Who's got advice?-First Post

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A GOOD drinking water purification unit; shovel (for digging anchor pits); at least 2 good anchors, and plenty of good rope. Sounds like a big load - do you have access to a small (8-10 ft) inflatable?? Our 9 ft Mercury has a 1000+ pound load rating. Towing lighter stuff in it would give you more room in the boat for gas and gear. Could stash some gas along the way - strategically - for the return trip?? SAFETY first!!!
 
I’ll be one to encourage you. I went a lot of places and got a lot of looks in my 16 foot smokercraft. It’s all doable. The trouble will be getting caught in wind. Being a river guide, you probably know that when that happens, you’re going to be wherever you’re at until it quits. That means making the most of a very uncomfortable situation.

I don’t know if anyone else has mentioned it, but some light sticks for your boat is something I’m adding to my lake Powell arsenal. It doesn’t matter how still the night is, I’m constantly looking to make sure my boat hasn’t floated off. Light sticks will help with that tremendously!

As for your trip, yes the lake is low, but exploring those side canyons takes a lot of fuel by the time you snake up into them and then back out. Just don’t over extend yourself!

Have fun, be safe, and good luck!
 
davew said:
my jaws hurt from laughing
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Thank you, I'm used to folks laughing at moi.....(all old (now even older) girlfriends did...and some still do :)

In the winter if Bart allows us to be Sharky and snarky....in our posts......(he'll delete our posts as lake levels rise......:)

Butt bottom line, you have to be really prepared to be alone at our lake in the winter. .......I've been there in Feb...................so so........C O L D...

Days could go by without any help, or any boats going by......please plan for that....as other wordlings have said.....FUEL is so important.....so you can get back.....

Also, as Dangling Dooley has said: personal antifreeze is so, well ..... important.....just be advised his Suttter Home Zinfandel is only good for a TP holder.....not good for keeping warm.....

Please post pics...and let us wordlings know you are safe.....as we live vicariously thru you.......

😋
 
Moose,

the folks on here are different from many other sites in that trying to deter you is done from the goodness In their hearts, not being trolls. It is all great advice earned the hard way and what makes this site great. I will throw in a few more tips assuming you are going because I am guessing you are 😊. I assume you have a dry suit so I would bring it for ugly days. I would have a small dry bag as my go bag with my essentials and have it tied to a throwable by a long cord. Sit on the throwable ‘cause if you tank the wind can carry stuff away pretty fast (except you) and you don’t want to be swimming after anything if there is an issue. I have used a sat phone all over the lake and if you climb you will get reception anywhere. I personally carry a sat phone and an in-reach with texting capability. Bring food for an extra few days in case you get stuck in weather on the way home and need a few layover days. Watch the winds in the open. They are unbelievable in how they shift and a protected shore can turn into a nightmare in a moment. There are lots of times you will be going along with no ability to get out of the water with cliff bands. Be aware of those areas and runs and move accordingly. If the waves are kicking up watch for sleepers that can hole your boat. If it were me I would turn around at 40% fuel used and have an extra 5 gallon separate tank kept in reserve not included in that formula. Good bet is a separate hose delivery system as well for that tank. Wind and waves in the wrong direction can half your MPG. Bring a good first aid kit. I go out alone often enough and I did lacerate my foot pretty good one time alone in trachyte. I had clean it and patch it up myself and then get help the next day. It got infected anyway, so bring a broad spectrum antibiotic with you. for the motor assume the worst and bring a spare prop, plugs, fuel filter and the ability to change all of it. My fuel filter **** the bed in the San Juan one time after getting some bad gas at DR and I didn’t put my filter wrench in for some reason. After 4 hours of trying to use everything come vice grips to a belt I gave up and idled and surged my way back to bullfrog and finally trolled my way the last 5 miles. I wouldn’t want to do that in January. IMHO your motor is your weak link as you can control your travel but if that goes you will have no option but to call for help. As you are used to, prepare for every eventuality and take it slow and get a feel for it. I can help with guidance on the North lake but not the South So PM if you want mile by mile for the North. I rowed my Clack from Bullfrog south one time and it was a lot of fun with the only issue being the monstrous and relentless wakes broadsiding me. You won’t have that issue. Enjoy the solitude, have an exit strategy and let us know how you did.

