Fine day along the Arkansas

[rginn]

Excellent day to hike out from camp and explore the country along the Arkansas River east of Salida Colorado.

 

[Jdubya]

How much snow did the Valley get this year?

 

[rginn]

Couldn't say, Jdubya without lookin it up. Just on personal observations of the country side down in the Banana Belt, it appears maybe a little less than usual. But that's deceptive, as we've had some unseasonably warm days that melted the snow off. We're on track here in Summit for our average 120 inches, maybe a little above, so they're probably about average for whatever they get. Although it's been warm, it hasn't resulted in much melt and runoff. I put out a couple of markers along the river down there, and not much change in the water level in the last couple of months.

 

[Digger]

Now if you could just stop all the irrigation and let some of that make it down to Kansas like it used to. Here is what the Arkansas looks like by the time it gets to Dodge City.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Looks beautiful! 3 weeks ago that river was a giant ice flow.

Loving the deep red rock in that second pic!

 

[aa battery]

dont see that here in cali

 

[rginn]

I've been through wesern Kansas, but didn't know the Arkansas ran dry, Digger. Irrigation in eastern Colorado would cause that. I know the Arkansas has a lot of water in it in Colorado and down in Oklahoma. You brought up a good point though. Water, or lack of it, will kill the west. There's a big lake about 3 blocks from where I live. It ain't mine, all that goes to Denver so they can water their lawns or wash their cars. I pee in it every chance I get. There is currently a bill in the legislature to allow residents to collect up to 600 gallons of rainwater per year. Because right now if I set a bucket out to collect rainwater I could be arrested.

 

[rginn]

I was speaking in jest when I said I pee in Dillon Reservoir every chance I get. I don't do that. Probably. But I do flush twice as it's a long ways to Denver. At least it's downhill. About A MILE downhill to the old 'Mile High City'.

 

[BosnMate]

Several years ago I was on private property near Lamar, CO in late summer, and the Arkansas River was sure low there. Wouldn't even make a decent creek in western Oregon. Had the opportunity to do some 'tecting for about an hour. Found some square nails and a coupled of three ringer bullets that were flattened from being run over by a wagon wheel.