DAVE ALLURED’S EMAIL on 8-30-2007 regarding the Cisco to Moab trip:

The Colorado River trip is in great shape.  I am sad to report that the
Flaming Gorge trip was cancelled, but several from that trip are now
joining us.  Here is the current sign up list for our trip:
 
  Dave Allured and Karen Maley
  Dan Carpenter and Darren Harvey
  Bill and Kathy Ashworth
  Douglas and Helen Kretzmann and kids, ages 6 and 9
  Jeff and Julie Oxenford
  Karen Amundson
  Alan Bell
  Jeanne Willson
  Jerry and Marci Nolan
  Howard Brown and Maribeth Pili
 
The flow looks great, 3700 cfs and dropping.  I predict low 3000's for
the start of the trip.  The water temperature will be good for
swimming.  The weather forecast is hot and dry for the whole weekend:
 
 http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv?site_no=09180500
  (Waterdata website temporarily broken as of noon today)
 
 http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/include/webfcst.php?city=loma
 
MEETING PLAN AND SHUTTLE.  10 am Saturday morning, September 1, at the
BLM boat ramp at Cisco Landing.  Unload gear and be ready to shuttle
cars (drivers only) by 10:30 to 11 am.  The car shuttle will take nearly
two hours.  Whether you shuttle or stay, remember to have lunch and
water with you.
 
NOTE:  If you think you want to get off the trip any sooner than the
final take-out at Big Bend, you must decide by the START of the shuttle
where you want to drop off your car.
 
Please be considerate when using the boat ramps.  Use the sides of the
ramp for canoes, and leave the center open for rafts and other boats
coming and going.  Unload your stuff on the ramp, then move your vehicle
promptly and go to packing your boats.  There is a nice sand beach on
the right side of the ramp, perfect for rigging and parking canoes for a
couple hours.
 
DIRECTIONS TO PUT-IN.  Go to Cisco, Utah, about 30 miles west of the
Colorado state line, and a few miles south of I-70.  Cisco is mostly a
ghost town with a few buildings.  There is an east Cisco exit and a west
Cisco exit; the east is shorter, but either one will do.  The east Cisco
exit is NOT SIGNED FOR CISCO, as I recall.  Consult a road map.
 
From Cisco, take a crudely paved or gravel road southeast, with a sign
something like "BLM River Access" or "Cisco Landing" or maybe "Fish
Ford".  In about 2-1/2 miles, take the LEFT fork another 2 miles to
Cisco Landing; do not go right to Fish Ford.
 
DO NOT take Hwy 128 south toward Dewey Bridge by accident, two miles
west of Cisco.  That is not the way to Cisco Landing.
 
Overview map:
http://www.rockymountaincanoeclub.org/maps/colo_dewey.gif
 
LAST CHANCE.  Please arrive with 2/3 tank of gas or better.  There is no
drinking water or gasoline in Cisco or at the put-in.  The closest exits
with good commerce are Fruita to the east, and Crescent Junction to the
west, I think.  (Loma has a gas station too, out of the way, a mile or
two north.)
 
SUGGESTIONS FOR FRIDAY NIGHT CAMPING.
 
* Fish Ford by road, right fork south of Cisco, about 2
 more miles.  I am leaning toward that myself.
* Flat areas at and before Cisco Landing.  I'm not sure
 what's available, but I have heard of others doing
 this on occasion.  There is a fair amount of private
 property near the river, so watch out.
* Lots of generic public land nearby along the Fish
  Ford road, Dewey Bridge road, and both sides of I-70.
  Get a public lands map such as the BLM Moab quad
 listed below.
* Dewey Bridge campground, 25 minutes out of your way.
* State parks:  Highline, Colorado River, Island Acres.
  Most public campgrounds will be tight on the first
 night of Labor Day weekend.
* Coal Canyon (Cameo).
* Motels in Rifle, Palisade, Junction, Fruita.
 
