Today by the Numbers:
Number of pictures Jen took today: 0
Number of rafting trips taken today: 0
Number of times it hailed today: 1 (so far)
An Unintentional Down Day
We woke up to the pitter-patter of rain on the roof of the RV; a little earlier than anticipated. The Weather App still didn’t show rain until later in the afternoon. Note the fresh snow on the La Sal Mountains in the above picture. Trivia for Today: How much rainfall occurs in Moab, UT? Answer at the end of the post. We had a slow morning and Jen got in a few hours of work. We made it an official camping trip with a late breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. The rest of the morning was spent in camp, working, and hoping the clearing weather trend would continue so we could enjoy the river rafting this afternoon.
It was overcast and cool when we got checked in for our rafting trip. Bad news was there was a large group of 78 people (a parents day outing for a girl’s boarding high school in Provo, UT) also on the trip. Good news was that we were assigned our own guide and boat for the trip and the guide promised he would keep us a bit separated from the noise and commotion of the larger group. A bus ride to the put-in point was uneventful but, after we arrived, the weather took a turn for the worse. Gusty winds, heavy rain, and even some lightning. The guides offered to bus back those who didn’t feel comfortable going and would also take anyone who still wanted to go down the river. About half the group opted to go; we did not. There is no sense in being cold, wet, and miserable! The trip is billed as going rain or shine so we knew we were out the cost of the trip. On the drive back, we were treated to views of waterfalls coming off the higher plateau down into the Colorado River canyon. A rare sight as it only happens after some heavy rain.
By the time we got back to camp there was a message from the rafting company asking to call them so they could make it right. The result is that we will go tomorrow afternoon. Five star Yelp review for Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours! We decided to try a local place for dinner and went to the Blu Pig, a BBQ joint with live blues music. Cocktails were good and food was delicious.
Tomorrow morning, we will head into Arches National Park and then go on our rafting trip in the afternoon. Weather will be cool but sunny (if the app has it right this time 🙄).
Trivia Answer: Moab receives and average of 10” of rain annually (we got quite a bit of that today).
We had a similar experience in Moab – downpour rain, flash flood alerts, and hail the size of walnuts (Highlander was “totaled”). But it sure made for pretty hiking the next morning with reflective puddles. We didn’t see any waterfalls over canyon edges, though, very cool! You were smart not to go out on river in those conditions! Fingers crossed for sunshine tomorrow 🌞
I hope you know this isn’t going to be your last time in Moab! You’re going to have to take us there and show us around.
You’d love it in Moab and we’d love to come back with you. Can’t count how many times we said that you guys would enjoy this or love that!