This is a story about a canoe trip down the Green River in southern Utah.
It was the first night of an eight-day canoeing Adventure down the Green River.
The rain fly of my tent was removed and the Sandman subdued. I rolled onto my back to
see the moon directly overhead as it shone through the mesh of my shelter. The diffused
Stars twinkled through still blowing bright as the sun was far from shining its light.
Hi, I'm Mike and this is Mike's Road Ttrip. "Get off the road..." "All
right." We launched our canoes from Ruby Ranch, a private Homestead 30 miles south
of Interstate 70 and the City of Green River our group of 16 camped at Ruby Ranch the night
before, the first of four campsites along a 45-mile journey through Labyrinth Canyon.
John Wesley Powell explored the Green River in 1869 and in his journal he wrote:
"The canyon has towering walls that are symmetrically curved
and gradually arched with beautiful colors reflected in the calm waters."
Our first paddle day was filled with exuberance. We were given some safety instructions, then
paired up and dispersed among eight two-person canoes. With our camp gear weighing down the
boats, it didn't take long for us to discover that any abrupt movements needed to be communicated
with our partners, otherwise we would easily find ourselves floating in the river without a canoe.
Soon our heartbeat slowed and the escape from our chaotic lives began to set in.
As the Red Canyon walls first appeared, it was as if we were entering a new world, one with no
distractions. No cell service. And no demands, other than avoiding the occasional sandbar.
The river was utterly calm and flowed very slowly, about two and a half miles an hour. There were no
rapids, or sounds, save for a paddle breaching the surface of the water on the occasional stroke to
straighten out the canoe. Or those magical moments when someone would break into song down the river.
Our boats were packed to the gills, full of food camping gear kitchen supplies and more
our guide Lauren Bond of The River's Path wanted to share her number one favorite camping spot on
the Green River with us, the river however was low and the embankments were laden with mud...when I say
mud, I mean it was more like a thick molasses quicksand that would envelop you to your waist
if you stepped in the wrong spot, which Lauren soon discovered when we came ashore to the port
of the Three Canyons. Lauren quickly assessed the situation and determined that if we cut down some
Willow branches and laid them on the surface of the mud that we wouldn't sink quite as far
and perhaps could make it up the embankment to the camp clearing with all of our gear.
The endeavor required all hands on deck. Despite knowing each other for less than 24 hours, we
all just came together as a team...following our benevolent leader...cleanliness be damned!
Several times during Operation Willow Branch, Lauren had proclaimed promises that our efforts
would not be in vain. Needless to say, most of us were a bit dubious. However, after a couple of hours
of mud reinforcement and hauling our gear to the campsite, it was evident she had not led us astray.
Three Canyons is one of the most enchanting places I've ever camped, and while most people
set up near the rendezvous point, a few of us wanted to explore a little before committing
to a sleeping spot for the next three nights. I set up my little area in front of what is dubbed
the Tree Arch, a unique phenomenon where a sturdy Oak split, but refused to die. Over
time the tree has developed into an iconic spot that represents the unique beauty of this area.
At meal time, we'd gather in a circle and sing a song. This was a time of bonding, unity and
giving thanks for the events of the day. The circle would then move around a fire where we
would enjoy breakfast or supper before sharing our thoughts on what had transpired throughout the day.
Three Canyons provided endless places to roam and explore. We hiked and explored both solo and in
groups. One day I hiked to the end of one canyon where I had to Traverse over large boulders and
up dry waterfalls pools of water punctuating the way in my mind's eye I could see glorious
waterfalls flowing when it rained the rush of water creating smooth curves and arches that would
be Unearthed during the dry season at the end of the canyon I was met by a monolithic wall in
an amphitheater-like setting created by Nature as I sat on a stone contemplating this amazing place
while nibbling on a turkey and tomato and avocado sandwich I thought I would Bellow out to test the
echo the sound cascaded down the canyon like water and boisterously made its way back to me
the next day Lauren led the group into another area of three Canyons she showed us a massive
ledge she called The Grotto which was almost a living cave but did not go very far into
the Mountainside there was moss and other vegetation growing on the walls which were
moist with water that dripped into a tributary and eventually made its way to the Green River
fished on a bluff Above The Grotto and when everyone left I was treated to a
little flute concert by one of our other guides
walking through the tree Arch where I was camped transported me into a
portal of wilderness known only to the few who dared ventured
off into this remote back country so isolated from the rest of the world
there was the occasional evidence of man's prehistoric existence in this area petroglyphs
peppered the canyon walls telling stories known only by those of the ancient time otherwise the
land has been remarkably respected by its modern visitors a welcome respite from the modern world
the absolute silence during the night was exceptional the Stillness was only broken
near dawn when Monica one of our guides would begin playing the soft sounds of a
flute to gently wake us this was followed by the rhythmic shallow beats of a drum
after three days in three Canyons it was time to continue our adventure down river when I packed
up my belongings that last day I gazed it tree arch for an extended moment noticing for the
first time that the bark at the top of the arch was very different almost missing in its place was
somewhat of a smooth skin rather than beefy bark it's Brokenness was its uniqueness its strength
I had a personal realization in that moment rather than seeing people as odd or different
