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Packrafting the Colorado River
Translated by PROMT-Online-Translator
| Country: |
USA |
Rivers: |
Colorado |
| Start: |
Moab |
End: |
Spanish Bottom |
| Route: |
Canyonlands Nationalpark |
| Distance: |
60 miles |
Time: |
5 days |
| Current: |
good |
Difficulties river: |
strong headwinds |
| Supply: |
self sufficient |
Boat: |
packraft |
| Difficulties: |
strong headwinds which pushed us sometimes even upriver against
rthe current and though we were paddling
|
| Rating: |
great flatwatertrip |
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 A
long march: We intend to make a paddle tour of several days on
the Colorado River and are taken by Barb down to the Tourist Information
to get the permit. Unfortunately we find out that one gets the permit
in the administration centre of the parks: 5 km out of town. While
Martin hitchhikes to the administration centre Nadine goes into the
store of Canyon Voyages (Rafting company) to get some infos from Don,
which we met the day before on the hike. As Don's wife hears, that
I'm hitchhiking she jumps with Nadine into her car "to give me
a lift". Nevertheless, I also had luck and thus we arrive nearly
at the same time in the administration centre. After we got our permit
she drives us back to the tourist info, because we had deposited our
backpacks there . What a great and unexpected help! From there we
hike to the Colorado River which we suppose to be very close by. Then
itbturns out that the river is 6 km away. With our backpacks and 25
l of water we hike along the highway, and thus we have quite long
arms as we finally arrive |
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 Packrafting
on the Colorado: The Colorado River is famous for his breathtaking
rapids, however, there are also quiet sections and we have selected
one of this. Some 110 km we want to paddle down into Canyon Lands
National Park, and like the name says already there are many canyons
here. |
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 A
storm: About midday of the 2nd day the wind freshens all at once
and we have more trouble with paddling. The wind gets stronger and
stronger and thus we are quite exhausted when we pitch our tent behind
a rock in the evening . The next day then it becomes even stormier.
The wind whips up the river in such a way that we have here and there
so high waves, that I can see only Nadines head. Although we have
a good current and paddle with all our strength, we often simply paddle
on the spot. A few times the wind is even so strong that although
we paddle and in spite of current the wind pushed us backward and
thus upstream. As if this was not already enough the wind whirls of
course also the sand on the sandy benches, and thus we deal with a
few smaller sandstorms. Unfortunately, we couldn't take any picture
because we had other problems. |
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 Anazazi
ruins: About 1000 years ago the Anazazi Indian have lived in northern
Arizona and southern Utah. As well as the Maya the Anazazi had a sophisticated
culture which has disappeared for inexplicable reasons around 1300
AD. Just these rock houses are still quiet witnesses. |
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 The
Needles: Then about midday of the fourth day we arrive at the
Spanish Bottom, pack our boats and stark hiking back. The "Needles"
exist of countless rock piles, canyons and narrow gulches which are
sometimes so narrow, that we are just able to squeeze ourselves through
them. Once we pass by a natural rock tunnel which is so low, that
we must creep on our feet and hands through him. Although we hike
only 1.5 days through the Needles until we arrive a a paved road but
we were absolutely inspired. The scenery is more than only breathtaking!
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