>Hey Charlie.
>I was down in May-June and we pulled out at Pierce. The lake was
>wayyyyyyy up and not long after separation there was no flow. We had
>some motors on the trip so we towed off. It's a pretty good ways. The
>tow wasn't a detriment at all. I too thought it would be. It gave you
>time to reflect without having to think about current, rowing etc., and
>the drone of the motor does have a sort of calming affect unto itself.
>The lake should be down some now so current would last longer. but
>still the tow is a good option. i've floated rowed off before and it
>has it's bad side also.
>
>Take care and talk soon. BG
Dear GC Boaters:
Welcome to the world of Captain Polluto. I and several of my ex commercial
guide compatriots from the late 60's continue to don the garb of the
celebrated motor man in our desire to run Cataract at 70k cfs each year, and
to run Grand once each 3.5 years or so. We motor Deso, Westwater, and other
stretches. The typical trip is structured so that we travel no more in a
day than a lazy oarsman (which we are on the Middle Fork, Taos Box, Cross
Mountain, Pecos, Tat, etc.) can do in a day. The motor spends most of its
time at idle and well away from the rest of the boats. We carry huge loads
so our friends don't have to. Besides that, the rowing in Grand is somewhat
less interesting than the motoring (I've done plenty of both).
Used judiciously, you will find the motor to be tolerable, and a safety
bonus if needed for the 'haul-ass' out to civilization. On my last 17 day
Grand trip, we found the end of the trip to be disappointing and we had been
running a motor all along to accompany our 4 oar boats. So, when you suffer
dissappointment at your reentry point, don't think automatically that the
motor was to blame.
May you have a peaceful trip. Keep sand between your toes even if you wear
a tie.
Dave Yeamans (owner and lessor of Barcofelis elegans)
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