09/24 - 10/02 - Lake Powell 2010

Jody it was 103 in the cabin while in the sun. Cruising with wet shirts and windows open it was fine. We found nights more cool in open anchorages where heat collected in day reflected off to the clear night sky. Canyon walls retained the sun heat so we anchored 'out'. Did lots of slot hiking this time with g'kids. Water tempt. is fine - but many folks there. Getting more like Lake Mead every year with houseboats and jet boats. Ah, progress - bigger and faster equals better.

Still plenty of quiet nooks but the main channel is a highway and beaches are houseboat heaven.

August should be toasty but hang out in the water and dip a shirt every ten minutes.

We visited Bear Lake on the way north - do you fish there?
 
Bill now I know why I like the winter time at Lake Powell There might one or two other boats and you have to run the heater. I usually head north when it gets hot. I have been there once in July when it was 106, but not in the C-Dory. About Bear Lake I spent my summers there growing up, my cousins lived in Montpelier ID. I have never fish it. There are lots of Bear Lake Cutthroat in there. Did you see the monster?
 
I mentioned to George and Jan on Sea Quest that a caravan from the NW to Lake Powell might be a good way go. We are going to launch at Page this year, and I am thinking that a route down I5, cutting over to Susanville, CA then on to Reno and points south would be a fairly quick way to go. We may cut over to central NV in order to miss Lost Wages.

If anyone is interested in joining in, let me know. We are going take at least three days to travel this year, arriving with plenty of time to explore and get to the Oak Canyon rendezvous (9/25).
 
Wandering Sagebrush":3hwis44x said:
I mentioned to George and Jan on Sea Quest that a caravan from the NW to Lake Powell might be a good way go. We are going to launch at Page this year, and I am thinking that a route down I5, cutting over to Susanville, CA then on to Reno and points south would be a fairly quick way to go. We may cut over to central NV in order to miss Lost Wages.

If anyone is interested in joining in, let me know. We are going take at least three days to travel this year, arriving with plenty of time to explore and get to the Oak Canyon rendezvous (9/25).
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I will be going through SLC. We will be having the memorial service for my mom (that was canceled when I ended up in the hospital) on the weekend before (the 18th.) We will go down midweek after.

Warren
 
We are starting to plan for the trip. Not sure where we will be putting in, we will be coming from Bend, OR so Bullfrog seems shorter. We've not been there by boat and its been decades since we were there on foot. So...where is Oak Canyon? Any particular thoughts on provisioning? We know to buy beer and wine before UT and have made the Salt Lake-Price trip many times.

We would appreciate any advice.

Thanks.
 
We could also use some advise. We will probably be attending with our 16 cruiser and doing a combination of shore camping and sleeping on board. What is the mileage range we should be prepared for before refueling opportunities, is there a communications plan as far as VHF channel and cell phone contact numbers?

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Marinas are roughly 50 miles apart. No fuel in the San Juan arm or the Escalente arm. Hite has Fuel but you would have to carry it from the shore gas station.
 
Barry...Oak Canyon is at mile 51...to starboard ascending. Highly recommend the Stan Jones map for getting around on Lake Powell. Also the book by Kelsey...Boaters Guide to Lake Powell.

Kevin...as Jody mentioned...fuel stops are about 50 miles apart...but you can easily travel several hundred miles between those stops so fuel planning is important. Dangling Rope marina has fuel at mile 42...and then at mile 95 is Hall's Crossing and Bullfrog marinas. There are side trips up some canyons that can be 100 miles round trip off the main channel.
VHF and cell phone comms are tough on Powell...the canyons are deep and convoluted...you can be less than a mile apart and not talk to each other. The only dependable way to make contact is to be at the launch at a specific time...or at the rendezvous at Oak Canyon on the 25th. You can usually get a signal out if you have a visual of Navajo Mountain. There is a cell tower and a VHF repeater for the Park Service on the mountain. However...making a cell call to someone on the lake depends on them also having a visual on Navajo...which is usually not likely.
 
