Lake Powell 2016

colbysmith

colbysmith

Active member
Have there been any plans made for a Lake Powell gathering this year? I'm hoping maybe something is in the plans for the first part of October, as I could join in then. Colby
 
Chris, Rana Verde Was the organizer of the Lake Powell gathering for some time. Last year, he posted:
Unfortunately circumstances have come up that will prevent me from participating in any cruises or gatherings this year.
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Does anyone know if Chris is OK--and if he will be going to Powell this year?

For the most part these gatherings have been the mid to last of September, but early October will have less competition for good places and cooler weather. There do seem to be slightly more storms in Oct.

Typically there are a number of C Dory's on Lake Powell in mid Sept thru Oct. Several years we have arrived in late August, and stayed until the first of Oct. If you get there a few days early, often you can snag a good sort of isolated place for the madhouse of "labor day".

I think a 16 would be great at the gathering--they are rarely seen up there. The lake can get rough and windy-you want to be able to sleep on the boat, and be totally independent.

Using a MMSI hailing system, might go a long way to contacting other C Dorys, but VHF or phone coverage is not universal over the entire lake. We find that phone messages (best is Verizon) are far better than attempted phone calls.

Unfortunately our days of Lake Powell seem to be over, so you all who go this year, have a cool one for all 3 of us!!--(Miss Angel will miss the lake as much as we do!) This is the first year out of the last 12 that we will have missed Powell (at one time or another during the season). Some years we went in May-early July, but Sept/Oct is better in our opinion.
 
For those who have never done Powell, it is one of the most amazing places that this southern boater ever experienced. Beautiful water, lots of fish, history, views, etc. The idea of motoring up against the side of a mountain, touching the wall, and looking at 150 ft on your depth sounder is mind-blowing to this shallow water sailor.

We will be on the lake the last two weeks in Sept. Hope to see some of you there.

E Z DUZIT
 
Nooo, Bob, say it isn't so. Who will be there with spare parts and the knowledge to use them. Now all C-Dory owners going to a gathering at Powell will have to fend for themselves.
 
Colby,

If you are still planning on being at Lake Powell and seeing how you started this post, why don't you pick a date for everyone to meet up at Oak Canyon that works for you. Once we have a date we can get it on the event signup list and see how many of us can meet up with you. I am pretty flexible for both September and October.

Bill
 
anchorout":35h3knmc said:
The idea of motoring up against the side of a mountain, touching the wall, and looking at 150 ft on your depth sounder is mind-blowing to this shallow water sailor.

E Z DUZIT
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Be careful anyone doing this. I was in Princess Louisa inlet, BC, a couple of years ago. Half a dozen kayaks and dinghies went over to touch a mountain side wall with a 1000 ft of water underneath them.
A couple of hours later there was a loud crack (like thunder) and a landslide started coming down the mountain. Boulders the size of cars and trees like match sticks hit the water exactly where the boaters were earlier. Had they still been there, there would have been casualties for sure. Still makes me shiver thinking about it.

Martin.
 
bridma":1rjoamu6 said:
anchorout":1rjoamu6 said:
The idea of motoring up against the side of a mountain, touching the wall, and looking at 150 ft on your depth sounder is mind-blowing to this shallow water sailor.

E Z DUZIT
Click to expand...

Be careful anyone doing this. I was in Princess Louisa inlet, BC, a couple of years ago. Half a dozen kayaks and dinghies went over to touch a mountain side wall with a 1000 ft of water underneath them.
A couple of hours later there was a loud crack (like thunder) and a landslide started coming down the mountain. Boulders the size of cars and trees like match sticks hit the water exactly where the boaters were earlier. Had they still been there, there would have been casualties for sure. Still makes me shiver thinking about it.
Martin.
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Certain caution is suggested: Although there have been a few rocks falling and landslides (and we witnessed one)--There are a number of places when one goes up the canyons, that the waterway is only 10 or so feet wide--and one uses a boat hook to fend off those walls which are hundreds of feet high. The one that I know of, at Powell where there was a death, was a rock which fell, and crushed the boat. Most of the areas on Powell where there are rock falls or land slides, there is a pile of rubble at the bottom. Probably at Powell there is a greater risk from flash floods.
 
