Drilling rock below high water line?

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Biggest cam is a 3, but needs repair. Everything else is useable as is. 24 nuts, 6 hexes, 4 cams and two Black Diamond 22KN carabiners. $50.
 
Nice! You now have many more options for where & how to secure your lines. $50 is a great price for all those nuts & cams.
 
So, we were approached by a couple of nice rangers yesterday.

You cannot not drill or use the holes that were left behind by others.

They are writing tickets for $280 a hole and a mandatory trip to see the Judge.
They call it defacing a National Park.

He asked if I would spread the word.
 
Jackalope said:
So, we were approached by a couple of nice rangers yesterday.

You cannot not drill or use the holes that were left behind by others.

They are writing tickets for $280 a hole and a mandatory trip to see the Judge.
They call it defacing a National Park.

He asked if I would spread the word.
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Jackalope, which end of the lake were you on? I wonder if this is now the 'rule' of the lake that will begin to be enforced or just used as a reason to check boats for other things when they want/need to?
 
Jackalope said:
So, we were approached by a couple of nice rangers yesterday.

You cannot not drill or use the holes that were left behind by others.

They are writing tickets for $280 a hole and a mandatory trip to see the Judge.
They call it defacing a National Park.

He asked if I would spread the word.
Click to expand...

Wish you'd asked the rangers for a few more details. Like what statute number they were using on these tickets. Whether they personally had written any tickets for this offence. Why leaving a 3 foot diameter scorch mark (fire ring) on the sandstone was NOT defacing a National Park. Also why all the damage caused by traditional anchoring methods was OK, but a 1/2" hole was not. Just wondering.
 
Pegasus said:
Jackalope, which end of the lake were you on? I wonder if this is now the 'rule' of the lake that will begin to be enforced or just used as a reason to check boats for other things when they want/need to?
Click to expand...

Was one of the rangers who approached you a gentleman in his late 50's/60's with a Grey beard?

Also, any clarification with the "National Park" VS "National Recreation Area"? Are they the same rules? I would assume that the rules for a National Park would be much more strict than for Lake Powell as a "National Recreation area".

I also find it interesting that even the guys from the Marina (AYS) tell you to Drill. I wonder what the guys with Huge Adonia's will do, as i have seen more of them anchored by drilling than with anchors.
 
P.S. If your two rangers did refer to Lake Powell as a National Park they were pretty "green". Lake Powell is a National Recreation Area, NOT a National Park. (Yes I know the rules are the same for both)
 
Buffalo said:
P.S. If your two rangers did refer to Lake Powell as a National Park they were pretty "green". Lake Powell is a National Recreation Area, NOT a National Park. (Yes I know the rules are the same for both)
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It is a National Recreation Area administered under Department of Interior and the National Park Service - goes under Federal rules and regulations.

Perhaps all these "newer" huge boats on the lake choosing to drill to anchor their boats because of he sheer size of the boats is part of what is leading to this enforcement of the rule. It isn't like the "old" days when the largest boat was a 59 footer and we tied up to boulders and dug holes in the sand to bury our anchors... I know a lot of people think drilling is no biggies, but enough do it then , and with rising and falling water levels and freezing in the winter - which leads to ice getting into those holes and eventually breaking layers of sandstone loose it really is not as benign a thing as those who find it convenient - for them - would like people to believe.
 
Likely that enforcement of a "no drill" rule would push these boats into other areas to compete with the folks looking for sand or a boulder to tie to. Gonna be just that much harder to find peace and quiet.
 
I thought the purpose of these devices was to not have to drill but use existing natural cracks. There's no way I would use these to secure my houseboat anyway. To much loading and unloading from wind.
 
Those will not hold a houseboat in the wind . The reason people drill is because they have spent time on a boat during a storm and have seem how bad it can get . I find a sheltered spot and drill a hole that is bigger than my pin so I slides right in and can right out , It is not in anyway illegal to drill at Lake Powell but you must do it below the high water mark , Also if you fill in the holes you drilled when you leave with sand it hardens and leaves no trace .
 
We are south lake parked in Labyrinth , and yes older ranger, named Greg Galloway.

Greg came back by yesterday, and we had a bunch more questions. He said that the NPS is working on the website to clarify drilling, using pins, and anchoring.

He said they are giving tickets.

I asked about using the holes that were already there? His response was that it would make more damage "making the holes bigger". So, still a ticketing offence.

I pointed out about 20 holes that were already there, no one would need to drill... Greg said that they know and that it's gotten out of hand, and the reason for enforcement. Actually we counted about 30 holes.

We are anchored in nicely, using anchors... but looking around at all the other houseboat over here, they are using pins. Seems if NPS wants to make a point of this it would be pretty easy.

Here is the Glen Canyon Dispatch non-emergency number: 928-608-6301. If you want an officials statement. ;)
 
Answers the question about holes pretty clearly. The bit about requiring a tire under the bow is new to me though. Stopping the houseboat before it touches shore could be dangerous if you have wind blowing. This seems to be a way to anchor when you have the perfect beach and the perfect weather. How often does that happen?
 
@Gem Morris thank you for this! I've been looking for "official" instruction on this. We don't drill, but have friends that are very interested in it. Hopefully, this will put the discussion to rest.
 
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