Red Wash and Split Mountain
We hiked along the Green River this morning north from our campsite to the Split Mountain group campsite. There is a large section of this campsite that is closed and hasn’t been used for a long time. The rest of it is marked as group camping, though there seemed to be one large RV in the campground that likely isn’t group camping. It has been there the whole time we’ve been in this area.
Enid was startled by a small deer on her left that jumped up just as we entered the campsite. The deer didn’t seem to be able to walk well. It must have some kind of a leg injury. It stood and watched us, so we walked on not to stress it any more.
We stopped at the Split Mountain boat ramp. This is a huge paved area that is used as a takeout from the Green River. There are at least half a dozen number loading areas on the ramp. Signs indicated that you should take all your gear out quickly at one of these numbered spots, and not interfere with other groups. Though the ramp was empty this morning, there must be times when it is very busy from rafters coming down through the river canyon, given its size. There were at least a dozen trucks with empty raft trailers in the parking lot there.
From there we hiked the Desert Voices nature trail. This is a trail that is signed with some interpretive signs, but mostly statements about ecology and wilderness in particular as it relates to the desert, and the role of a national park. While I agreed with their sentiments, I couldn’t help but think that it was preaching to the converted. I am sure that most of the people who would take the time to walk this trail would already be sympathetic to the views expressed. I thought that perhaps the statements need to be learned by the many over-consuming RVers that never make it to the campsites in the National Parks.