Purgatoire

Here are the notes from long-time paddler and guidebook Ed Gertler. Keep in mind that these notes are 25 years old. As he writes of his description:

'Wish I had something more up-to-date, and perhaps more eloquent. I suspect all the stuff I carried is runnable by today's standards (what isn't?), but on the half-mile portage section, I just plain could not see what was happening amongst those boulders. I would love to hear the account of others.'

June. 14, '83

Purgatoire R. -  US Rte 350 to CO Rte. 109, Higbee. June 14 - to mile 123.5 (Mile 0 is CO Rte 101). Had hard time hitchhiking shuttle on deserted Rte. 350, so I took morning Amtrak train from La Junta to Trinidad ($19) and taxi from there ($15). Put in about noon. Encountered 5-ft. dam ~3 or 4 miles below start. Carry left. There was a 2-ft dam ~ 9 or 10 miles below start. I ran on left with a clunk. To San Francisco Creek is open country with wonderful views of Raton Mesa, FishersPeak, and Sangre de Cristo Mtns. Usually low banks. Almost continuous Class 1. Several sets of nice surfing waves in first several miles. They seemed to be ledge-formed. River initially narrow but spreads out in last few miles above San Francisco Cr. Level ideal. Canyon starts at San Francisco Cr. Consists of sandstone cap above breakdown slopes. Huge boulders fill riverbed. Forms usually easy but turbulent whitewater. Occasionally it gets really choked. One Class 3 a few miles above camp. Lots of sandbars for camping, both above and in canyon. Chased herd of cattle for a few miles. Mild, mostly sunny day. Only blemish is incredible number of tires washed down from above. Juniper dots slopes.

June 15 - to mile below LockwoodCanyon. Helluva day. Just below Trinchera Creek, river goes crazy. Slopes and river fill with giant boulders and river cascades down through them. The approximate half-mile carry took me 2 1/2 hrs. Another short carry just around the bend. Then river in general mellows, but is st

...