Chris
Thanks for the reply and helpful information. We have the Kelsey book and will get the map. I understand there are portapotti pumpouts available and that water can be purchased at some marinas. Would it be wise to carry a spare 5Gal of gas? My working range at 15kts is about 120NM, that leaves me about 40NM reserve. I'm sure we will have more questions as the time gets closer.
 
I usually carry 2- 5 gallon cans with me and empty them into my tanks as soon as they will fit. The empty cans are easier to deal with. This will boost the range enough that I don't have to worry to much about running out.
 
colobear":19dhs8by said:
Chris
Thanks for the reply and helpful information. We have the Kelsey book and will get the map. I understand there are portapotti pumpouts available and that water can be purchased at some marinas. Would it be wise to carry a spare 5Gal of gas? My working range at 15kts is about 120NM, that leaves me about 40NM reserve. I'm sure we will have more questions as the time gets closer.
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Barry, I found that my gas consumption went up quite a bit due to the altitude. I had the boat loaded heavy, and the prop was a bit big. The most I could get out of the boat was about 17-18mph and 4600ish RPM. I did get a 13 pitch prop for this year. I am also tempted to leave the Honda 8 at home, and rely on the dinghy and Suzuki 2.5 to tow if I have an engine problem on the 90. Maybe an extra can/tank up forward would be a good idea, too.

If I remember correctly, you have twins on your boat. El and Bill seemed to do fine with their boat, but I am not sure how heavy they were loaded, or what props they were using. As the car dealers say... Your mileage may vary.
 
Barry...there are floating restrooms with dump sinks and pump outs at several locations around the lake. The locations are shown on the Stan Jones map. Potable water is available at all the fuel docks at no charge.
I have never felt the need for gas cans on Powell with my 22. You do need to watch fuel consumption...but I find that if I top off every time I pass a fuel dock it works out well.
 
I just want to remind everyone that if you want to join the group while on Powell...you should do so at the launch ramp or the rendezvous in Oak Canyon on the 25th. Powell is so huge and the topography so severe that your chances of "catching up with the group" or contacting us by radio/cell phone are nil. In the past we have had people looking for the group/calling on the radio for a week or two without success.
 
Chris":2lulbft9 said:
I just want to remind everyone that if you want to join the group while on Powell...you should do so at the launch ramp or the rendezvous in Oak Canyon on the 25th. Powell is so huge and the topography so severe that your chances of "catching up with the group" or contacting us by radio/cell phone are nil. In the past we have had people looking for the group/calling on the radio for a week or two without success.
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To add to what Chris is saying, I did not realize that he was saying he did not want a second rendezvous. Mea culpa.

Warren
 
It may be best to make prior arrangements to meet some folks you plan to cruise with at some specific location on some particular date, as Chris says it will be very hard to find folks otherwise. However, aircards, iPhones, BlackBerrys and cell phones do work when you can see Navajo Mountain - a good time for a "where are you" or "where are you going to be" email, voicemail or text. But due to the fact that people are arriving at various days and times at two different launch ramps, this is likely to be multiple small groups rather than one big group, except at Oak Canyon on the 25th...I would say if you have not been to Powell before, it is a real "must" to travel with Chris, who will make sure you see everything you have to see the first time!
 
If we setup a group email address for the trip we could have that forward to everyones email of choice. Then you could have your spot send to the group email and that would broadcast the locations of everyone on the lake. Every time you push Im ok everyone get an email or a text of where they are. Just have to get to where you can see navaho or bullfrog. Texting works a little better down there because when you happen to catch a bit of good air you send or receive the text the signal doesn't need to be there for long. I could setup the email through my server and then I would just need emails for those that want to receive the emails. It can be turned off after the trip.
 
A few questions:

Will the brats be using 68 as a comm channel, or some other channel?

Is NOAA weather available by VHF or is there another good weather data source?

The idea of a brat specific e-mail is interesting but not all have SPOT or aircards. How about, if everyone is OK with it, we exchange cell phone numbers?

Thanks for your patience and information.
 
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