— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “orsdoc”
A couple of years ago we floated down the escalante river to fence > canyon after doing chop. That was so much fun we thought we would > float from Fence down to our next destination about 90 minutes south > of there via the river. I learned a few things from the experience.
I learned that Doc is a maniac. He gets full credit for the idea
> 3. Jeff Dredge and Ram both float better and faster than I do.
Fat floats better than muscle.
Even > Wyoming Dave floats better than I do. I never did figure out why.
He rode his pack most of the way
> 4. Ram’s two ridge rest pads don’t work well as pontoons for the long> haul. The pack flips over with the weight down low and the pads float> beautifully above the water on the pack.
Didn’t last 50 yards but a disclaimer. That was my 6,000 inch Dana Bob pack. Not the one one would want for such foolery. I had no idea that we were going to do this when I hauled that pig down the hill for all it’s conveniences. The huge padded hip belt weighted 25 pounds by itself by the time we got just a bit down the river. The pack empty, over 40 by the end.
> 5. Floating the Escalante with friends is a lot of fun and beats walking.
Amen. What a blast. A few tips for this river run. To be a plus, the river should be moving at 6 miles an hour at least. Your most likely to find that in mid May. This stretch was 4 air miles and the river meandered a bit over 8 miles. With a warm up break, took 1.5 hours down to the Bakers camp. Going feet first, on your back is preferred, unless your WyoDave riding the beast. Wearing a day pack, wetsuit and a helmet, help keep you riding just right. Ride it like the luge. Watch those strainers. Watch those hanging Russian Olive thorns. I let my pack go on its own, held by a loose cord. You think your in deep water much of the time, but mostly its under 2 feet deep. You bang your tail bone a hundred times. When the current takes you towasrd a wall, its a challenge to keep your head above water….I got to know and solidify my friendship with Jeff Dredge, my partner in speed, down the river. Seemed so odd, talking family and job while in the midst of this madness. Took. 2 days to dry the pack out. I’s do it again…with an Imlay pack this time. ;-) Thanx for conjuring up this memory, Mark. Ram PS Steve B and Nat and I did this same stretch 10 days later and it was 5 MPH. Quite a bit rougher, but compensated by only having day packs. Your neck does get sore from the strain of looking where your going.