05/04 - 05/11 - Lake Powell

Sign us up for Lake Powell. Gismo, Sydney and Steve Grover will be launching at Wahweap ( I think ) around April 27, which might be a few days early for the rest of the Brats. I'm continuing to watch the post for the team leader to appear. :? I've neaver been to Lake Powell. :?: Hard to wait out these long weeks. : 8)
 
Hi Steve,

It looks like you may be the first one there -So your it!

We will not be able to leave the Sacramento area until April 29th. Will probably arrive in Page on the 30th.

Are you planning on camping in your boat or on shore? Will you want to fish?

We will buy food and water at the Safeway in Page. It is on the main road through town. Also just down the street from the Safeway is a sporting goods store for fishing licence and gear.

If you like slot canyons Antelope canyon is worth seing. You drive just a few miles east of town (towards the power plant - alway visible) and pay the Indians for access. There are 2 parts to the canyon one on the lake side of the hiway and one on the other side. I suggest the lake side first.

The hard part will be meeting up with everyone. Do you have a map and have you looked at where you might like to camp for the first few nights? I can generally get cell service when in sight of Navaho mountain.

When not in the main channel you need to watch for rocks under the water. You will see the shallow areas by the change in color of the water. The water level changes significantly from year to year. The last time we were there in May 2yrs ago the water was rising 2 to 4 inches a day.


See you on the lake,
Steve
 
Lori and I are planning to launch from Wahweap on May 4th, which seems to be the consensus date. I don't know if we will stay until the 11th or not.

Warren
 
Put us down as an absolute, definite "maybe". If all the ducks line up right, we're going to try to make it. We only got a taste of the area last fall and would like to see more!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Steve
Because I have never been to Powell I really don't know where I'll sleep. My boat will be set up to sleep on and I will bring tent and stuff to sleep on the beach. I have a small camper on the back of my truck to sleep in.
If it works out the first few days at Powell I may stay in the camper and tie to a near by dock, if possible and wait until some other CDs show up.
Exploreing is what I'm into but I will fish some.
If you leave from Sacremento do you go I-5 or HWY 80? Maybe I'll weight and follow you... :)
 
Steve,

Since it appears you will arriving a few days early, it would be a very good time to launch and spend a few days exploring Wahweap Bay (toward Lone Rock). On the far side of Wahweap Bay (the side across from the facilities) you will find several coves that provide good anchorages yet are close enough for easy access to the marina, store and other facilities. This is not the most scenic port of Lake Powell, but would give you a good "feel" for local conditions and boatcamping or beach camping.

One of the realities of cruising Lake Powell is that once you leave your marina (Wahweap, Antelope, Bullfrog, etc), it's a long way uplake to the next developed facility. You could spend some time exploring all of Wahweap Bay, yet still be relatively close to Wahweap for rendezvous with other incoming C-Brats.

Another item you may encounter regards sleeping in your truck at Wahweap. The National Park Service has campgrounds at Wahweap but they are a half mile or so from the marina. You are largely left with the alternative of launching your boat (and staying aboard at the marina ($), or somewhere away from the developed area (free), or staying in the truck at the campground ($) prior to launch. I suspect the NPS would discourage sleeping in your truck (ie. on the launch ramp) or leaving your boat on the courtesy dock overnight.

There are some courtesy slips at the marina that you can use for a few hours (ie. time to go to the hotel for lunch, or maybe a quick trip to the full service grocery store in Page).

You can spend some pre-departure time doing some research on Powell. Check out the NPS site (http://www.nps.gov/glca/ ) and spend some time looking at Lake Powell on GoogleEarth!

...just some thoughts; have Fun!

Best,
Casey
C-Dory Naknek
Lake Montezuma, AZ
 
Casey
Thanks for the info..It's sounding better all the time. Of course I'll try to save as much $ as possible for fuel and for my later trip in June to Alaska.
See you at Powell. :D
 
Lori Ann,

Parking is best along the side of the launch ramp, or at the top of the ramp at the lodge/restaurant parking lot. Last year we were a week earlier, and neither parking area was that busy. Both are free, after you have paid the entrance fee.
 
