In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Ruby Horsethief, Colorado River
15 June 2025 thru 17 June 2025
Ruby Horsethief in a day.
Ruby Horsethief in a day has been on our bucket list for a couple years. We had planned to try it last year, but it seemed like the water stayed high for quite a long time and then we were committed to other things by the time it did come down.
This year, I was keeping close eye on the San Rafael River, another bucket list item, though we did paddle it in 2017. The San Rafael has 4 source reservoirs that have been steadily filling but as of yesterday only 2 of the 4 were near or at 100%.
On the other hand, the Colorado River was running about 7,500 CFS, a good level for a day trip but not so high that it would be unmanageable.
Karla Tanner, who we paddled with on the Green River last October, is our partner in this endeavor.
Gary got to my place just before 11:00 AM; we loaded the truck and were on our way out of town around noon. The traffic was light the whole way from Longmont thru Boulder to Golden where we picked up C-470 then I-70 with a quick stop at Bair Ranch, east of Glenwood Springs.
We were in Grand Junction around 5 PM where we stopped at City Market for Sushi for supper and gassed up. Then on to Fruita at and the State Park, arriving around 5:30.
We had reserved walk-in tent site #51 for Sunday and Monday, fairly close to the entrance but hidden from the parking lot and restrooms. It was hot when we got here, probably close to 100! But we got everything unloaded and delivered to our tent site, using the park’s garden carts. It took 4 or 5 loads. Lastly, we took down the boats and wheeled them over.
Monday 16 June 2025
Our original plan was to be padding by 9AM, but there were high wind warnings to begin at 1 PM, so we pushed the start time back to 8 AM
Once settled into the tent, I heard the traffic noises on the highway, but it did not keep me from sleeping. And I am sure there were birds toward morning, though again, not enough to keep me awake.
Gary was up shortly after 6AM packing his boat. I rolled out of the tent around 7 and worked on finding boating clothes to change into. I have to say it was treat to get up when the air was already warm.
I had done my packing the previous evening, so now I only had to add coffee to my thermos and green ½ liter bottle for cold brew. Food, including breakfast, went into the hatches, it being too early to eat.
Gary was already headed to the boat ramp with his boat. And now, I was ready to haul my boat down as well.
A big surprise: how heavy it was! I re-arranged things so the water was in the cockpit, not on the deck nor in the front hatch. That helped. It was still heavy, but bearable, 5 steps at a time.
Lucky for me, by the time I was to the main road, Gary had returned. We took turns hauling my boat though he was able to haul further each time-
I went from 5 count to 10 to 20 to finally to pulling it for a 30 count. (If we do this again, I would bring the bigger wheels as the boat can be balanced, with not much energy needed to simply lift the bow.)
Finally, we are at the boat ramp. I would guess it took at least 15 minutes to walk it over. Karla was there, working on unloading her boat and gear. We all proceeded to ready our boats.
I walked back to camp once to return the wheels. Gary headed back a final time.
Now to launch. I am pleased the water is not bumpy right here. It seems easy to ferry but I cannot paddle upstream. I head downstream to an eddy and wait.
Gary is experiencing a minor difficulty. As mentioned, I could ferry but could not paddle upstream but Gary is able to paddle down to us. We all move downstream to a bigger eddy. Finally everything is resolved. We turn downstream and are on our way. It is 8:20 AM.
The river is moving us along without being pushy, though we do go through a wave train that that gets my attention!
We pass the Loma access at 9 AM, so 5 miles in 40 minutes which would make today’s run 6 hours long, about what we estimated.
Downward.
We pass Rattlesnake Canyon, Bull Canyon, Cottonwood Camp and Fault Line camp.
After Rattlesnake and Bull Canyons but before Cottonwood, there is a rapid below a wall on river left. This is where we swamped the borrowed canoe on our very first Ruby Horsethief Trip. That wave-train seemed pretty mild today, though maybe it's washed out.
There was a fire this past spring at Fault Line and Karla gets out to access. Its pretty well scorched and would not be a pleasant camping experience.
I should have photographed the silhouette of the burned out tree at Fault Line Campground and the train with coal cars down canyon.
On we go!
It is warming up. I was just a bit chilly to start but now I am glad I have on only a cotton oxford. Dipping my hands and arms into the water is refreshing.
Next is Salt Creek, where the train comes down to the river. I am focused on paddling today, not on taking pictures, but as we approach Salt Creek, there is a train pulling coal cars and I wish I could have taken a shot, capturing the sky, the walls, the train and the water.
Further is Mee Corner then Upper Mee then Mee Canyon proper. In the past, there has been a rocky rapid at the mouth of the canyon, making that take-out tricky. Today it is hidden under water and folks were amongst the larger rocks swimming.
Next is the Mee Wave-Train where Gary swamped the first time we did this run in the rented sea kayaks. Today, it is no different than usual, despite the higher flow.
After Mee, there is a big, folded cliff on the right.
Next is Black Rock!
It's been calm all morning, but it seems like the wind is starting to pick up.
Last time, I remember a line of black rocks as we approached Black Rocks proper, but today I only see a couple.
And, looking ahead, I could not see the big rock that sticks out in river center, though there was a bit of a hole we went by.
Black Rock is not much of a rapid at this level but it is swirly and I concentrate on is keeping straight. Soon we are through. I think about getting into an eddy on river left but am by it to before an attempt is made.
I look downstream and see the mouth of Mc Donald Canyon, so we not far from Knowles Canyon.
I take the left side of the upcoming island remembering that Knowles is on the left and before the end of the island.
Wrong Island! The passage between the island and rock is small and there is a riffle between the rock and a peninsula from the island jutting into the river. I worry about bouncing off the rock but manage to stay centered.
Up ahead is the the big island with Knowles on the left where we'll stop for a break.
We try the first eddy but it is way too small and I cannot get out. Down just a bit is a bigger, calmer eddy that we all get in. It takes effort to get out, being a bit stiff.
All morning, my butt and knees have been achy. But now, my upper arms are calling out.
We have a quick lunch then start again. The wind is increasing with a strong gust every now and then.
At the next island, we go right at my urging. But, at the following island, we follow Karla, go left, and have some reprieve from the wind.
I did not see the spot in the rock with "Utah", but we are in Utah. The river is wider and slower.
I am eyeing the railroad tracks, and they still hug the river. But then suddenly they don't and I know we are nearing Westwater. I go right of the island, though either side would work, approach the boat ramp and get out.
The wind on the last section was not too bad, though there were a number of gusts. I think we lucked out! It would have been a challenge to paddle into a steady wind at the end of the day, even for a little bit.
We unload, haul boats and gear; load everything on Gary's truck and are on our way.
A good day! We reached Westwater at 2:10, so just under 6hrs which included about 30 minutes for lunch.
It worked well to stay at Fruita again tonight, to avoid a long drive home after a long day.
An aside here, tasks for home:
(1) tighten the bungie associate with the rudder.
(2) different scheme for spare paddle as the bungee interfered with the operation of the rudder.