Telluride Mountain School

The Telluride Mountain School’s seven high school students set off on a week-long desert and river adventure with Emily Durkin and Lea Gibbs on Monday, October 3, 2022. The outing included a two-day canyoneering trip in the Moab area and a three-day float on the Colorado River between Fruita and Moab. After setting up camp at Big Bend Campground, students met their guides in Moab for an afternoon of canyoneering and dinner at Milt’s. This was followed by a campfire and Indigenous Creation Story lesson in which students were able to ponder different cultures’ perspectives on the subject. Tuesday morning, they again met guides for a full day of canyoneering up Pritchett Canyon in Moab, followed by a wander around the town. Wednesday, we drove to Fruita and had breakfast before meeting our river guides at the Loma/Ruby Horsethief River put-in. We floated upon Ducky Rafts to our first overnight stop seven miles downstream, set up tents, hiked up to a scenic overlook of the Colorado River, journaled and watercolored, then made smores by the fire after dinner. Thursday, we packed up, made breakfast, and floated down another 8 miles to our next destination, set up camp, hiked to a beautiful amphitheater, and did an optional swim/float in the river, followed by discussions and journaling by the fire. The trip concluded on Friday afternoon after a scenic float to our takeout in Westwater. We shuttled back to our vehicles at the put-in and had a quick drive home. 

Click here to view a photo gallery