[Awclist] FW: Deso-Gray July 28 to Aug 4 - low water, but few bugs!

[Sarah McMahon]

We are seeking 2-4 experienced boaters to join us for an 8-day Green River
float trip on the Desolation/Gray Canyon in Utah (Class II-III.)  We need to
know by Friday July 20 if you are interested.

We have a put-on date of Saturday July 28.  Alas, we started with a larger
group, but it is down to just the two of us, and we prefer the safety and
companionship of more boaters.   The good news for this low-water trip is
that there are minimal mosquitoes, which is a rare occurrence on this river.

The BLM assures us that Flaming Gorge will be releasing 1300 cfs for the
duration of August.  Any upstream storms will add to the flow, particularly
the Yampa, which drains the mountains around Steamboat Springs and joins the
Green below Flaming Gorge.   Our guess is to expect no less than 1000 cfs
based on irrigation and evaporation upstream.

When releases were at 850 cfs, the BLM says that this trip is quite doable,
but the rapids and channels require lightly loaded craft and good low-water
boating skills.  In the rapids, the velocity won't be fast, but there will
be rocks to dodge  -- i.e., the river gets technical.  You will need to have
enough capacity to bring your own gear and a share of the food.  The gear
requirements from the BLM are fairly typical (check out
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/price/recreation/riverinf.html if you need
more detail).  Trip expenses will be shared.

We will be taking a 14 foot inflatable floor raft with a kitchen box.  Fire
restrictions are currently in place so no opportunity for you or us to show
off our dutch-oven cooking cuisine.  

We plan on going as far as Grand Junction on July 26 and then heading to the
put-on and rigging on Friday, July 27.  After our take-out on Aug 4, Green
River, Moab, and Grand Junction are all easy destinations.

We will be having a planning pot-luck at 6:30 pm on Friday July 20 in Santa
Fe.

Please contact Linda Buchser at 505 231 6670 lbuchser at comcast.net if you are
interested.

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