For those that have being going to the lake in winter. Camping in December

smoke

smoke

Active Member
Hello

does any of you have memory of what you witness as cold day with snow on the lake?

we always camp at lake Powell as early as late April and as late till mid October but never in the cold month. As retirement is coming, I will have more time to do fun things, and one of my bucket list is to camp in a winter month at the lake.
First I was thinking camping in bullfrog, and not mid lake, if the weather turn bad we are not far from the truck.
Doing some weather data I found that he could get to below zero. as far as snow I did not find much record other than a maximum of 9" of snow accumulation in Page.
just a precision we go with jet ski not boat. so we are way more expose to the weather.

thank you
Pascal
 
Be prepared, keep everything in mind like you would any other time of the year, weather etc can be just as drastic both ways as any other time. Yes it can definitely get below freezing, I’d almost expect that, snow? Probably not although it has happened.

We’ve been going throughout the winter now for about four years after have not been doing that previously and it’s been amazing. It’s nice not having a Powell off season now. Been every month of the year now.

Camp somewhere with either a hot tub or where you can have a roaring fire. Good times.

Preston
 
We are going this week and have been there for thanksgiving for many years. Not that we "camp" though. haha we take our houseboat.

We have had snow and some really cold years. it's usually too cold to even be comfortable by a fire at night. But we have also had years that were in the 60's and absolutely beautiful.

Everyone should go to the lake in the off season. It's a totally different experience. we have rode the wave runners all the way up to rainbow bridge during thanksgiving week. Super fast and flat with zero boats on the water. The water clarity is amazing and being out there by yourself is pretty cool.

One of thee best parts is the water is like a mirror and makes going into canyons amazing. Hard to tell where the water stops and rock starts.

Mike
 
Winters are awesome. There was some recent relevant discussion about this topic here:

A Sunday Morning post

I'm hanging out on a beautiful Sunday Morning and contemplating how Summer is over and the lake is cooling down and dropping. It all feels anticlimactic and once school starts again for my young people it's very hard for me to get anyone interested in going to the lake. I believe this is the...
wayneswords.net wayneswords.net
 
have done many thanksgiving trips.some temperate, some cold. deal with it. usually bury a turkey on mesquite, have done a small pig also.
fishing is usually good to great.one year we were on a houseboat near wahweap. had 65 mph winds last nite.so lucky we were moored on west side of channel. everyone on east was sunk or sideways.going mid dec. this year. have Kodiac tent mucho firewood, and good whiskey.
never make a fire ring, pick up trash! 28 ft tri toon. can't wait !
 
I did a week over new years back in around 2013. We saw -18*F on the way (near Green River). Our whole trip the temp never got above 30*.

It made for some very cold boat rides, and very lonely conditions on the lake. We would never see another boat after we left Bullfrog.

You have to be pretty hardy to stay in a tent. But with the right equipment you would be ok.
 
We’ve gone twice in the past few years with Bob and Uplake Adventures on Dec 21st (shortest day of the year). We’ve run from Wahweep to Bullfrog and even above on his Sea Doo Fishpro and Explorers. The highest temp we experienced was around 40 degrees in the afternoons and I would say mid teens at night. We wore multiple layers with our 1000 gram duck waders on the outside and our life jackets over that. You’ll want a really warm covering for your head and face for cruising. Ski goggles are a must! We all slept in tents, with cots, pads, and zero degree sleeping bags and we were fine. A small heater is welcome, especially in the morning when getting dressed. Camp in an area with firewood. You’ll want a fire at night, especially because it’ll be dark by 4:45.

We rarely see another boat. If we did they were near a marina. I would take a satellite phone or some sort of satellite com just in case of an emergency. We had both.

The upsides, no other boats, glass for miles and usually some good fishing to be had. I’d say go for it. We’ll be headed down in a few weeks to stock up on some striper fillets.

Adam.
 
Ryan said:
I did a week over new years back in around 2013. We saw -18*F on the way (near Green River). Our whole trip the temp never got above 30*.

