After running the Gems our Colorado River trip leader, Dave, shared the story of the Ross Wheeler.
In 1914, Charles Russell and Bert Loper joined together to film their whitewater trip down the Colorado River. But in Utah’s Cataract Canyon, Russell sank his boat. After an arduous hike to civilization Loper designed and built a third boat from galvanized steel and named it the Ross Wheeler after a local steamboat pilot.
Then the two men had a falling out and Russell started the trip over with a new crew. They rescued and immediately sunk Loper’s stashed boat and had a fourth boat built which also sank.
With the fifth boat, Russell rowed a few miles to the stashed Ross Wheeler only to find a rockfall had smashed its bow. After repairs they launched again but it wasn’t long before the newest boat sank again twice.
Looking across river towards the North Bass Trail
The disillusioned men floated another ten miles before abandoning the Ross Wheeler at the foot of the South Bass Trail, where it lies to this day. The boat sat for fifty years basically untouched but recently oars, pulleys and other artifacts have disappeared.
Fortunately, we sunk neither of the boats.
Bass Rapid ~RM108.5 Colorado River
Continuing down river through more rapids, past amazing geologic eyecandy, and a refreshing waterfall dip. More still to come.
Great story of the boat and I loved your video.
Now that is persistance. Great story and pictures.
what a challenge and adventure!
great story and those photos are amazing!!!
off to watch the video..
Great story! I love stories about the Grand Canyon!
Definitely an interpretive opportunity! A great story of intrigue, disillusionment, and perseverance.
A fascinating story. This looks like a great adventure and I enjoyed the video too.
I just love stories like that. Amazing that it stayed there this long and only recently stuff has been disappearing. I often wonder how people who steal stuff like that feel about things.
Oh forget, I've been around enough oilfield fraud to know that a crook's capacity for self justification is infinite.
The more I read of your trip the more jealous I get!!!! Diane
I wish I had your type of personality sometimes. But most of the time I enjoy the apartment-dwelling troll that I am.
Great story! Seems to me Mr. Russell was a slow learner.
These guys just didn't have any luck coming their way. The boat is a great historic reminder, pity that some idiot had to go and steal some of it.
Wow, the experience of a lifetime! Looks like a great trip.