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Put-in
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Pandale Crossing
|
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Take-out
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Boat Ramp at
Highway 90
|
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Gage
|
USGS Pandale, 97
cfs
|
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Temperature
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55 deg F to 85 deg
F
|
|
Sky
|
Cloudy, Sunny
|
|
Moon Phase
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In the fourth
quarter, Moon rise in early mornings
|
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Precipitation
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Misty, Rainy
several nights
|
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Wind
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Windy in all the
long pools
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Coordinator
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Christy Long
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|
Participants
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Kent Walters, Ken
McCormick, Amy McGee, Gary Tupa, Duane Heckelsberg, Christy Long
|
|
Shuttle
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Emilio’s
Charter Service, 830-317-0760. $200 per vehicle. The shuttle rides in your
vehicle, drives your vehicle to Emilio’s, where it is safely parked. Then on
the day you take out, the driver will bring your vehicle to the take out.
|
|
Tow out
|
James Depenbrock,
832-655-5301.The tow out is $300 (split among the boaters). This service is
limited by water level, condition at the boat ramp, number of boats, and
weight to be pulled.
|
|
Craft
|
Started out with 2
canoes, 4 kayaks, Ended with 2 canoes, 3 kayaks. Read story below for
details.
|
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River Miles
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60
|
|
HCC Club Miles
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280
|
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Road Miles
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950
|
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Guide Book
|
Lower Pecos River,
by Louis F. Aulbach and Jack Richardson
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|
Photos
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Four albums in the
HCC Photo Library.
|
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Food
|
Dehydrated or
no-cook meals. Small backpackers’ stoves.
|
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Water
|
One gallon per
day, per person. Some carried all their water, others filtered all their
water, still others did both
|
Getting There
I-10 to Highway 90 to Comstock. About 6 hours from Houston. It took Amy and I eight hours to get to Emilio’s.
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Day
|
Start
Time
|
End
Time
|
River
Miles (day)
|
River
Mile Marker
|
Route overview
|
Destination
|
|
Sun, Mar
15
|
8:30
|
4
|
--
|
--
|
Travel to
Emilio’s. One mile west of Comstock. 4:00 meet for Gary's soup and sandwich. 6:00
arrange gear so only four vehicles go to the put in
|
Emilio’s
Charter Service
|
|
Mon, Mar
16
|
9:00
|
5
|
9.5
|
9.5
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Wonderful campsite past
Oppenheimer Canyon, Travel to put-in, Paddle to mile 9.5
|
unnamed site at 9.5
|
|
Tue, Mar
17
|
9:00
|
3:00
|
11
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18
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Mile 9 rapid class two.
Mile 11 ledges campsite. Mile 13 boulder gardens. for a mile. Mile 14 rocky
drop. Mile 17 flutes.
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Everett Canyon
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|
Wed Mar 18
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9:00
|
3:00
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10
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28
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Mile 18 flutes for two
miles. Mile 26 unnamed drainage.
|
Harkell Canyon
|
|
Thur, Mar
19
|
9:00
|
3:00
|
10
|
38
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Mile 30 pin rock rapid
class two. Mile 36 still canyon rapid class two. Mile 38 power lines across
river, Lewis canyon, Rock ledge camp
|
Rock Ledge camp Left
|
|
Fri, Mar
20
|
9:00
|
3:00
|
6
|
44
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Mile 39 Lewis canyon rapid
class two, waterfall rapid, class two three, Ledge rapids class two. Mile 42
Shumla bend. Painted canyon rapid class three four.
|
Painted Canyon
|
|
Sat, Mar
21
|
9:00
|
12:30
|
7
|
51
|
Mile 45
cable creek cable system extends from the top of the cliff, Weir dam, weir
dam rapid, big rock rapid class two. Mile 53 dead man canyon
|
Meet tow
out
|
|
Sat, Mar
21
|
2:00
|
5:00
|
9
|
60
|
Mile 55 Pecos
high bridge, Mile 59 Hwy 90 bridge.
|
Tow out
|
|
Sun Mar 22
|
7
|
2:30
|
|
400
|
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Home
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The Trip
We paddled sixty miles through canyons and desert. I drove two days, paddled six days, slept six nights on the river. and stayed overnight at the Emilio’s and one night at the Comstock Hotel after the tow out.
We paddled 7 to 11 miles a day with breaks and hikes.
