Rio Chama, New Mexico :: Trip #16

Sunday, September 16 - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

River: Rio Chama, New Mexico
Put-in/Take Out: Cooper's Ranch just below El Vado Dam to Big Eddy  31 miles
Flow:  670 cfs and rising
Other boaters: Toby, Mikey (Gringo), Charlie, John & Cory.
Total 3 boats; mine, Toby's and John's.
The Rio Chama, a major tributary of the Rio Grande, flows through a multi-colored sandstone canyon whose walls grow to 1,500 feet. The river runs through areas that are designated as wilderness or as wilderness study areas. Towering cliffs, heavily wooded side canyons, and historical sites offer an outstanding wild river backdrop for the angler or float boater. The Rio Chama is a Wild and Scenic River, and was designated by Congress in 1988. To protect the river environment and maintain an opportunity for a high quality experience, boating use has been limited since 1990.
Because of the demand for trips in late spring and summer, there is a lottery system to assign launch dates. But after Labor Day, no permit is required. And normally after Labor Day, the flows drop to around 50 cfs. Due to whatever reason (irrigation, water rights, etc), the flows are perfect for a nice 3-day trip (or so the plan 'A' went).
The river passes through designated wilderness on the upper stretches; the lower section is lightly developed and very scenic.
Sunday was travel day; arrived late at the put-in & car camped by the river. Watched the moving water... a very nice thing to see! We'd have to get going early the next morning running shuttle.
Monday: Got my boat rigged, ready to run the 2+ hour shuttle to Big Eddy. Back on the river by noon. Floated a few miles to a fine campsite, set my tent near the rapids on the river - providing nice white noise to sleep by. 
Tuesday: Expecting a short day, we'll cover around 8 miles before the next campsite. Saw other boaters! 3 guys; one on a duckie, others on a raft, pulled out at our campsite so they could scout the next rapid. Apparently, in the past year a large boulder came off the cliff and changed the dynamics of the rapid a bit. They scouted & we watched 'em run it. No worries.
Packed-up and back on the river continuing thru the canyon. Came upon the group that passed us earlier, they were set-up at the campsite we were shooting for. No worries, there's more camping downriver. We passed a few sites over, being the picky bunch of guys that we are...eventually coming out of the canyon into flat water... passing the Monestary... at that point we were getting so close to the take-out, we decided to blow-off the campsite search and push it to the end. And the daylight was fading. Just as the sun was setting, we hit some of the most fun rapids of the entire trip! Nice wave trains, class II & III fun! Getting splashed and loving it, but looking forward to the take-out as a post-sunset chill in the air was making me long for some fleece. Made it to the take-out where there was no camping or fires allowed. Got our boats out & loaded, went a few miles up the road to a perfect car camping spot on Forest Service land. Massive drinking and meat eating was mandatory after a long day of pushing oars on the river. Whiskey, burgers, brats & wings. Hell yes.
Wednesday: Pack it up, head back to the put-in for Cory's car, then head home!
Easy trip...only incident was a blown wheel bearing on Toby's trailer. Saw the puff of smoke and hub come flying off the wheel just north of Alamosa...wasn't sure at the time what it was. Kept going, but kept my distance...the left wheel on the trailer was leaning askew. Got to just outside BV in Nathrop to drop off Gringo, then checked the wheel on the trailer - bad news, the bearing was gone and the wheel about to fall off. Damed lucky to get as far without that happening. Thanks to a local who works on cars & thanks to NAPA, back on the road in a couple hours.