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Images
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Early morning panorama of cliffs that signal the start of Desolation Canyon. This was our last, and probably most spectacular, campsite of this section of Uinta Basin. It was approximately 9 miles from our take-out at Sand Wash.
Early morning panorama of cliffs that signal the start of Desolation Canyon. This was our last, and probably most spectacular, campsite of this section of Uinta Basin. It was approximately 9 miles from our take-out at Sand Wash.
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).
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.
An integral part of each segment of the expedition is a recorded dialogue in which participans reflect on such things as Powell's legacy, the future of the West in light of water and energy issues, and what personal growth has occurred as a result of the expedition.
An integral part of each segment of the expedition is a recorded dialogue in which participans reflect on such things as Powell's legacy, the future of the West in light of water and energy issues, and what personal growth has occurred as a result of the expedition.
A properly rigged cataraft on the banks of the Green River in the Uintah Basin
A properly rigged cataraft on the banks of the Green River in the Uintah Basin
Hydrologist Nick plays a river tune
Hydrologist Nick plays a river tune
Our last evening on this section of river, exploring the cliffs and buttresses of the Uinta Basin. One of our team member pauses on heavily banded member of the Green River Formation with distant cliffs glowing in the setting sun
Our last evening on this section of river, exploring the cliffs and buttresses of the Uinta Basin. One of our team member pauses on heavily banded member of the Green River Formation with distant cliffs glowing in the setting sun
Although this section of the Green River in the Uinta basin lies between sections of dramatic red-stone cliffs of Ladore and Desolation Canyons, we did experience some profound geology. These cliffs are near the start of Desolation Canyon to the south.
Although this section of the Green River in the Uinta basin lies between sections of dramatic red-stone cliffs of Ladore and Desolation Canyons, we did experience some profound geology. These cliffs are near the start of Desolation Canyon to the south.
Team D braces itself on a windy bluff to watch another beautiful sunset
Team D braces itself on a windy bluff to watch another beautiful sunset
Starting two years ago, Professor Tom Minckley, from the University of Wyoming geology department, conceived and organized the Sesquicentennial Colorado River Exploring Expedition (SCREE), also known as the Powell 150 expedition. The USGS joined as a partner last year.
Starting two years ago, Professor Tom Minckley, from the University of Wyoming geology department, conceived and organized the Sesquicentennial Colorado River Exploring Expedition (SCREE), also known as the Powell 150 expedition. The USGS joined as a partner last year.
USGS geologist Graham Lederer (L) wrote a song about the expedition while floating down the river, and Professor Pat Likut (R), who teaches art at the University of Wyoming, did landscape sketches that he will later turn into oil paintings.
USGS geologist Graham Lederer (L) wrote a song about the expedition while floating down the river, and Professor Pat Likut (R), who teaches art at the University of Wyoming, did landscape sketches that he will later turn into oil paintings.
This calm section of river flows through a National Wildlife Refuge where we observed a great deal of wildlife, including beaver, peregrin falcons, waterfowl, a coyote, bighorn sheep and American white pelicans
This calm section of river flows through a National Wildlife Refuge where we observed a great deal of wildlife, including beaver, peregrin falcons, waterfowl, a coyote, bighorn sheep and American white pelicans