Sun, Mar 15, 2020 -- Traveled to Emilio’s. One mile west of the Comstock light to meet the group at 4:00. Gary graciously provided soup and sandwiches for our group. Gary and Duane consolidated their gear into Gary’s truck. That way only three vehicles went to the put-in.
We stayed at Emilio’s Sunday night, he offered his pavilion when he found that our usual place to camp, Seminole Canyon State Park, was closed for repairs.
Ken on the left on the floor, Kent on the right on the floor, and Amy in the tent under Emilio’s Pavilion. Photo by Christy Long
We were very pleased with the lively decorated pavilion and restrooms he offered us. Amy and I erected our tents under the pavilion, without the fly. Duane, Ken and Kent put their sleeping bags on the floor with a tarp over them. Gary chose to sleep in his truck.
Emilio’s Pavilion. Photo by Christy Long
Around 11 pm it started raining, at midnight the rain was coming down horizontally. Amy and I got up and put our rain flies on the tents. My sleeping bag was wet and so was the inside of my tent. It rained for several hours and only Duane woke up dry.
Mon, Mar 16, 2020 – Emilio and his daughter-in-law provided much needed coffee and taquitos. Those of us with wet gear hung it on trailers, hoping it would dry a bit before the shuttle.
8:00 AM -- We started the hour-long shuttle to Hwy 1024 to Pandale. We were able to drive onto the river bed getting very close to the put-in. Cloudy, windy, and cool.
Gary, Duane, Amy getting ready at the put-in. Photo by Kent Walters
10:30 AM Launch-- Everyone was ready to launch. We took a group picture and said goodbye to the shuttle drivers.
Ken, Kent, Gary, Christy, Amy, Duane all Fresh and Innocent. Photo by Christy Long
Emilio (left) and Christy.
We started out walking the boats, but after thirty minutes we were walking and paddling. We were paddling after about an hour.
The rapids were read, run, and push off of rocks. The long pools were beautiful and we saw fish darting back and forth under us. I recognized longnose gar and bass. What a river.
Duane and Kent pushing boats off of rocks. Photo by Ken McCormick
We arrived at mile 8, Oppenheimer Campsite and was not impressed. Some wanted to endure the cannonball size rocks but others wanted to travel another mile and a half to an unnamed site. So, we all agreed we had the time and stamina to travel to the site, close to mile marker 9.5.
Duane Heckelsberg enjoying the water when we had it.
4:40 PM, Mile 9.5 – Arrived at a much, much better campsite. We used big rocks and shrubs to tiedown our tents. While sitting out under the stars we noticed, lots of lightening at both ends of the canyon. I was told it rained during the night but it did not wake me up.
Unnamed campsite at mile 9.5. Photo by Amy McGee
Tue, Mar 17, 2020
9:00 Launch-Cloudy, windy and cool. Before we left on the shuttle there was a heavy rain forecast for the Del Rio. We kept this thought in the back of our heads as we prepared for the day and night. We ran several Class II rapids.
Kent Walters thankful for the water. Photo by Ken McCormick
The water level was low and you had to look ahead to stay in the channel for most of this section. We had bonus rapids because of the low water level.
Lunch at a great site. Photo by Ken McCormick
Mile 17, we walked the flutes but they seemed to have more water than some of the rapids.
Ken McCormick check out the lunch spot.
4:30 – Mile 18, arrived at Everett Canyon. We stayed on the left, downstream side of the canyon. There were turkeys flying from river-right to river-left. Horses were in the area that we wanted to stay.
Horses letting us have the downstream side of Everett Canyon campsite. Photo by Amy McGee
They gave way and we had a great campsite. Not sure it would be there at a higher water level.
Everett Canyon Campsite. Photo by Amy McGee
Duane spoke with the family that had come to the river, and they agreed to call Emilio to come to the canyon, so Duane could take out. He was not feeling well.
That evening Gary started a fire and we enjoyed the sky, talked about the day’s events, and what tomorrow would bring. Taking one day at a time.
Gary enjoying small fire at Everett Canyon. Photo by Kent Walters
Amy and Christy enjoying the fire and discussing the next day’s adventure.
Wed, Mar 18, 2020
8:00 AM – Cloudy, slight breeze, cool to warm. While we were packing our boats six horses decided to walk across the river from river-left to river-right. The lead horse slowly walked the length of the flutes making her way to the right, while the other five horses followed in her footsteps. Before long all were on river-right enjoying the beautiful pasture.
Horses walking upstream on the flutes. Photo by Amy McGee
Then the turkeys decided to walk directly across the river from river-right to river-left, in single file. It was a sight.