perhaps I should be viewing them as special just like the tree Arch
after a 12 mile paddle through more Majestic terrain we arrived at our campsite our home
for the next two days we had to condemn with some mud again but it was much more manageable
this was another fantastic Camp spot with Oak Groves providing shade privacy and places to
hang hammocks someone even found this really unique spot to pitch her tent which was nestled
within the cliff where part of the face had fallen I am on day five of an eight
day canoeing Excursion down the Green River with the folks from the river's path and today
I have hiked up to this Mesa and I'm gonna see if I can get all the way to
the top of the bluff here or the canyon wall I still have all that way to go
quite vertical now
trying to keep the sun off me while making good progress
just have that bit nope that bit to go right there
well I may have come across an obstacle I can't overcome
there's this ledge right here and it wraps around the
the Butte without taking unnecessary risks I may be at the end of my road here
oh what a climate was though I love doing stuff like this
now comes the not so fun part getting down
after two more Glorious Days our next paddle day would be a big push nearly 20 miles and would
take us around six hours we stopped about halfway at a large Sandy Bank to take a break for lunch
some wandered a bit while others threw a frisbee around it was some much needed relief from sitting
in those canoes for so long later that afternoon we arrived at two mile campsite our desired
spot which made it three for three this was yet another great Camp spot with a large sandy beach
perfect to set up the kitchen and Friendship Circle While most everyone gravitated toward
the landing area to set up tents I found a way to navigate up to a higher Ridge and in
short order I found an incredible spot for my tent overlooking the river in both directions
I was elated my only disappointment was that there were no trees to hang my hammock foreign
a group of pack Rafters packable kayakers landed at the same camp spot but they were soon hiking
up the hill past my tent and would camp on the other side of the bluff unbeknownst to us their
leader spoke with our leader and provided some unsettling news that evening the bells rang
signaling that dinner was about to be served as usual we joined in a circle sang a song to the
river gods for the meal and moved over to the Ring of chairs on the beach with the fire in the middle
after the sun fell it typically cooled off quite rapidly but not on this evening it was unusually
warm and pleasant after we finish our meal Lauren announced some housekeeping items to
share she told us that the river guy who had come ashore told her there was a significant
storm front coming likely the reason for the warm evening air the mood had changed and we
were all very tired from the long paddle day many of us retired after Lauren shared the
news since we had to get up early to pack and try and beat the impending storm front while I
was disappointed by the news I wanted to make the most of the waning hours in This Magnificent place
it was a lovely evening perched up on that Cliff I laid awake in my tent with the fly
off and the door opened so that I could take in the extreme dark skies and super bright stars
Jupiter was particularly bright since it had not been this close to Earth in over 70 years
felt so far removed from society full of peace and tranquility the next morning we were on the
Water by 9 A.M the river was calm and the skies were bright blue despite the deceptively looking
day Lauren took the precaution to have all of us Tire boats together with the boat beside us
to create a pontoon of sorts and give us more stability in case the water turned turbulent
just 15 minutes later the winds picked up and began to make the water a bit choppy
30 minutes later and around the next Bend we were hit with significant headwinds that forced us to
do some serious paddling just to move forward and stay straight the river had completely transformed
herself from a loving docile creature to an angry animal here we were experiencing the full range
of emotions of this living being we didn't have many miles to cover but it was clear it
was going to take us a while to reach mineral bottom the takeout point the winds and waves
continued to pick up our Boats were filling with water our feet submerged in ice cold hands ached
and blistered from holding on and stroking the paddle so hard around one bend the wind pushed
the boats up against the embankment and we started to all pile up the lead boat was stuck pinning the
other boats in place adrenaline was running high but we stayed in Fair spirits when we finally
made it around the last Bend and could see the takeout in sight we were met with an obstacle
the river had apparently shifted from a storm several weeks earlier and there was now a massive
Sandbar blocking the takeout Lauren had gotten out of her boat onto the SandBar to have a closer look
thankfully a deviation was created and a narrow passage of water was on the other side of the
bar but to access it we had to continue Downstream then turn 180 degrees and paddle into the narrow
Estuary that would take us to the very end of our paddling Journey the next few hours we packed up
loaded the canoes and drove back to Moab by the time I got back to my hotel the pitter patter of
rain started after nearly Eight Days a hot shower Never Felt So Good by that evening a full-blown
thunderstorm was raging the hill out of the Canyon from the takeout point is very Steep and had we
not left when we did we might have been stuck camping in the rain in monk for a couple of days
our journey like that of a river changes course over time you can either go with a flow or
learn how to surf no matter how hard we fight the current we will never go back to the point we want
therefore the only way we can change our current situation is to move forward the present is the
place where we can create the foundations of the future escaping the pressures of everyday life for
a week with no outside influence or distraction is a prescription for well-being giving ourselves
time to self-reflect is an imperative for a life well lived the bonds created the collective
Consciousness shared during this canoe trip is something I will treasure for a lifetime
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