Kristy's Blog

The Deso 8 in full color. Thanks to Weldon for these amazing photos!

Desolation Canyon Trip Photos – Full Gallery. Below are some examples

So hard to say this our friend, Leo, crossed the River tonight. He’s eddied out, on that other side, got a campfire goin’ already and a pot of coffee on…………. And you know he’ll be there for each of us, when our own time comes for that final river trip.

In so many ways, he was the best of us…the sudden, infectious laugh, the helping hand, the open heart……and so much more………

As most of you already know, Leo has been in an absolute dogfight with a grim, unrelenting illness………. He wore it with an abiding dignity………His concerns, right up to the end, were more about family and friends than himself……..

I am proud to have been among that number that he counted as ‘friend’…I’m grateful for all the years, and every trip that we made together……… One-of-a-kind, irreplaceable, unforgettable……

I firmly believe that as we carry him close in our hearts, a part of him will always be with us. There never was………or ever will be…….a river trip without a couple of ‘Leo’ stories……..

Ken and Leo (right) share a laugh.

Peace be with you, my brother.

Trip was fun, though there were some “mishaps”.

First of all, the bad news. The Kat that Dave brought for me was pretty un-rowable, neither me, Larry or Dave could row it comfortably. There was not enough clearance to fully bring back the oars for full strokes without leaning way forward or back. The first day for me was hell – 15 miles of flat water leaning forward most of the way. Larry tried it next and got stuck rowing it in lots of wind. Dave was still not convinced that it was un-rowable, so he rowed it for a day. Then he realized that it really did suck. 😆 So we all traded off rowing it. Dave made a solemn vow to “trick it out” for me so I would love it next time.

We had winds the second day approaching 45 miles/hr (when poor Larry was rowing). We had several nights of 15-25 degree temperatures which froze clothes, tents, water, and required extra time to thaw out frozen socks, pants, shoes, gloves. We just didn’t make the miles we needed to to get out on scheduled and this delayed the trip by a day. We got off the river Saturday around noon, de-rigged, Dave dropped me off at my car in Moab and I drove home.

The good news, we all had a bonding experience and Dave named us the “Deso 8″. Randy even wrote a song about our trip, it was pretty good. The scenery was gorgeous in the canyon with all of the cottonwoods a bright yellow and all the oak scrub brushes a bright scarlet color. Each camp spot was scenic and lots of good camp spots. I was able to row all day every day until Friday (even on that frickin’ Kat), when I needed to be a passenger after lunch for the rest of the day. I rowed Larry’s and Charles’s boats as well as the Kat. I handled the rapids well. The food was excellent.

I would do a trip again rowing my own boat, but I don’t think I have the upper body strength for so much flat water on such a long trip. Whew that is work!

Here is a little mini-documentary of our trip down the Middle Fork.

This is from our Grand Canyon Trip last November. Charles and Steve had a flip in Granite.

http://www.kristywelsh.com/gallery2/v/MiddleFork2008/

Enjoy!!

Well – we’re in Stanley, ID. Snow covering all the mountains – it’s breath taking.

After much ado, where the permit holder was going to back out of the trip, we are on!! I am excited! 2 days hiking in Yellowstone then on the River from the 23rd-29th! Yippee!