9:00 AM – The landowner escorted Emilio to the river. By this time Amy decided to take off because her hands were cramping and swollen. We watched them drive off about 9:15 AM. We were sorry to see them go and we know it was a hard decision but they have many years to come back and run this wonderful river.
9:30 AM Launch– As we were paddling and waving goodbye to Duane and Amy, five deer ran out in front of us. We were thrilled to see nature at its finest.
Our day started with two miles of flutes, then the river was just boney. We were dragging boats and unpinning boats most of the day, it was a strenuous.
Gary and Kent walking their boats on the second day of flutes
4:30 PM, Mile 28 – We arrived at Harkell Canyon and paddled up into the canyon to a wonderful campsite. Kent and Ken stayed on one side and Gary and I stayed on the other side. Kent and Ken’s side was three feet above the river and my side was one foot above the river. Gary and I pitched our tents on a pad of pea-gravel. Very comfy.
Gary Tupa built a campfire on our side of the canyon. Kent and Ken joined us for a nice evening.
Campfire at Harkel Canyon. Photo by Christy Long
Thu, Mar 19, 2020
9:15 AM Launch– Cloudy to sunny, breezy, cool. We had a little more water, but still on the bony side. Rapids were low and boats got pinned. No one was injured and all boats were undamaged. We did lose gear during the day. I guess the River-Gods needed a pair of prescription glasses and a new Topo GPS.
Bony Rapids, Photo by Kent Walters
The fish was so plentiful I wanted to take up fishing.
4:30 PM, Mile 39—Arrived at Rock ledge campsite.
Rock ledge Campsite. Photo by Christy Long
We visited the archeology site. Swam a bit. Sat and watched the sky, it was windy so we did not have a fire. It rained around midnight. Gary pulled my boat up, brought my table closer to the rock ledge, and suggested that I move my tent. Moving my tent was a good idea as it rained enough to create a puddle where it had been located.
Fri, Mar 20, 2020
9:15 AM Launch– Still more water, but rapids were on boney side, and boats got pinned.
Mile 39- Lewis Canyon Rapid was bony so we each scouted and determined the best line for ourselves and our boats. We pushed off the rocks, walked our boats, and lined our boats. With the scouting, it took us an hour to get through this long rapid.
Christy Long Scouting Lewis Canyon Rapid. Photo by Kent Walters
Mile 40- I ran Waterfall rapid, open-side up, and dry.
Waterfall Rapid. Photo by Ken McCormick
2:30 PM, Mile 44 – Painted Canyon. Got our gear out of the boats and onto the ledge. We walked the boats down Painted Canyon Rapid. The water was so low that we had trouble getting them around some of the boulders at the bottom of the rapid.
Christy and Gary preparing to off load gear at Painted Canyon. Photo by Kent Walters
With only four tents we each had a great campsite. Kent snagged a spot with boulders all set up for his tent.
Kent Walters carries gear to the take out. Photo by Christy Long
We had it to ourselves, until a woman showed up and camped with us at the upstream end of the rapid. She built a great fire to share and we sat around talking about the trip.
Mystery Woman. Photo by Christy Long
Sat, Mar 21, 2020
8:45 AM Launch– If you watched the water you could float most of this portion of the river. The rapids were boney and caused a few pinned boats.
12:30 PM, Mile 52-- Ken stayed out in front, kept up a fast pace, and we met James Depenbrock, the tow-out person in record time. James had Gatorade and Cheese Crackers for us. He tied our boats end to end with my canoe in the front.
Looking Back at the Line of Boats. Photo by Christy Long
2:30 PM, Mile 60 -- It took about two hours to cover the eight miles to the boat ramp. It was a slowly, steady, and cold ride. There was plenty of water until we got within 500 feet from the boat ramp. When we were about 100 yards from the boat ramp, we untied our boats and Mr. Depenbrock pushed his John boat to the ramp. As he got close to the ramp, he started feeding out a rope.
Using our paddles, we pushed our boats toward the rope. When we came in contact with the rope, we then used it to pull ourselves to the boat ramp. It was a hoot. Glad I had been working out. This last 500 feet of the trip kept me up at night, wondering if I should cancel the trip. Glad I didn’t.
Kent pulling himself and his boat to the boat ramp. Photo by Ken McCormick
Kent and Ken drove home that night and I spent the night at the Comstock Hotel and drove home on Sunday.
We found the world had changed and that the struggles on the Pecos were small in comparison to what was ahead of us.