Green River Canoe Trip Part One

“It will be easy,” he said. “It’s basically just a fun float trip,” he said. “And the scenery will be spectacular.” Well, he was right about the last one.

“He,” of course, is Denis Beaudin – the outdoorsman extraordinaire and superb organizer who I have gone on about a dozen such adventures over the years. The thing is, all Denis Beaudin trips tend to be riskier and more challenging than you expect. I don’t know why I didn’t think about that when I asked Denis if I could invite my sister Becky Dolan and her husband Pat from Manchester, Iowa. It would be a stretch for them even under optimal conditions.

Becky and Pat had never done any camping to speak of, but became excited about the upcoming eight-day canoe trip on the Green River in Utah. So, apparently were a number of other people, fourteen in all. Because Denis had asked me to help plan and execute some of the meals, I was somewhat intimidated by the number of mouths to feed. But the people made the trip a success and each person contributed perfectly in his/her own way.

Besides Denis there was his vivacious and pretty wife Pam. Pam, who is always fun to be with, seemed to know where every item and foodstuff was packed in what bin or cooler and her organizational skills rival her husband’s.

Pam invited her thirteen-year-old grandson, Jayson. To be honest, I was worried about such a youngster on a trip like this. After all, the second youngest person on the trip was his grandmother. But Jayson, a big kid with an unusually cheery countenance, had a great attitude throughout the adventure and improved his canoe skills every day. Really good kid.

I had met Pam’s friend Ellen Eaton once while backpacking with Denis and Pam. Ellen is smart, extremely independent, tough and fearless (except around the saucer-sized wolf spider in the bottom of her boat).

A couple of guys made the trip all the way from Massachusetts – friends of Denis’ from high school. There was Paul Gravel, who was new to me. Paul is a gregarious man with a great smile, a good physique and a nice singing voice – an immensely likable fellow. The other easterner is Jim Bourcier. I have been on five or six trips with Jim. Garrulous and athletic, Jim always is a good guy to have around. He has great balance and strength and has helped me in past trips fording swift rivers and other difficult circumstances. In this trip he was a monster in loading and unloading our canoes in very challenging situations, among other things.

I love the Thompson brothers. I had gone on a backpacking trip a number of years ago with Rock. Rock Thompson has this low speaking voice that most radio personalities would give a left (appendage) for. He is accomplished in too many outdoors and business activities to recount. He refers to me as a Renaissance man, but the term far better describes him. Plus he is astonishingly strong for a man his size. Amazing guy. His brother John is great, too. Even towards the end of the trip, John would appear as if he stepped out of the cover of GQ, as if impervious to the sun, wind, sand and silt that wilted most of the rest of us. John has a good soul – one that has borne more than its share of trials. I hope to go on another trip with John.

It took me a couple days to figure out that Rick and Kurt were not actually brothers, too. I have so much respect for Rick Pylman. He is tall, handsome, wise and always knows the right thing to do – a real leader. He is the kind of guy that, if you were a woman, you would want for a husband. Or if you are a man, would want as your boss or business partner.

Then there’s Kurt Davis. What a guy! He bears a striking resemblance to Father Mulcahy from the old M*A*S*H television series (although I don’t think he appreciated the comparison). Kurt would always do the dirty work that others were unwilling or unable to do. As a result, he spent far more time in the river than anyone else. I credit Kurt for the having the most important role in rescuing Chalmers and me, a story I’ll get to later.

Speaking of Chalmers Turner, he is my travelling, backpacking and canoe partner. I introduced him to Denis a few years ago, and now Chalmers is an indispensable member of every trip. I first met Chalmers on the tennis court over twenty years ago, and we’ve become close friends since his return from a stint in the Peace Corps. He is wiry, strong and has great stamina. He loves to make me laugh and does so frequently.

We all met in Moab, Utah on Thursday, June 12. Pat and Becky had spent the previous night in Denver with Barbara and me. Early on Thursday we headed to Moab, Pat and Becky in their rig and Chalmers and me in mine. Once in Moab, we checked into the Moab Rustic Inn, an excellent motel with an outdoor meeting room where we all met and made introductions, munched on pizza and beer, organized gear and settled our financial arrangements.

On Friday morning (Day One) we met at Tex’s Riverways. Tex’s was our outfitter, where we could rent canoes, camp seats, dry bags, etc. and who would drop us off on the river and pick us up eight days later. They are great and we all recommend their services. We loaded our gear and we took off for the two-hour trip to the put-in point called Chrystal Geyser near the tiny town of Green River, UT.

We got the canoes loaded and tied/strapped down, and pushed into the river for the first of our 123 miles. The weather was good, we experienced some modest rapids in the first mile or so, and we had a great first day, topped off by a marvelous dinner of tenderloin of beef. All in all, a fabulous first day.

But stay tuned for the next installment. Day Two almost ended in disaster and easily could have. You can find it here.