Paddling Flaming Gorge Reservoir

For me, this trip is is part of my goal to paddle the length of the Green River. Gary and Anne and I had paddled the north half of Flaming Gorge Reservoir a few years ago, and this trip was to paddle the southern half.

Saturday I drove to Green River. I stopped to see Ft Steele, which was built to protect the transcontinental railroad, especially the bridge over the North Platte. I went to Mass at Our Lady of sorrows in Rock Springs, Rock Springs looks economically depressed. I stayed at Little Bear Motel in green River, nice enough. 

 Sunday I met Gary and Anne at Buckboard Marina, where we had taken out a few years ago. It took a long time to organize, which is typical for the first day of the trip, and then we had a long shuttle, so we got on the water at 1 pm. We had nasty headwinds and waves; it took two hours to go 3 miles. We ended up on an Island, according to the map, but really a peninsula at this water level. It took us a little time to figure out where we were. It was a decent campsite, but a grind to get up from the boats on the shore. 

 Monday we got on the water at 9:30. It was very nice and calm, great paddling. The winds hit at 11, but not quite as bad as Sunday. We stopped at 12:30 in a cove south of Brinnegar Ranch, and were happy to be off the water. At that point we had made eight miles in two days, a lot less than we needed to make to complete the trip in a reasonable time. We discussed our alternatives, and agreed to push on, but get an earlier start.

Tuesday we got up at 5:30, and were on the water at 7. It was very pleasant paddling with no wind and a glassy lake. We had a brief stop at Lucerne Marina, and camped at Antelope Flat at 12:30, It was a 14 miles day; we were tired, but our trip plan was back on track.  A north wind started at 12:40. We spent the afternoon in the shade of tree. In the evening, we saw pronghorn, deer, and Osprey. We had a rain shower blew through, with a rainbow. I had to get up at 1 am to restake the tent, in the substantial wind. Our beach campsite provided no shelter from the wind. I had internet coverage, so sent out some messages to Sandi Wednesday at 5 am, there was complete heavy overcast, and already breeze. Without leaving our tents, we agreed no paddling today, and went back to bed. From mid-morning til 2, we hung out in the shade. The storm looked ominous, and came in about 2:30, mostly wind, pushing sand into tents. Our  pronghorn (antelope) visited again, very handsome.

A handsome pronghorn

On Thursday we were on the water at 7:10, pleasant day. The bypass of Horseshoe Canyon was closed due to low water, but the Canyon was not crowded. We arrived at Hideout Campground about 10:30. There are picnic tables, running water and flush toilets; the campground host, Walter, has a houseboat for an office. Nice not to have to filter water. The trees are junipers. The campground was quiet when we arrived, but later there was some noise from day trippers, and then some large families arrived. Quite a change from having a cove to ourselves. We agreed that we did not want to push to paddle out on Thursday, which would have been a long day of paddling, so we will look for a campsite between the Hideout Campground and the Marina.

 Friday we got on the water at 7:20. We looked for the old Goosenecks campground, but did not locate it. We admired an osprey on her nest. We scouted other possible campsites, and found a good one perhaps 5 miles from the take out. We arrived about 11 am. The weather has been getting warmer, so we hung out in the shade and dunked ourselves in the lake. Boat traffic seems higher today; we are closer to the marina, and it is Friday.

 

Flaming Gorge Dam

Saturday we got on the water around 7, and headed for the Cedar Springs Marina, where we had left Gary's truck. When we got to the Marina, Gary and Anne pulled in, to start unloading, while Richard continued to the dam, as part of his project to complete the length of the Green River. Richard paddled back to the boat ramp, and we continued unloading, and loading Gary's truck. It took a while, but we eventually headed back to Buckboard Marina, where Richard's car was. We transferred Richard's boat and gear to his car, and everyone headed home. We got off the water early in the day, so it was reasonable to just head home. I got home around 7 PM, after a routine drive on I-80.