We had a fantastic rafting trip with Emma and Morgan through the Gates of Ladore last week. Since we were three people of only a 4-person group, it was virtually a private trip. We had various dietary restrictions in our group, and Emma and Morgan were fantastic in accommodating them fully. The food was delicious and more than sufficient. We had two kayaks (duckies) for our group which were loads of fun through the rapids, and everyone got to take turns in them. Emma and Morgan had to unload and then reload all the equipment at each of our three campsites, but they did so without any complaints; each campsite had a “kitchen”, a “living room”, and a portable toilet (groover).
Our weather was fantastic, which enabled some of our group to sleep under the stars (which were phenomenal), but erecting and dissembling the rented tents was very simple. Our 4-day, 3-night trip through the Gates of Ladore left ample time for several hikes, including some to scout the upcoming rapids, and we also enjoyed the huge bonus of Morgan’s poetic compositions. As for the Gates of Ladore, it is a magnificent area that really needs to be seen to be believed. The crystal clear Green River has cut a narrow canyon through the middle of mountain range, resulting in spectacular scenery the whole way. We stopped at the fantastic Dinosaur National Monument museum of dinosaur fossils on the way back to Vernal, Utah. All in all, a fantastic trip – great to unplug for a while with no cellphone coverage, no wifi, no news.