Bill Burton studies a fossil as the sun sets over the Uintah Basin.
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Bill Burton Studies a Fossil
Bill Burton studies a fossil as the sun sets over the Uintah Basin.
A contemplative walk back to camp
Bill Burton follows the natural sand trail back to camp made by runnoff in a dry wash as the setting sun makes all the grasses glisten as they sway in the breeze.
Bill Burton follows the natural sand trail back to camp made by runnoff in a dry wash as the setting sun makes all the grasses glisten as they sway in the breeze.
A desert scene at sunset
In the desert, mother nature provides us with curved and sharp edged shapes, thorns and soft cottonny seeds, as well as brilliant and subdued colors side by side. The desert seems to have a bit of everything.
In the desert, mother nature provides us with curved and sharp edged shapes, thorns and soft cottonny seeds, as well as brilliant and subdued colors side by side. The desert seems to have a bit of everything.
Rock Art
Rock art found etched into the rocks of Desert Spring Wash
Powell 150 boatman Ben Capelin viewing Green River valley
Boatman Ben Capelin viewing the Green River from Three Canyon during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Boatman Ben Capelin viewing the Green River from Three Canyon during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Powell 150 Flat Canyon Petroglyphs in Desolation Canyon, Green River,
Flat Canyon petroglyph panel in Desolation Canyon, Green River, UT during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Flat Canyon petroglyph panel in Desolation Canyon, Green River, UT during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Anya Metcalf looks back at Split Mountain
Our first day was full of uncertainty about what we would experience. Many of us did not have experience on the river (although Anya Metcalf, in the photo, did). We left the impressive cliffs and topography of Split mountain wihout knowing what lay ahead, expecting less exciting topography, but we were all proven wrong about the Uinta basin.
Our first day was full of uncertainty about what we would experience. Many of us did not have experience on the river (although Anya Metcalf, in the photo, did). We left the impressive cliffs and topography of Split mountain wihout knowing what lay ahead, expecting less exciting topography, but we were all proven wrong about the Uinta basin.
Ben Capelin rows us downstream next to impressive cliffs.
Most of our days had this view- looking back on the river and having conversations with the rafter rowing the boat and whomever else we shared space. We were constantly surprised at the beautiful views and the impressive cliffs, which often housed cliff swallows.
Most of our days had this view- looking back on the river and having conversations with the rafter rowing the boat and whomever else we shared space. We were constantly surprised at the beautiful views and the impressive cliffs, which often housed cliff swallows.
Pat Kikut plays the guitar to an oil pumpjack
One of the topics we frequently talked about was land use. The Green River in the Uinta is different from other segments because it is surrounded by industrial activity, with scattered farms, livestock, oil pumpjacks. It is not known as a recreational destination, although the beauty is overlooked.
One of the topics we frequently talked about was land use. The Green River in the Uinta is different from other segments because it is surrounded by industrial activity, with scattered farms, livestock, oil pumpjacks. It is not known as a recreational destination, although the beauty is overlooked.
We find rock art from prehistoic peoples during a lunch stop.
These lands have never been empty, although in some places it feels that way. Before western settlers arrived, these lands were polulated by other peoples throughout prehistory. Tom McKinley estimates that these images were drawn during the Fremont age. Some images are clearly human, one may be a fish, others are less clear.
These lands have never been empty, although in some places it feels that way. Before western settlers arrived, these lands were polulated by other peoples throughout prehistory. Tom McKinley estimates that these images were drawn during the Fremont age. Some images are clearly human, one may be a fish, others are less clear.
View of the boats and river from a lunch hike vista
Most of our views were from the river level, where you are intimately connected to subtleties in flow, wind, and temperature. It was a welcome opportunity to view the river from above and gain context. We stopped here on the last full day on the river.
Most of our views were from the river level, where you are intimately connected to subtleties in flow, wind, and temperature. It was a welcome opportunity to view the river from above and gain context. We stopped here on the last full day on the river.
Solitary bee takes refuge for the night in a Globe Mallow flower
Tom McKinley was able to answer many of our questions about plant names and ecology in the area. When I shared his boat on the second day, he told me that the orange Globe Mallow flowers close up at night. Solitary bees will hold the stamen and let the flow close around them, using the flower for warmth and protection.
