Post by fly on Sept 10, 2012 4:33:55 GMT -5
Its fall here in Colorado, and fall is the time I'm usually camped out on the Jackson. Its been giving me the home sick blues. Saturday I finally decided I couldnt take it any more. Now im not one for bucket list, but the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River has been in my head since I decided to move out here last January. There are several different sections of the Gunnison. If you book a guided trip on the Gunny, odds are you'll float from Almont down to the town of Gunnison. This is a great section, I hit a killer PMD hatch there awhile back. Right now its probably full of Salmon and Giant Browns from Blue Mesa Lake. Another option is the Gunnison Gorge, this is where people float and do overnight trips. (Its next) I didnt feel like playing bumper boats with the crouds on the Upper Gunny, and I didnt have the time to spend a few days floating and having my gear hauled down via pack mule. I wanted an adventure, something that only happens in dreams. I wanted the Black Canyon, to narrow to raft; to remote for crouds. So a buddy and I set out Saturday evening looking for an adventure. We crossed several mountain passes along the way, stopping at a couple to take pictures. We arrived around 9pm. and went to the South Rim Campground. Chucked a big flank steak on the fire and proceeded to make peace, with a bottle of "peace maker" The steak was either the best we had ever had, or we were just really stoned? Either way it was awesome, and not long after we the sack. I folded the back seats down in the explorer, while Jeff slept under the stars on the air mattress. Soon moring light woke us and the adventure begun.
We headed to the nearest ranger station to get our permits and find out where to start? Now they dont just let everbody go into the Cayon, its 2000+ feet deep and the trails that decend the canyon walls are steep with loose rock and cliff faces to climb. But we proved fit enough and our permit was issued. Soon we were climbing/walking down a very nasty "trail" at one point so steep that there is a chain running down the side of the mountain to lower yourself down and pull yourself up. Needless to say we adventually made it to the river 2000 feet below. From here words cant describe, I cant many fish; mostly on streamers. Only one bow out of the bunch ! Before I get to the pics, I'll add....the walk down was nothing like the climb back up !!! I wouldnt recommend this to anyone who is not fit and used to the high elevation...people die doing this !
Mountains along the way:
The big city or Silverton:
Cowboys supper:
Views from above:
The trail head:
Part of the trail:
Stopping to take some pics (not an easy task with a 40 pound pack):
Some pics on the way down:
Paradise :
Now for the good stuff:
And finally, time to go home:
We headed to the nearest ranger station to get our permits and find out where to start? Now they dont just let everbody go into the Cayon, its 2000+ feet deep and the trails that decend the canyon walls are steep with loose rock and cliff faces to climb. But we proved fit enough and our permit was issued. Soon we were climbing/walking down a very nasty "trail" at one point so steep that there is a chain running down the side of the mountain to lower yourself down and pull yourself up. Needless to say we adventually made it to the river 2000 feet below. From here words cant describe, I cant many fish; mostly on streamers. Only one bow out of the bunch ! Before I get to the pics, I'll add....the walk down was nothing like the climb back up !!! I wouldnt recommend this to anyone who is not fit and used to the high elevation...people die doing this !
Mountains along the way:
The big city or Silverton:
Cowboys supper:
Views from above:
The trail head:
Part of the trail:
Stopping to take some pics (not an easy task with a 40 pound pack):
Some pics on the way down:
Paradise :
Now for the good stuff:
And finally, time to go home:
