"A Look Back"

The Stories presented here are about people and events during the early days when this corner of Colorado was first settled.

Yampa Canyon
By Chuck Mack

Four Vernal Utah Men Navigate the Beautiful Yampa Canyon in the Spring of 1934 Compiled and Written by Chuck Mack--January 6th, 2006.

When I found this old newspaper clipping I thought it was well worth preserving. It quite possibly, and probably does, relate to the very first successful navigation of the Yampa Canyon by modern man. Today little thought is given about making float and boat trips through the canyon. But as with everything else of great importance, somebody always has to be the first to make the voyage. So it is safe to say the four men mentioned in the following story made a historic journey through the Yampa Canyon in 1934. The Hatch name is still today associated with river float trips, as they operate a successful business floating tourists and adventurous souls through the canyons of northwestern Colorado and Utah. What is interesting is the length of time that company has been plying their craft through these beautiful canyons. ________________________________________

Recently four Vernal men, Bus Hatch, Dr. Wallace S. Calder, Alton Hatch and Royce Mowry, at the crest of the high water this season successfully navigated the raging waters of the Yampa, (Bear River) Canyon, according to the Vernal Express. They believe themselves to be the first group to ever successfully navigate the stream. Yet others have tried to do so several different times. The following is a story as related by the Vernal newspaper: "The boat they used was a new craft owned by Alton Hatch and is 16 feet long. It is built with compartments so that food and supplies are protected from water which might be dipped by the boat while passing over the roughest places in the beautiful gorge. "Bus Hatch, experienced from a number of trips through gorges of the Green River, states the beauties of the Yampa Canyon rival even those of Ladore Canyon, famed for its beauty by every navigator who has faced the treacherous waters of the Green River. "The party launched their boat at the Bascom ranch, taking three days and two nights to make the trip through Yampa Canyon, camping on the third night at the mouth of Jones Creek. They came through the rapids of the Split Mountain on the Green River and were picked up at the base of the White Cliffs, which can be plainly seen east of Vernal. "During the trip through the Yampa the greatest drop was 15 feet in one-quarter of a mile and 36 feet in the mile. Although the canyon, about where they entered the stream, has 56 feet drop to the mile. "All of the quartet are high in their praise of the great beauty of the Yampa Canyon, and believe a scenic road through the Green River Gorge and thence into the Yampa would rival any scenic attraction in the world. "Wild life within the canyon is plentiful. They saw many tracks made by mountain lions and bear. Deer and elk are there also. It is reported there are mountain sheep, yet none were seen. "The thing that impressed them most of all the wild life observed was the large number of wild geese nesting in the canyon. The goslings were just a few days old and easily caught. When disturbed the mother goose would fly, but the gander would stay and fight for the young. "At no time did they consider themselves in any danger. All agree that with the help of an experienced boatman, the trip can easily be made by anyone. "They camped one night where the remains of a wrecked boat had lodged. There was no way of telling where the boat came from or how long it had been lodged at this particular spot. "Some of the cliffs are more than half a mile in height. Whirlpool Canyon is well named and just as beautiful as the name sounds terrifying. Every precaution was taken to make the trip in safety and a triumphant outing a real pleasure and satisfaction."