Tom McKinley was able to answer many of our questions about plant names and ecology in the area. When I shared his boat on the second day, he told me that the orange Globe Mallow flowers close up at night. Solitary bees will hold the stamen and let the flow close around them, using the flower for warmth and protection.
The last camp sunset over the Green River
The last night, as we neared Desolation Canyon, the bluffs got taller. Since the Green River is calmer here, it reflected the colors of the sunset. I was so worried about making it before the sun went down that I climbed the peak in my chaco sandals, a decision I regretted the next day since my foot were banged up.
The last night, as we neared Desolation Canyon, the bluffs got taller. Since the Green River is calmer here, it reflected the colors of the sunset. I was so worried about making it before the sun went down that I climbed the peak in my chaco sandals, a decision I regretted the next day since my foot were banged up.
Our boats drift on calm, foamy water next to massive bluffs
The Green River in the Uinta basin is fairly flat, so it carries a lot of foam. The foam often follows the fastest part of the river, with is ties to the shape of the channel and the curve of the river. From this level, you can sense subltle changes in the plant like, flow speed, temperature, water clarity, and fauna.
The Green River in the Uinta basin is fairly flat, so it carries a lot of foam. The foam often follows the fastest part of the river, with is ties to the shape of the channel and the curve of the river. From this level, you can sense subltle changes in the plant like, flow speed, temperature, water clarity, and fauna.
Anya collected a Golden Stonefly with a pseudoscorpion attatched
Anya Metcalf was the insict expert on this trip. We started pointout out and catching bugs for her to identify. This one crawled across camp during our podcast recording. It turned out to be a Golden Stonefly with a small pseudoscoprion attached to the mandlible using the fly for dispersal.
Anya Metcalf was the insict expert on this trip. We started pointout out and catching bugs for her to identify. This one crawled across camp during our podcast recording. It turned out to be a Golden Stonefly with a small pseudoscoprion attached to the mandlible using the fly for dispersal.
Sunrise lights the bluffs as this expedition leg nears its end.
On our last day of the expedition the landscape was dominated by the Green River Formation, famous for its fish fossils (although none were found in camp).
On our last day of the expedition the landscape was dominated by the Green River Formation, famous for its fish fossils (although none were found in camp).
The last sunrise from my tent illuminates the nearby cliffs
The final morning view from my text as the sun rose from the east and illuminated cliffs on the west. This trip was so wonderful and exceeded all of our expectations, it was hard to go back to reality.
The final morning view from my text as the sun rose from the east and illuminated cliffs on the west. This trip was so wonderful and exceeded all of our expectations, it was hard to go back to reality.
A tent is pitched on a ledge overlooking the Green River.
This was our final campsite before we left the river, approximately 9 miles upstream of Sand Wash. The scenery was beginning to transition from the flat and expansive Uinta basin to the high canyon walls that were upcoming in Desolation-Gray.
This was our final campsite before we left the river, approximately 9 miles upstream of Sand Wash. The scenery was beginning to transition from the flat and expansive Uinta basin to the high canyon walls that were upcoming in Desolation-Gray.
Six rafts are parked by the river's edge, getting loaded down with sup
We camped on a 20-30 ft. tall hill our last night, so shuttling kitchen gear up and down from the rafts was no easy task.
We camped on a 20-30 ft. tall hill our last night, so shuttling kitchen gear up and down from the rafts was no easy task.
USGS scientist sitting on a raft on the Green River
Nicholas Hammond is soaking up the views on his last day on the river. Photograph taken by Ben Capelin (SCREE).
Nicholas Hammond is soaking up the views on his last day on the river. Photograph taken by Ben Capelin (SCREE).
USGS scientist rowing a raft on the Green River.
Although we were all hoping it would never end, the final day on the river was a bittersweet reminder of the amazing experiences we had in the Uinta Basin.
Although we were all hoping it would never end, the final day on the river was a bittersweet reminder of the amazing experiences we had in the Uinta Basin.