Steve et al,

Even though I started this thread it appears I probably will not be at the Powell Gathering (5/4-11).

We are currently in AZ (had some family matters to attend-to), but I will probably be headed back to Key West in April to get things setup for the summer (initial plan is Sandy will fly to KW in early June).

Sounds like things are progressing well; have a Great time!

Best,
Casey
C-Dory Naknek
 
I just got back from spending the week end at Lake Powell. It is still cool in the day but starting to warm up and almost no boat activity at this point. All the marinas are open, including Dangling Rope. Gas in town was $2.31 and on the water is $3.81. The restraunt at Antelope Point marina is not finished but they are working to get it ready for this season. Guest slips at Antelope are nice but they are $34/night, Wahweep is still just $18/night.

There is a new super Wall Mart on Hwy 89 just before you get into Page (from the south) and is a great place to get provisions just before launching.
 
Can anyone recommend a good, up-to-date boating guide to Lake Powell similar to those offered for cruising in the San Juans?

Thanks,
Warren
 
Yep...Stan Jones map pretty much a must have on Powell. Also, I like the Boaters Guide to Lake Powell by Michael Kelsey. It's really very hiking oriented...but has lots of good info of use to boaters.
If you have a plotter...I would recommend you get the data for Powell. This will often be found in fishing products from the various manufacturers. Not essential...but nice to have.
 
I plan on being there about April 26-27. Wahweap Marina looks good place to start. I'd like to hear from some Brats so we can get together. The Stan Jones map looks OK is there anything better? Another question for Lake Powell vets. What about anchoring, stern lines type of anchor and such any
ideas?
:smiled john :smiled
 
We anchored almost 100% of the time, with bow out--danforth type anchor at about 5 to one scope--and the stern right next to the beach--with outboard all of the way up. We took one anchor from each side (Danforth or Guardian/ Fortress.)--we have tried them from the spring line cleats and the stern cleats--and sometimes one line from each--probably 80% just the stern line cleats. We tried to keep the stern just off the bottom.

This was with the CD 22--I assume that the 25 would work just as well.
We used cheap Frisby's as rat guards. Stern lines were 3/8". Some places we piled rocks on the anchors, instead of burying them in the sand. We covered most of Powell--but it is different each time because of the water level.

One day, we had really strong winds, and had to anchor in the middle of a cove--we like to be way back in corners--away from the PWC and noise.
 
I wonder if we can get a sign up sheet for this cruise. The core dates are May 4 through May 11, with some coming a few days earlier. Then lets's see who is committed and we can agree on a meeting point Friday the 4th.
 
Hi John,

When I went to Lake Powell we used the same anchoring method the house boats use. Find a nice sandy beach, put the bow on the beach and use to anchors buried in the sand tied to the two stern cleats about 45 deg from the boat.

I used my primary claw anchor for one side and a folding grapnel type anchor for the other. We had one blow come through and the line to the grapnel anchor was bar tight from the wind and the anchor held. It really helps when you bury the anchor with a shovel so most any type will work. Generally if you have weather come through it does not last that long maybe one hour at most.


Gizmo Steve:

I think earlier you said something about maybe caravaning to Lake Powell. We are planning to leave Lincoln early April 29th. You are welcome to join us and we will be meeting up and caravaning with some friends. With your CD16 we might be a little slower up the hills.

It is getting close! Time to start planning the food.

Steve
 
SeaSpray Steve
I had thought I had posted a reply but my computer is screwing up. Can't figure this out :cry: If you leave from Lincoln which HWY will you travel? I-5 or will you go over to Nevada and down? The 29th may be go for me. Don't worry about gismo being slow on hills, it's all down hill from here :)
 
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