It made for some very cold boat rides, and very lonely conditions on the lake. We would never see another boat after we left Bullfrog.

You have to be pretty hardy to stay in a tent. But with the right equipment you would be ok.
Click to expand...
I camp, many times in a tent on glacier. once even at 16000ft. I am more concern about the 30 during the day on a jet ski!!
but this is going to be the fun of the adventure
 
fstop said:
We’ve gone twice in the past few years with Bob and Uplake Adventures on Dec 21st (shortest day of the year). We’ve run from Wahweep to Bullfrog and even above on his Sea Doo Fishpro and Explorers. The highest temp we experienced was around 40 degrees in the afternoons and I would say mid teens at night. We wore multiple layers with our 1000 gram duck waders on the outside and our life jackets over that. You’ll want a really warm covering for your head and face for cruising. Ski goggles are a must! We all slept in tents, with cots, pads, and zero degree sleeping bags and we were fine. A small heater is welcome, especially in the morning when getting dressed. Camp in an area with firewood. You’ll want a fire at night, especially because it’ll be dark by 4:45.

We rarely see another boat. If we did they were near a marina. I would take a satellite phone or some sort of satellite com just in case of an emergency. We had both.

The upsides, no other boats, glass for miles and usually some good fishing to be had. I’d say go for it. We’ll be headed down in a few weeks to stock up on some striper fillets.

Adam.
Click to expand...
good info thank you Adam, Bob offered us to join them for the solstice loop but tnever did it. also at the time he was mentioning refueling at Bull frog and going all the way to Hite. One of my jet ski has the same windshield has the adventurer, I think Ill bring my motorcycle or ski equipment.
After all those reading I am definitely moving toward camping near the Stanton canyon driving the off road with the truck and to have plenty of wood near by.
 
smoke said:
I camp, many times in a tent on glacier. once even at 16000ft. I am more concern about the 30 during the day on a jet ski!!
but this is going to be the fun of the adventure
Click to expand...
Ya, I camp out on the ice a couple times a year in my pop up shanty (it’s insulated). Stay toasty warm with the help of Mr Buddy, and a-20 bag. I Always have a carbon monoxide detector when running a propane heater overnight. I guess if you dress like you’re going snowmobiling, you should stay warm!
 
Last edited:
Spent many November nights on Mondo's houseboat. It definitely FEELS colder on the water than on land. We'd never leave the Houseboat before 8am, and would always end up back there around 4 to clean fish.
When I was a kid, we would run uplake to the San Juan in November for one of my Dad's friends birthday celebration. Waking up with a frost covered sleeping bag was really cool as a 10 year old. In my 50's......not so much! :ROFLMAO:
 
I have been a few times in the winter. However after trying Lake Mead I switched to going there from December to February. I think winter fishing is better there. The water never drops below the mid 50s so the fish stay more active. All other months the fishing is better at Powell.
 
I've not been beached in my houseboat much in winter but I'd like to. The weather in the canyons is always evolving and change happens fast. It's a low lying area surrounded by mountains, cold air sinks and flows down through the the canyons. I'm not a scientist or geologist but that principal of thermal dynamics helped to form them through resulting winds so it's an interesting place for weather to say the least. Add in the moisture of sitting on top of a 45 degree lake and the wind cuts right into you. I've had to come home from Page to Flagstaff to warm up, no joke. Ive been snowed on at Powell as late as May, really. (2019) Since then I keep thermals and knit hats onboard the houseboat just in case all year long. Best wishes for your retirement and many happy Powell trips!
 
Last edited:
svivian said:
These are on sale right now on Amazon
Click to expand...
I got the 8kw vehicle version of this type of heater and installed it in my Sprinter Van on Wednesday. It was straightforward as far as installation went and it's working great! I'd describe its heat output as lower volume air movement with high heat but it gets the job done! I plumbed it directly into my tank since the van is diesel too. Among the dozens of makers I went with the Vevor Brad because I've had good luck with their tools and marine products in the past, So far so good, I would recommend this type of heater too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top