We awake, make a quick breakfast, and start working on Tamarisk.
Some of the Tamarisk trees are pretty big, and take some effort to remove. Here Lara is demonstrating one which will soon be dead. Originally, all the branches were sawed off near ground level. Then, we had to dig down until the crown of the plant was exposed. This one's crown was about three feet down. Most of the digging was through loose sand, but the last six inches or so was through a cobble of rocks about four to eight inches in diameter. Once we reach the bottom, we have to clear enough area to get a saw in, and saw the main trunk off below the crown. One this size took two people the better part of an hour to finish off.
Shortly after lunch, we leave our worksite. There are still about half a dozen plants, but we've eradicated almost everything on the island. Heath congratulates us on our hard work, and says it's vacation time from here on in.
We stop at Echo Park for water, and for slightly less primitive bathroom facilities than the "groover" we have with us on the river. A game of Hackey-Sack provides entertainment. We get back on the river shortly.
Here I am, trying my hand at rowing after Echo Park. I enjoy it so much I finish the day. We stop at Jones Hole for the evening.
Jones Hole is a pretty side canyon where a very cold and clear spring-fed stream joins the Green River. Some of us hike up the creek to see some petroglyphs and a waterfall. We spot lots of bighorn in that canyon. I enjoy the cold refreshing shower in the waterfall.
We have our first campfire on the river at Jones Hole. Maria is kind enough to share her Dr. Pepper with us around the fire. Jesse tells us stories about doing some sort of strange Riverdance around the fire, but she refuses to demonstrate it to us.
Today is our last day on the river. We pack up, and move out.
Here's a picture of Ingrid enjoying herself on the oars in Island Park.
We arrive back at Split Mountain (where we spent the first night), at around 3:00 pm. Right about on schedule, as Maria is fond of saying. We unload the boats, wash them out, put them on the truck/trailer combo, sort out our gear, and run into the Pizza Hut in Vernal for dinner.
Here's the whole group, at the end of our trip. Sitting/kneeling: Rich (me), Maria, Lara, Jim D, Ingrid, Jaime, Brian (albondiga), and Andrew. Standing: Gary, Liz (parquiro), Jim C, Matt, Dale, Heath, Jonathan, Blair, and Jesse.
We camp at split mountain, and then prepare for the long drive home along I-80.
Our Dinosaur Staff and Guides: Gary, Heath, Jonathan, Matt, Blair, Jesse
If any trip participants have more photos or anectdotes to share, send them to me. I prefer to scan photos using just the 35mm negatives. I don't need or want your prints, unless you don't have negatives. Send me an e-mail for more info or see me some Sunday at HRT.
Technical note: My pictures were taken with a very cheap disposable waterproof 35mm camera (I didn't want to risk taking a good SLR on the river). I scanned the negatives to get them to electronic form.
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©1999 Richard Cochran