#1 on Bucket List...Lake Powell

txav8r · Sep 11, 2016

@MeaCulpaAR210 , here is my saga and final reward thread in Powell! Welcome aboard! And it would be great to pick your brain about Powell when your not trying to set up!

scot71 · Sep 12, 2016

Awesome pictures Mel! They definitely inspire me to try and make this trip someday.

DCB-270 · Sep 12, 2016

How long you staying?

txav8r · Sep 12, 2016

Until the 22nd or 23rd, or the wallet is empty or were exhausted!

We made the run to rainbow bridge today!!! 50 miles up at wot in 1:08. But it is no wake speed for about 15 minutes. Coming back @DCB-270 , we had 25 mph winds and couldn't run but 25 to 40 mph depending on waves...took about 2 hours comin back. We are wind blown but loved the trip. Btw, the bridge is the largest natural bridge in the world. It is 290' high and 285' long. It is massive and the ride into it is spectacular.

AZDANSX230HO · Sep 12, 2016

It's a nice trip up to Rainbow Bridge, and it is beautiful. Did you guys stop by Dangling Rope Marina while you were up there?

AZDANSX230HO · Sep 12, 2016

Since you are going to be there quite awhile, a little further up the lake from Rainbow Bridge is Reflection Canyon, it's worth the trip. The picture I am attaching is from Google, when the water is low it looks like the picture, so with the higher lake levels it's still awesome, but not as great as this picture.

AZDANSX230HO · Sep 12, 2016

txav8r · Sep 12, 2016

We have discussed going up to the escalate arm. So reflection canyon is doable. The rise to rainbow...stunning and just incredible.

txav8r · Sep 12, 2016

Oh, forgot...yes, stopped for gas, ice cream, and the tee shirt at dangling rope marina! Now that's some pricy gas!!!

AZDANSX230HO · Sep 12, 2016

txav8r said:
We have discussed going up to the escalate arm. So reflection canyon is doable. The rise to rainbow...stunning and just incredible.

There is some great fishing in the Escalante River Arm. There is a lot of magic to Lake Powell, we have two favorite places in this World, Lake Powell & Hawaii.

AZDANSX230HO · Sep 12, 2016

txav8r said:
Oh, forgot...yes, stopped for gas, ice cream, and the tee shirt at dangling rope marina! Now that's some pricy gas!!!

Ice Cream is pretty darn good at the Marina, it was a favorite stop when our kids were younger, plus they liked feeding the massive carp around the docks. Gas is pricey there, back when gas prices were extremely high I think we paid close to $ 7.00 a gallon

Retired37 · Sep 12, 2016

AZDAN - or ANY OTHER MEMBER - is now a good time to go to powell?

AZDANSX230HO · Sep 12, 2016

Retired37 said:
AZDAN - or ANY OTHER MEMBER - is now a good time to go to powell?

August & September is a great time to go to Lake Powell. In August you might encounter the tail end of the Monsoons, these storms turn the Lake into an Ocean, @txav8r is experiencing some great weather right now in September, except the wind today. When we were up there for a week towards late August we had three good days of boating and two days of bad weather, it's a coin toss with our Monsoon Season in Arizona.

@Retired37 we are thinking of planning a 2017 Trip for the forum members, let me know if you want to go.

Retired37 · Sep 12, 2016

Tossing the thought around for September 29, 30 and Oct 1, 2016. I still need to check the water level and lodging costs (any recommendations on lodging?)

AZDANSX230HO · Sep 12, 2016

Retired37 said:
Tossing the thought around for September 29, 30 and Oct 1, 2016. I still need to check the water level and lodging costs (any recommendations on lodging?)

Days Inn in Page, call and ask for Becky the General Manager, tell her you are a friend of mine (Dan Pilgrim ), ask her if she can extend the rate I get of 129.00 a night. Water levels should be fine, it might be a bit cooler towards the end of the month, but still nice.

txav8r · Sep 13, 2016

@Retired37 , I couldn't think that there could be a better time to see and enjoy Lake Powell. Highs in mid 80's and lows in the mid 60's. Water temps range from 77 in deep water to around 79 close to shore on a graduated shoreline. Most shoreline drops off abruptly so 77/78 is what we see. It has been clear and rain free with a few clouds in the afternoons. It has been calm until last night when the winds picked up to about 15 mph. Today they were gusty to 25ish. The water is clear, uncannily clear. I put on a dive mask and was watching fish in the two to three foot range at what had to be 25' below me on a shelf in a narrow ricer channel that was over 300' deep. The crowds of summer are less this time of year but it doesn't appear that there is any less available activities. The dinner cruise stopped on September 6th but all the things we have even the slightest interest in are still available. Weather patterns ebb and flow, and if a guy can make the run to rainbow bridge and back today, I am thinking even today was perfect! I wouldn't want the 100 degree days of August, September and October seems to be a very good time to me. I am guessing that the water temp will chill a bit with passing weeks but once we are in, it is great. Hope this helps!