04/20 - 04/30 - Lake Powell

We're back in CO -- have now reset the GPS to this hemisphere -- so time to think some more about Lake Powell.

We plan to be at Lake Powell (Wahweap) April 12th to meet our son Brad (and his two kids) that evening or the next morning. We may launch the 12th and if the kids can't get there that evening we will probably anchor out in Lone Rock cove and return to the marina to meet the family on the morning of the 13th. We will cruise with them (and any other CD folks who might arrive early) until Easter Sunday the 16th when we will return to Wahweap to drop them off for their drive back to Tucson.

El and I will then do a little poking around out on the lake until the 20th when we plan to return to Wahweap marina to meet any others coming for the Gathering. We will probably anchor out that night, and return to the marina (to meet others, who may not be able to arrive until the 21st). Then, we'll all head out. We don't plan to return to Wahweap until the 29th or 30th (or whenever the group needs to pull out).

Then, we'll 'trailer-up' and start out for the Pacific NW. Perhaps Naknek(ians) and Wanderers will be in tandem as we go north.

So -- when do others plan to arrive at the Lake? Will we meet Cygnet uplake (when do you plan to launch?) Meeting up in the Escalante (Clear Creek or Davis Gulch) is a great spot to join-up for anyone entering to the east of Wahweap. When do folks plan to leave?

Getting hyped-up for a great cruise and looking forward to seeing all at "The Jewel of the Colorado."
 
El and Bill,

Glad you guys are home safely. Can't wait to hear about you trip.

We plan to arrive at Lake Powell on April 17th. The marina in Marathon will load Wanderer on the trailer this afternoon and we will ready her and us to start for Annapolis tomorrow (March 31). We hope to leave Annapolis on the 11th or 12th for the trip out.

We too plan to be around the launch area on the 20th. Don't know what we will be doing between the 17th and 20th.

We're eagerly awaiting discussions about NW plans.
 
El and Bill,

Welcome back.

We plan on launching out of Bullfrog on either the 23rd or 24th of April. Doubt if you will know where the group will be by then, so we will just head out looking for C Dorys. If you have a rough estimate-north, south of Bullfrog ect. that could help.
 
George and Penny --
If you folks are arriving Wahweap on the 17th, we'll meet you at the ramp. We'll be seeing off family on the 16th, will anchor out that night near the marina, and will come into the marina on the 17th to meet you guys. We can cruise local area for a few days before meeting the group.

Of course, if you'd like to kick back and rest after the trailer trip and simply stay in the campground with your feet up we'd sure understand. We could have a dinner out together at the restaurant at Wahweap -- great view of the lake and (pretty) good meals. Give us a call on the cell phone when you near Wahweap and we'll go from there. Looking forward to seeing you guys soon.
 
Jay and Jolee --
When you launch from Bullfrog, head south for two miles to get to the main Colorado River -- then head westerly 25 miles along the main trunk of the Colorado to just past buoy 69 and turn northerly up into the Escalante River. We'll likely be up Davis Gulch (37 18.802 110 55.865) or another of the tributaries of the Escalante for the night. Use VHF ch 16 for contact. Sure looking forward to being on the water with you guys -- last time we met was up on the Yellowstone at the ramp -- we've got some Yukon tales to listen to.
 
Brent --
Will you be launching at Bullfrog? When do you plan to put in? Looking forward to seeing you -- gosh, the last time was clear back in September '04. This time we'll hopefully have a little time for visiting.
 
El and Bill

Roxie (the dog) and I will launch at Wahweap on the 20th.... I have never been there, and the dog can't remember...but I think I can find the place..
Sue is working and can't get the time off...(teaching) ....all I have is time off..
What do you expect the weather to be like ??? shorts or parka's

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Sounds like a Gathering is brewing!

I had planned to follow Bill and El to Powell on the 12th but Sandy has stuff going on the 17th that will keep her in town until then. She's willing to drive to Wahweap and meet me there but I may just wait for her. I'll make a decision by the time Fiero's get to AZ.

As to convoying north from Powell; I'll be somewhat delayed. Found out that I've got to do some military retirement paperwork in early May so that will delay my departure a bit. The paperwork won't take long, but I don't want to mess it up at this point.

Looking forward to Powell, sightseeing, Sundowners, and discussing options for this summer.

Casey
C-Dory Naknek
 
El and Bill,

We just returned from spending the past 8 days at Lake Powell--it was a wonderful trip and we can't wait to get back and cruise with all of you. We launched at BullFrog and went up the Lake to near Hite. We stayed in Forgotten, Blue Notch, White and Two Mile Canyons. The weather was beautiful--60's in the days and 40's at night. We caught plenty of fish to eat in White Canyon.

We are planning to come to Wahweep to launch and join with the group near the 20th. We've never launched there and are anxious to see that part of the Lake. Maybe we can start out with Joel--we'd love that. Is there any type of itinerey? Where would you all be on the 20th? Is there any plan for potlucking dinners or is it a "do your own thing" kind of trip? By then the weather should be nice and warm--shouldn't need parkas, but probably jackets in the evenings.

Wanderer, we bought a navionics hotmaps premium west chip for our C80 and were impressed with the detail available for the Lake--of course keeping in mind the present low water level. The main river channel was always clearly shown.

We are looking forward to seeing (and meeting) all of you.

