Trade Dory for ATV? Coming ready or not (lake Powell)

easy does it

Just can’t seem to give up my September on Lake Powell, even the warm waters of the Sunshine Coast don’t interest me. It’s the German in me I guess and lately I been thinking maybe this is an opportunity! A chance to explore hitherto unavailable hidden canyons, arches and old miners trash. So I have some questions having been there only once. Your best guess…how low can it get by oct? Will there still be one launch ramp open in page or will it be backing out into the unknown at fort rock beach? Will the porti poti dump sites be floating in the water and working? Will dangling rope marina be resurrected from the dead. Is there anybody else that just hast to do this? I hate ATV’s so look for me just sitting there in the mud with my boat and trailer maybe I will take up smoking cigars and dreaming about the good ole days.

SnowTexan · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 1:00 pm Post subject:

I have considered a Beach launch extension bar for low water river and lake launches. I cant answer any Powell questions, but I live for Fall. Desert, mountain, northern coastal. As a linguistics professor once described it to me: “the air is sweet and cool and Everything is dying all around you” 😂

I hope you go for it. Rig something up to make it happen !

Desert Dory · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 1:31 pm Post subject:

I had read the Antelope Point Valet service is looking into ways to remain operational doing this low water level mess.

$40 for a launch/retrieve cycle and they store your vehicle and trailer in a secure yard.

jkidd · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:46 pm Post subject:

Nobody has figured out how to use a tractor or a crane to launch with. Of coarse they could also build floating launch ramps. From June of last year to the end of Sept the lake went down about 15 feet. Right now we’re at 3561 and if we lose 15 feet will be at 3546 by Sept. Halls has 13.35 to go before you can use it. Halls is the deepest ramp. You just launch off of the shore and have a buddy to pull you out if you get stuck. I’ve been telling everybody not to go that way I’ll have the lake to myself. Laughing

thataway · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 8:30 pm Post subject:

The old Sea Bee runway steel mats make a good low water "portable" ramp over sand, and any smooth graded surface.

If the Park Service wanted to allow tractors, that would be an option.

Right now you are not going to see Dangling Rope open this year. I suspect that the floating pump out stations will continue.

The snow pack/water tables suggest that the lake will go down at least the 15 feet--maybe more.

garyf · Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:39 am Post subject:

I actually have something meeting the description of a "beach launch extension bar" on my trailer. It adds at least another ten feet or so. I might have to give it a try this year... who knows.