PLANNING SCHEDULE.  The main trip can be roughly divided into four parts
for planning.  You can run any sections that you wish.  You can get off
the river if you are uncomfortable about a section.  There is road
access at the start and end of every section.  Mile points refer to
Belknap's river guide:
 
Sat PM-Sun AM  Cisco Landing to Dewey Bridge, 110.4-94.4
 16 miles.  All class I.  Probable river camp
 at or below Fisk Ford, mile 105.8 to 103.
Sun AM-Sun PM Dewey Bridge to Hittle Bottom, 94.4-88.0
 6 miles.  All class I.
Sun PM-Mon AM Hittle Bottom to top of Ida Gulch Rapid, 88.0-80.8
 7 miles.  Moderate class II at Onion Creek Rapid,
 rocky, shallow.  River camp near mile 84.7.
Mon AM-Mon PM  Top of Ida Gulch Rapid to Oak Grove, 80.8-71.0
 10 miles. 5 named rapids, class II+ or III-.
               Possible re-entry at Sandy Beach, 76.2, with
 only class I and II below.
 
There are a number of additional access points where you are welcome to
join or leave our trip.  If using an intermediate access point, you may
need a vehicle drop or hitch hike.  There are numerous ways to work this
out, depending on circumstances, so I won't elaborate right now. 
Contact me if you want to plan for an intermediate access.
 
LATECOMERS:  I don't mind people arriving late or trying to catch up
with the trip.  However, if you miss the main shuttle, I can promise
only a ride back for your driver at the end of the trip.  Possible catch
up plans include the following.  The listed times are when I think we
might pass by; we will not generally be stopping or waiting.
 
  Saturday 12:30 pm, miss shuttle but start paddling with the group
  Saturday evening, paddle down to camp at or below Fish Ford
  Sunday 10 am to noon at Dewey Bridge
  Sunday noon to 3 pm at Hittle Bottom
  Sunday evening, paddle down to camp below Onion Creek, river right
  Monday 9 to 11 am at Ida Gulch Rapid, aka Rocky Rapid
 
SAFETY GEAR:  Required equipment for canoes on this trip includes a PFD
for each person, one spare paddle, bow and stern lines (painters), a
bail bucket or pump, and secure lashing for all your gear.  Lashing may
be skipped on the first day, all flat water, if you promise not to tip
over.   ;-)
 
For the main section with rapids, Hittle Bottom to Big Bend, I recommend
float bags installed in bow and stern.  It is not necessary to use a
float bag in areas of your boat that are filled with camping gear.
 
Other recommended safety equipment includes a spare PFD, a throw rope,
and a first aid kit.  Helmets for the rapids are optional.  I don't
recommend wetsuits for this particular combination of rapids and water
temperature.
 
HIKES.  Short and moderate side hikes will be available after paddling
on Saturday and Sunday.  You may wish to bring hiking shoes and a small
pack.
 
WHAT ELSE TO BRING:  Your own tent, sleeping bag, pad, and camping
stuff.  Clothing for all sorts of weather from cold and wet to hot and
dry.  Water bottles, camera.  Dry bags for your clothing and camping
gear.  Luxuries such as cooler, folding chairs and table.
 
MAPS. Optional.  I recommend Belknap's Canyonlands River Guide, from
most boat shops.  Also the BLM Moab 1:100,000 topographic map, surface
management edition, for excellent coverage of public/private boundaries
and local roads.  Available at BLM offices and some map and outdoor
stores.
 
WEB SITES.
 
BLM website for the river corridor.  Please note the listed rules and
regulations:
http://www.blm.gov/utah/moab/riverec.html
 
Jerry's Local River Guide:
http://home.mesastate.edu/~jerry/guide/c4d.htm
http://home.mesastate.edu/~jerry/guide/cisco-moab.htm
 
Crude overview map, showing the Cisco Landing road:
 
Please call or write before 1 pm Friday if you have any more questions. 
You may be able to reach us on Karen Maley's cell phone, 303-516-0952,
starting Friday afternoon.  Cell coverage between Cisco and Moab is weak
to none.  Please let us know if your plans change.
 
See you on the river!
 
--Dave
h-303-000-0000 (weekday mornings and evenings best)
w-303-000-0000 (only when urgent)