TR
 
I'd take a tape recorder and record what you are doing and seeing to go along with pictures.....you'll undoubtedly see plenty of remarkable things and places. The reason for this is to put a trip report on WW so we can vicariously join you for the adventure. This group will expect a full report--should be a fun read with the pictures. Go safely and have FUN! Chuck
 
cfulton said:
I'd take a tape recorder and record what you are doing and seeing to go along with pictures.....you'll undoubtedly see plenty of remarkable things and places. The reason for this is to put a trip report on WW so we can vicariously join you for the adventure. This group will expect a full report--should be a fun read with the pictures. Go safely and have FUN! Chuck
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I wish I would have kept a logbook or better yet a video log of the trip from Wahweap to Hite and back. I can't remember how deep the water was at Hite marina when we fueled up to head back to bullfrog. Should have kept notes. I do vividly remember running short on fuel with our 20gal tank and how having a map showing where the bouys are and binoculars to find them along the way were a huge help. We ran that trip in a 16ft skeeter so filled with camping gear that we barely had a place to sit or fish.
 
I have watched this post a little and I am going to suggest something I have not seen talked about much. I have been going to Powell for 50 years and I have not seen it all! You don't need to travel the length of the lake or see every canyon to be amazed at this place. Take your time and if you find that special place ask yourself if you really need to leave or be on a schedule. You don't need to burn so much gas and worry about the channel when you are in canyons or hiking. Personally I would be more worried about hiking alone than being on the water alone and that comes from personal experiences over a lot of years. You can not go from one marina to the other one on the gas you have in my opinion. You could spend a whole summer from rainbow bridge to the dam and not see everything or make every hike in two weeks. I'm just saying don't commit to a schedule and enjoy where you are, you may find the bottom half of the lake is "enough" for this trip. Don't regret leaving an area you want to see/explore just to see another one. I wish you enough and good luck on your journey! Be safe most of all.
 
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cfulton said:
I'd take a tape recorder and record what you are doing and seeing to go along with pictures.....you'll undoubtedly see plenty of remarkable things and places. The reason for this is to put a trip report on WW so we can vicariously join you for the adventure. This group will expect a full report--should be a fun read with the pictures. Go safely and have FUN! Chuck
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A tape recorder?! Can I find that in the App Store? ;)
 
Remember to look up, fronts come in quickly. If it looks dark find a canyon. If your still tied up wait before you go. Check the weather forecast several times a day, it becomes an easy task after the first look. I always have ski goggles on boards when the rain is driving.

Many of us have spent time on the water alone and were ok, but things happen and its usually weather related. Have a plan of what to do if you have mechanical, medical or weather issues.

Do you have an electric trolling motor or paddles, both is better.

Your boat size is ok, but not in high wind and waves, or over loaded.

You have received great advise from all of the above posters, after your trip you'll be able to add the same from your experience.

Can't wait to hear about your adventure with photos.

Love LP !
 
boatdaddy said:
I always have ski goggles on boards when the rain is driving.

Love LP !
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I always carried a one-gallon ziplock with a rubber suit and swim goggles for boat driving in storms. Personally, I love summer storms on Powell and crashing through the waves. They always make me feel like I’m on the ocean and more alive. (But, of course, our 24’ boats were a lot bigger and safer than Moose’s size so they could handle the Powell storms and it always seemed the sun came out after a bit. Our first boat was a Cobalt with a Kevlar hull and our current is a large Nautique, both with great bilge pumps and fuel capacity.)

Anywho, long way to say, I support boatdaddy’s vote for goggles and everyone’s comments about rain gear.
 
I agree that your boat is awfully small for running Lake Powell. Fortunately this time of year all you have to contend with is the wind as boat traffic should be nil. If you were going to do this in warmer weather I would say no way, not in that boat due to the massive power boat wakes. The wakes have gotten much worse in recent years due to the low water constricting the lake and the emergence of the wake boats whose sole purpose is to throw a big wake. You won't have to contend with that too much in the winter. Be sure to check out the 10-day forecast before you come on Weather Underground as it will also show the expected wind speeds. Take extra food and water and be prepared to get into a sheltered cove if the wind comes up. :)

Ed Gerdemann
 
Good morning everyone,

Moose here and just wanted to say thank you for all of the advice, feedback, and snark! (I'm a big fan of snark so bring it on!)

I do really appreciate everything that folks have brought up whether it is encouragement or concern. You've all given me a lot to think about and try to implement. I won't be trying to do a push for the whole length of the lake or anything as that would be fairly resource intensive. Likely it will be more of a lower lake sort of adventure with plenty of side canyons and hiking at this point.

Jan was chosen because this is about the only time I can get off of work and I need to do my best with it. I've got a pretty good idea of how cold it will be after having done plenty of outdoor stuff this time of year. I'm not necessarily looking forward to that fact but think that the trip would outweigh the discomfort.

Anyway, I'm gonna keep working on it and will let you know what's happening!
 
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