trouble. The next place out is near Lake Powell through Cataract Canyon. You don't want to go through that with a canoe.
Griz
10:25:10 AM
2/01/05

Stikmon wouldn't do something like that. He never has any misfortunes on his trips. LOL”

“I have done stuff like that, but not recently...except for rolling the boat on the Rio, but that was nothing but inattention...well, aren't they all accidents of inattention?”

“Putz!!!! Them's fightin words, yankee!!!!”

“If I move to Arkansas, we'll practically be neighbors. matter of fact, I been lookin at the house next door to you...hope you don't mind my 5 non-running pickem up trucks...the one don't got no quarter panels, and the nother one caught on fire the other week. Plus my burn barrel ain't so fresh lookin no more.”

“Sure just bring your trucks and we'll open up a salvage yard. Khatru can be our guard dog as long as some other male dog(like buckshot) doesn't come wandering along. Then he will probably be distracted. LOL”