Puget to Powell

[Wood Zeppelin]

I just towed my 16' Cruiser down to my 2nd home in Escalante, UT. Plan to go explore Lake Powell sometime between now and Mid-October. I heard the level was up enough to launch this year, but the drought is still the dominant long-term pattern in the region. So, I figure this is a good time to go!

Anyone have thoughts on my timing?

And where to launch?

And the really Big question I have: with the lake level constantly changing, is a depth chart even a thing? How do you avoid the risk of running aground!?!?

[thataway]

We always launched at Wahweap, or the nearby State Line ramp. The lake level currently is 3575, You need about 3585' level to use Castle Rock Cut. (saves going an extra 12 or so miles, around Antelope Island.).

Dangling Rope store and fuel is still closed. So you either have to carry enough fuel, water and food to reach Bull Frog or only go 1/3 of your fuel range.

Some prefer to launch at Bullfrog. It looks as if that is a little closer than Wahweap for you. The ramp was extended with the Sea Bee steel mats, Also the North ramp is available.

Also for exploration, it might be fun to go North from Bullfrog, to Forgotten Canyon Ruins (Defiance House) and explore canyons there, then go back to Bullfrog, refuel/water/provisions, and head south to the extent of your fuel (1/3 to destination, 1/3 to get back to the point of departure/fuel, and 1/3 reserve.).

Even thought this is lake, it can get mighty rough with certain winds. We heard the most "maydays" I have ever heart in one day during a Memorial Day weekend a few days back. Also beware of the flash flood, and falling rocks. There was a boat which was hit by a boulder and both occupants were killed. Cell phone is limited to where you can see Navajo Mountain, where there is a cell tower/repeater. Instant messages have a better chance of getting out. But we did always carried our Personal Locator Beacon or EPRIB. Spot and InReach would also work for distress or message contacts.

Have good anchoring gear, and also stern anchors or beach sand anchors. Have fun . September is generally a good month, but you can get sudden rain and winds. These can be dangerous, so be in a secure location, but not in a canyon where a flash flood would trap you.

[Wood Zeppelin]

Thataway - thanks for all this great info!

Any thoughts on my question about how to *not* run aground when depths are constantly changing? Is this an issue people run into?

Just stick to main navigable channels, and go slow outside of those places?

-James

[thataway]

Navionics charts are pretty good, also the paper maps are good. I used topo makes and outline the contour as that pool level, A lot of it is eyeball navigation. Generally the water is clear enough, with good high sunlight, to see where it shoals. Also watching the depth sounder--but some transitions are very abrupt.

You can view Navionics chart viewer on line to check out the routes. I loaded it on my I pad, and used that for both planing and double checking my German Chart plotter. Garmin now owns Navionics, and appears to be integrating that mapping into their most recent charts. Raymarine and Lawrence, Simrad and B & G will use the Navionics.here is a list of the comparable MFD.

Aqua Maps does not have detail of Powell on their on line chart viewer. (AM is the only non Garmin product to show Active Captain other than if you own a comparable Garmin product. I had put some notes on the Active Captain for Powell. If you google "Active Captain viewer" you can scroll to Powell, and most of my comments are there. Some have been edited, and some apparently deleted.

[ssobol]