Powell 150

05 June 2019

By 0730 we were packed and moving towards the exit at Dinosaur National Monument. Before leaving, we wanted to stop and check out the raft landing on the Green River. It turned out we weren't alone.

The Colorado River Exploring Expedition, under the leadership of John Wesley Powell, set of from this spot in 1869. Today, students and academics are tracing the route, 150 years later.

Unexplored then, the voyage took ten men 900 miles through the Colorado River system all the way to current day Lake Mead. For more on the present day expedition, click through to the Powell 150 link.

We waited for the crews to get underway by reading the historical plaques...

Watching geese fly migrate northward...

and finally resorted to reading the warning signs, like this one regarding "killer" chipmunks.

We enjoyed a morning snack in the van.

Some film work and interviews were underway, but the crews didn't look any closer to casting off.

At 0900 we gave up and headed back up the hill, leaving the adventurers behind.

Heading north, we passed through the Ashely national forest A phosphate mine just outside of Vernal, Utah had beautiful views if you ignored the mine itself. From the mine, eight switchbacks helped us rise from 6,508' to 8,428' in elevation.

Just before lunch we crossed the modern Flaming Gorge Bridge which led to...

the Flaming Gorge Dam. Pulling in to the visitor's center parking lot, we couldn't resist the pull of a sign offering "The Best Dam Tour in Utah."

It really was a great tour and, as usual, we were the only people on the tour! This is the view from the top of the dam looking five-hundred and two feet down at the spillway.

This was one of the few infrastructure tours where we were allowed to bring cameras. Deep inside the dam are the huge generators. The floor vibrates with the power of the water passing through.

Each generator is rated at 51,650 kilowatts!

Passing out of the lower level of the dam, we were amazed at the huge water jet spraying hundreds of feet into the river beyond. We highly recommend the free 45 minute tour if you are ever in the area.

Back in the parking lot, we had been joined by a National Forest Service truck that made our van look tiny in comparison.

Three and a half hours further north, we had passed into Wyoming and pulled into the Fremont Lake Campground.

A self-service campground at this time of year, we were happy to put the $12 fee in their metal box for a paved site overlooking the lake with a fire pit, picnic table, and bear box!

The water was high and a few of the campsites were flooded. The water didn't seem to bother these three local residents.

As the sun set on our first day in Wyoming, the two of us were outlined on the van. Maybe we should have some decals made ;-)

Here's a map of the 235 miles from Green River to Fremont Lake.