SW Trip 2014 - Bluff, Utah & San Juan River trip

Bluff, Utah – San Juan River

June 20 – 26

Picasa web album link:

https://picasaweb.google.com/107097369989809012646/SWTrip2014Part6?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLWhl8mFlsnBBg&feat=directlink

Bluff is about 1 mile long, a very small pioneer town founded by Mormons. We stayed at Cadillac Ranch RV Park, one of two in town. We also found that there isn’t a grocery store in town, just a convenience store that does carry some groceries. After getting settled in, we drove across town (about 4 minutes), then headed out to scout the river put-in at Sand Island BLM campground and boat ramp. This is where the group will be launching their kayaks to paddle downstream on the San Juan River to Mexican Hat.

The next morning, we headed west to Mexican Hat to find the boat ramp where they will take out their kayaks. It is a maintained boat ramp and park. This take out is about 23 miles downstream from Sand Island. After that we drove out to Goosenecks State Park to check out the overlook of the San Juan River. The views are amazing and the surrounding area is scattered with red rock formations, buttes, mesas and canyons. On the drive to Mexican Hat, there was a view of Monument Valley in the distance; amazing being that it is about 50 miles away. Next, we drove up highway 261, which goes up to Cedar Mesa. This road climbs up the side of the mesa on a special dug out road called the Moki Dugway. This gravel road is on the side of the mesa with many switchbacks and steep drop offs. Wow, it was exciting and scary at the same time and the views of the valley were amazing. After reaching the top, we headed back down towards Mexican Hat. The highway back to Bluff goes over Comb Ridge, a natural monocline going north to south and nearly 80 miles long. The pictures of the Comb from the air or satellite show an amazing natural structure. Later in the day, Kurt found another put-in upstream from Sand Island, called Footbridge Road. We drove out there to find the location, as he wanted to do a short paddle the next day on the San Juan.

The next morning, we drove Kurt and his kayak to the put-in where he launched. Two hours later and 8 miles downstream I picked him up at Sand Island. It was a fairly mild part of the river, with not many rapids, just very calm. This would give him a little idea of the river trip ahead of the group.

The next afternoon, the river group arrived in Bluff. Cindy, Terrie, Cliff, Mike and Debbie met us at our camper for a barbeque cookout. We all had a nice meal and discussed the river trip. They would launch the next day at Sand Island.

The next morning we all met at Sand Island, unloaded the kayaks and gear, and then shuttled their cars back to Bluff, where they would be stored until the end of the river trip. I watched as they all shoved off and headed downstream, they would be facing 3 major rapids which are Class II & III. I wondered and hoped that all would go well and they would have a great time paddling and camping two nights on the river. I headed back to the camper to hang with Kody and Kirby for two nights.

The next day, I visited Bluff Fort, the historic original encampment of the Mormon pioneers. There was so much history there about how the Mormon families suffered great challenges to create the road over the rock ridges to get to the chosen area. Some of the original log homes and buildings are still in place, others have been reconstructed.  Later, I was also able to get the dogs and their bedding washed. They were way overdue for a bath. I got some other housekeeping done and also cleaned the interior of the truck (it was full of red sand and gravel). I was getting ready to shower and have some dinner when I got a call from Kurt. They were already at the Mexican Hat boat ramp and were ready to get off the water. After I drove to Mexican Hat, they explained that the three ladies had all turned over their kayaks (at least once if not more) and most of their camping gear and clothing were wet, along with losing some of their gear. They were ready for a hotel room and a shower. We shuttled them back to their cars so they could go back to get their kayaks and gear. Even though they were mostly wet and survived the rapids, they still had a great time.

After everyone got some rest that night, we met again the next evening in Mexican Hat for dinner at a favorite restaurant, Swingin’ Steak. The meat is cooked on a swinging grill over the wood coals. We all enjoyed the steaks and side dishes. It was a nice evening to hang out with the family.

The next day, we all headed up to Moab, for a few days of celebrating and hanging out for some good times.