Paddling Ruby-Horsethief on the Colorado River

Ruby and Horsethief Canyons straddle the Utah-Colorado state line, on the Colorado River.  This is west of Grand Junction Colorado

Sunday I drove to Glenwood Springs. I had two hour lunch with my old friend Charlie, catching up, as I had not seen him face to face in a couple of years. I finished the drive to Fruita, checked into the Super 8, and took a nap. I met the group for dinner at Fiesta Guadalajara restaurant. The group is Eric, Connie, Bill, Laura, Pete, Beth, Debbie, and Tim. 

Bill, Laura, Connie, Eric, Richard, and Debbie at lunch on the river

On Monday morning, we drove to the Loma put in at 7:45, I was the first one there. We left about 9 to run the shuttle. Tim drove us back to the put in; Tim will not be joining us on the river. We got on the  river about 10:45. Some clouds, but not cold, wind minimal. We arrived at Mee campsite 4 about 3 PM. Mee Canyon is a popular camping area; there were groups in the other Mee camps. 

We had a dinner of shared elegant appetizers. After dinner, we sat around the campfire, telling jokes and stories. Some of the themes included vampires, ice picks, and alligators. 

On Monday, We had some rain at 5 am, and hard rain and wind around 7am. The rain stopped at 8am, and people got the stoves going. Some of us went back to our tents.   We saw some sun, but had on and off rain. It was not warm.   We watched a large herd of Bighorn sheep.

The rain continued on and off all day. I hiked up a ways into Mee Canyon, and got sleeted and rained on. The dinner was fancy appetizers again.  It rained more or less all night until 7:30 am. 

The black rocks section of the river

Eric and Connie

Pete taking a photo of me taking a photo of him.

Debbie paddling her own canoe

On Wednesday, the sun came out about 10 am, and we were glad to see it.  We got on the river at noon.  Late starts are pretty typical after a rain.   The black rocks section is interesting, but straightforward in terms of paddling, at least at this relatively low level.   We just kept paddling, and arrived at Westwater around 4 PM.  Typically for Ruby-Horsethief they arrive earlier, but of course we had a late start.   Some folks headed for home.  I checked into the Super 8 in Fruita, and met Debbie and Tim at Hot Tomatoes Pizza for dinner.

Eric, Connie, Pete, Beth, Laura, Bill, Richard, and Debbie

I drove home on Thursday.  It was mostly rainy, with a little snow, but got drier on the east side of the divide.  It was an uneventful drive home.