Brad in the ducky on the yampa.  Before he took the adventure swim. 

The three kings pictograph outside of Vernal on private property

Slim riding Bears Ears. 

Trail friend

Long House at Mesa Verde

How they got down the rocks at Chaco

Super nova at Chaco. Notice the mud daubs.  Apparently this is not uncommon at some sites, and they are original.

Summer 2019.  It is said that the best way to spend money is on experiences rather than things, so we signed on with a commercial river trip and a commercial bike trip.  Let your guides do the planning, and the shuttle, and the cooking, and the cleaning. 

First a week on the Yampa with OARS.  Dan, John, Izzy, Robin, and the geologist, Elliot.  We had been with Elliot two years prior.  There was another geology trip a few days ahead of ours with Wayne Ranney.  That would have been tempting, had I known, but his trip was full, full (25) and ours only had 14, which was more manageable. 

The river was high, 20,000 CFS, which level we have not seen the Colorado through the grand in a long time.  I rode through all the rapids with a minimum of whimpering.  One of the peeps told us his river name is Juanito.  I told him my river name is “cringes in the bottom of the boat and screams like a girl”. 

One gentleman told me he wanted to go with Wayne, but the trip was full.  “Do you know Wayne?”  “Yes, I work with Wayne.”  Silence. 

“When I was at the GC guide training seminar, do you know GTS?”

“Yes, I often present at GTS”.  Silence.

“When I was at the GC history symposium, do you know the history symposium?”  “Yes, I am on the board, and I was in charge of the tours for the symposium.”  Silence.  I guess the proper response would have been, “Gosh, no, tell me more.”

One day Holiday crowded us a bit.  They beat us to the Mantle Cave, so we climbed up some slick rock to another cave. Then their six boats took up the whole beach at the scout for Warm Springs, and we barely got onto the beach.  Then a private trip showed up and there was no room for them at all. 

We could not hike up to Wagon Wheel because it was afternoon when we got there.  Well, Brad and I could have, but one older guy was determined to go, and I am sure John did not want him up there in the heat of the day, so he cut the hike short.  If we had asked to go by ourselves, it would have put John in the position of saying, “Yes, the two of you can go, but not him”, and that would have been awkward for John. 

Brad was in the Ducky day four and got washed into the creek.  They picked him up right away, but lost the ducky. (We got it back when another OARS group downstream sent their paddleboat to fetch it).  A young man was also washed out, but was wearing a “guide” PDF instead of a class III, and was recalculated through the eddy for quite a ride.  Dan had to run upstream and grab him with a throw bag, because our boat could not break the eddy fence.  Kept the ducky, lost the paddle.  So we lost enough time that we could not hike up Jones Hole. 

Took an extra day in Vernal to visit Dinosaur and take a walk with a ranger who has degrees in geology and anthropology.  Then went out to a private ranch with some impressive rock art.  I am glad they chose to protect it, but what happens if the kids don’t want the land anymore? 

Down to Moab for the bike trip with Western Spirit.  Sean, Liz, and Willie. By far the most professional guides we have been with yet.  On any trip.  Stopped by the Edge of the Cedars, which is a collection of pothunter goodies which were seized in raids.  So most of the pieces said, “provenience unknown”.  Depressing.  Recognized some names from families at the school.  Hmm. 

Then we rode through the reduced Bears Ears national monument.  I immediately wrote to my congresspersons again to complain about this land being withdrawn from protection and handed over to a CANADIAN uranium mining firm.  I rode up all the hills, and down all but one. 

Two years ago we were on a WS trip when they built huge bonfires every night, even in the State campground where the signs specifically said no wood longer than 2 feet.  They were tearing down whole trees to set on fire.  As the High Priestess of Leave no Trace, I wrote a pretty stern note to WS, and they answered that the guides did not want big fires, but one of the kids on the trip kept bringing in trees.  I told them, one, that was disingenuous, and two, as guides we do not allow people to do anything they want just because it would be fun.

On this trip we brought our own wood, and dismantled the fire rings.  A result of my complaints?  I would like to think so.  I wrote them a nice letter this time.  See, I can be polite. 

Then to Canyons of the Ancients, which we had never heard of until a friend moved up there to be superintendent.  A lot of little side canyons around Cortez with the highest concentration of sites anywhere.  Lots of hikes, lots of unexcavated sites, and lots of ways to get lost, since most of the trailheads are not even marked.

Mesa Verde then to tour Long House and Balcony House.  The Long House tour was the best I have ever been on.  The ranger had a double masters degree in Cultural Anthropology and History, and was able to answer all my questions. 

I recently had a discussion with a friend who claims that rangers don't really need degrees.  Their time would be better spent just learning about the park they are in.  But going on a tour with a highly, some would say over, educated ranger makes all the difference.  At least to someone, like me, who has some background knowledge and wants to get deeper into things. 

Since we were so far north, we spent two days in Chaco.  Hiked to the Jackson steps (7 miles) and the supernova pictograph (6 miles). 

So the first three weeks are done.  Next up, North Rim, Bryce and Zion.