River Guide to Desolation and Gray Canyons on the Green River, Utah: A Mile-By-Mile Guide to the Green River Between the Towns of Ouray and Green River, Utah, and Geology of the Area [Paperback]

Thomas G. Rampton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1992

A mile-by-mile guide for river runners to Desolation and Gray Canyons on the Green River in Utah. There are maps, a chapter on regional geology, and an account of my solo trip there.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

"The first time I went down the river, I had no idea where to camp, what walks to take, or what rapids to scout. Proposed camps picked out from the map were often hopeless upon our arrival. I scouted easy rapids. I wish I'd known more about the river, and I hope to have addressed that problem here."

...from Introduction.

From the Back Cover

Where to camp
What rapids to scout
What walks to take
Where to launch and take out
Regional geology
Photographs and topographic maps

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 68 pages
• Publisher: Blacktail Enterprises (December 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963479903
• ISBN-13: 978-0963479907
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,296,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best of two guides available for Desolation, March 11, 2000

By 

Eugene Ahn "Dr. Eugene Ahn" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: River Guide to Desolation and Gray Canyons on the Green River, Utah: A Mile-By-Mile Guide to the Green River Between the Towns of Ouray and Green River, Utah, and Geology of the Area (Paperback)

I have both guidebooks available for Desolation Canyon, and I have run the river twice the past two years. I prefer this one to the Belknap waterproof guide. Belknap is in color and lists where the rapids are, but with Rampton's book you get a better description and rating of each rapid. You have marks on the map denoting where you can get out to scout. You have a more thorough list of side trips and hikes available, at least the mile marker at which they are located, although the details of the hikes ie. how long it takes and so forth are not good. It makes a good effort at listing all available camp sites, and even highlights a few of my favorites.

The map has more topographic details as well, and makes it easier to tell exactly where you are as you go downriver.

All in all, a better and more informational guide than its counterpart (which isn't available on Amazon for some reason), but like with all river guides, its limitations include the fact that no river is the same each time. It changes with river volume, season, and the natural erosion and rockshifting that goes on year to year. It's a no frills book in black and white but I highly recommend it to anyone who got lucky and won a permit to run this beautiful river.