Brent and Dixie
 
Joel, Brent and Dixie --

Looks like there will be a crew launching on the 20th at Wahweap. Rana Verde may not be launching until am of 21st so I suggest that those of us in the water on the evening of the 20th may want to either hang in the Wahweap marina with a dinner together at the lodge or drop hooks in Lone Rock Cove not far from the marina. After meeting up with Rana Verde, we'll have a chat about plans. No itinerary is planned, and suggest we put one together from our collective heads when meeting at Wahweap (any itinerary is subject to weather, anyway as well as the residue from our head banging).

My suggestion for rough planning is to explore some of the great canyons not far from Wahweap then chug on up lake (visiting Rainbow Bridge en route, for sure). Maybe get up into the Escalante by the 23rd or 24th to link with Hunky Dory.

There will certainly be some shore parties with campfire (Chris will lead the singing, with Roxie chiming in for the melody) -- up the Escalante is great for a party. Suggest we bring along our own food and then merge as seems appropriate -- namely sharing other's food when it looks better than ours.

We'll probably be hooked to shore most nights at a beach (this gives the canyon mice an opportunity to make up for a long winter of deprivation) so some deck chairs ashore are nice (and perhaps a few frisbees to fashion into rodent stoppers on the lines).

Maybe Pat, Patty and David can run a long hose down from the brewery to supply our need for suds, and if not, libations are again the responsibility of the 'responsible parties' -- since Casey and Sandy hate the term responsible, the rest of us will either have to fend them off or bring along enough to go around.

George and Penny will be the chief story tellers, having just been cruising among the alligators. They will double as gator-fenders on their nightly beach patrol.

Brent and Dixie will bring along a mess of White Canyon fish for the fish fry (or have the fish tales to substitute for the real McCoy).

Jay and Jolee, representing the fair state of Wyoming and Yellowstone in particular, will be responsible for 'camp protection' -- securing us all from wildlife, and particularly from the predatory rodents and eo-ornis rockpeckeri, the infamous Jurassic woodpecker.

El and Bill are going to kick back and laugh at the shenanigans. See you all in a few weeks.
 
I will be thinking about all of you at Lake Powell as I fly to Amarillo for work on the 25th and 26th. ( I have got to retire soon!)

We were there last April/May and had several thunder stroms come through during our trip. I found that a large folding grapple anchor worked very well buried in the sand and tied to one stern cleat and the bow claw anchor also on the beach tied to the other stern with the bow on shore. The blows did not last that long but one anchor line would be bar tight and the other side would be slack to the water. The anchors always held and it was kinda fun being snug inside and watching the blusterywinds outside.

I am sure you will have a great time and I am looking forward to some pictures.

Steve
 
El and Bill,

Much thanks, for the directions. Will save us many searching miles.

We too are sure looking forward to this meet. Its been a fast 2 yrs since our brief chance meeting in Yellowstone. Jo-Lee's Christmas present in 2003 was approximately 600 printed pages in a album of the Halcyon Cruising America. All of your work with that site and sharing your travels is greatly appreciated by us and we know so many many others.

We are also looking forward to meeting and enjoying good times with the other C-Brats, from who's photos and forums we have enjoyed and learned so much.
 
Last year when we were ready to launch at Wahweap a big black cloud came over and it poured hard for over an hour. I had remembered reading about Antelope canyon private launch. So we called and it was not raining there.

We wound up launching and leaving our rigs there. You can read about this launch here:

http://www.wayneswords.com/primative.htm

Last year when we used it there was an introductory price and we only paid $10. It is owned and run by the indians and they do the driving. We pulled into the unpaved lot and got the boats loaded and ready to go. Then we got in the boat and they drove the rig down the launch and unhooked the boat. We just started the motor and were off.

In the picture you can see that the launch is protected from wind on both sides by the bluff. On the way back you just call them on the radio and they put the trailer in the water and you drive the boat on. The indian lady that pulled us out did drive a bit fast back up the hill but it was a no-hassel launch/retrieve.
Also we saved several miles getting to the main part of the lake.

Steve
 
Sheeesh, Cygnet, we just got back from Powell today. We launced at Wahweap and cruised around below Bullfrog, we did make it up to Bullfrog for a splash of fuel. Had the lake almost to ourselves and a few days of nice weather.....we really liked Iceberg Canyon, very nice beaches to spend the evening .....very neat pond you have down there.
 
Ken-

You made the right choice of Powell over Shasta.

It's been cloudy, rainy, and cold here all week.

Glad to hear you had a good time!

Joe.
 
B~C

To bad we didn't see each other on the lake. We always try to talk to any C-Dories we can find. You're rght about having the lake to yourself. Didn't see more than 6 boats in a week, and 100+ miles.

Brent
 
How do I get there ??? Having a dog as a navigator is kinda rough...she gets lost easy..... We are going hwy 15 to St. George (I guess) and will spend the night of the 19th...(in the Walmart parking lot if they got one)...is the best route from there through Zion? or should we try to get over before St. George??? Years ago I went through Zion and remember it as being twisty and slow..

Joel and Super Dog Roxie
SEA3PO
 
Joel,

That's the route we took when PJ and I went to Powell.
Yes, we spent the night in the Walmart parking lot in St George.
Yes, we went through the tunnel at Zion. Great view.
Enjoy your trip.
 
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