Up in the north woods of Wisconsin and soon to be in the Apostles with little internet service....I'll look more into this first part of July, but for me the first week of October would be best. Colby
 
I'd be happy with the first week in October. Oftentimes I'm a bit rushed to get to the gathering due to still being up north, so this'd make things a bit more relaxed. (Of course plenty of people get there ahead of time and cruise, so that'd still be an option for folks, and the water is still a bit warmer earlier - tho more people too.)

But I'm not asking for it to be planned around me - just thinking out loud.
 
I've done a fair amount of canyoneering in the canyons surrounding Lake Powell. Most people who hike in these canyons do not wear helmets, although the guide services all do. This is monolithic sandstone so it's unlikely it will just randomly "fall apart". This is true for calm weather, but stormy weather is a different story! There is always the risk of loose rocks above.
 
Wood Zeppelin":1s5lwz78 said:
I've done a fair amount of canyoneering in the canyons surrounding Lake Powell. Most people who hike in these canyons do not wear helmets, although the guide services all do. This is monolithic sandstone so it's unlikely it will just randomly "fall apart". This is true for calm weather, but stormy weather is a different story! There is always the risk of loose rocks above.
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There are many places at Lake Powell where the walls come tumbling down quite a few are marked on the Stan Jones map. Generally you can tell the walls will be a nice pink with no varnish stains. Getting up close might be cool but you are playing the lottery.
 
Back from a great time in the Apostle Islands, but will be heading back up to Lake Superior and then Lake Michigan in the next few weeks! :D Midnight Flyer is seeing a lot of road time and water time! lol. And an Alaskan Cruise (Cruise boat, not ours...) in September. I'd still like to do Lake Powell again (we were just there last year), as part of a C-Brat gathering, but my long traveling days may be starting to wear thin by October. But I would be curious how many others would be looking to come out on Lake Powell that first week of October? Due to my wife's work schedule, she may have to fly out to meet me and let me make the drive out and back by myself. The best port for me to put in at would be Bullfrog Bay, and likely use Denver airport on the drive out and back for picking up and dropping off my wife. (Retirement travel perks on American Airlines, and I believe DEN would be the closest airport that I drive by and that AA flys into near Bullfrog.) Wondering how the lake levels are also. When we were out there last year, it was a bitch getting the boat off the trailer. Guess what I'm saying is that Lake Powell isn't looking as definite as it was going into the summer, and I'm not really one to put together a gathering that far away. But if someone did, I would most certainly still consider bringing Midnight Flyer out. Colby
 
A second trip to Superior/Michigan sounds fantastic. But then too, just think of that last, fantastic dose of sun and sand before the looooong winter! :D

Well, I understand about long trailering drives. At least in my case, "unfettered" long drives are pure joy, but trailering ones are just a wee bit more like work (mentally). Still, I hope to be there, and hope you and spouse are there as well :thup

I launched from Bullfrog the first time I was at Powell. I found the whole scene there to be easier and a bit more relaxing due to fewer people; the only "thing" being the need to provision ahead of time (I was coming from NW, so stopped at Wal-Mart in Price).

Perhaps this year will be an "unplanned" get together. But at least we know the "non-plan" is to meet at Oak on October 1 :D
 
The Lake Powell water levels are here
They are slightly higher now than last year at this time. No way to know exactly what they will be Oct 1, but definitely lower than currently. The ramps at Powell are fairly shallow, so the trailer has to be back well into the water--often the truck's tires are well in. But all types of C Dory's launch there.

Denver is the closest as you drive, at 406 miles, and 6 hours to Price UT. Airports (other than Page) Las Vegas 273 miles from Page; Salt Lake City to Price 119 miles, and 2hrs drive, but not "on the way".
 
I've been watching for a Lake Powell date. I have to be in Ashland, OR for four days in mid-September, so I have been wondering if things might work out. The only other gathering that I've been to is Friday Harbor, and it had to be structured because of reserving dock space. Are the "dates" for Lake Powell looser because CBrats anchor out? Is Lake Powell a must do even if there's no event?

I'm leaving Sunday for Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island. Shakedown cruise number 7 or 8 and still getting the hang of things. I've slept in cars that have more room than the CD 16, so it should be interesting with my wife along for a week.

Mark
 
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