Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Just a couple interesting facts...

Lake Powell is big.  Make that: BIG.  As in: 26 million acre/feet of capacity; 163,000 surface acres.  Jackson Lake (in the Tetons) is around 26 thousand surface acres.  Some folks are familiar with Lake of the Ozarks... it is 55,000 surface acres.  Lake Powell is the second largest reservoir in the country, behind Lake Meade.  There is 1,960 miles of shoreline - plenty of areas to explore.  There are 96 canyons branching off the main channel.  You could spend years poking around here and not see it all. 

The area sees around 3 million visitors a year, mostly during the summer months.  Thus, our reason for coming to the area in the "shoulder" times.  The marina here at Wahweap is open year 'round.  They put us on a transient dock, not many neighbors here right now.  But, walk up the main dock a ways, and you will see rows and rows of big houseboats.  Yes, you can rent a 75' houseboat that will sleep up to 22 of your closest friends... I think we'll stay with Wild Blue.

Sparkling clear blue water, surrounded by the red cliffs... makes for a spectacular view everywhere you look. 

Here's the transient docks...


And, a look down a couple docks...


See the houseboat with the runabout in back...


They were getting a "checkout" on that boat.  About 20 people.  They drive it out of the marina for you, then turn you loose with a 70' houseboat.  What could possibly go wrong??

You can get houseboats to fit every budget.  Yes, you can get them with a hot tub and satellite TV.  Some are 3 levels and pretty impressive...


If you aren't into boats, that is a hotel overlooking the lake in the background...



A typical rental...


Yes, there are more than houseboats here.  If you like tug style boats, I found a Nordic Tug at the docks...


An occasional sailboat (like this Catalina 22), but the canyons and fickle winds make this place best suited for power...


Anchoring is generally done different from most places: you pull up to the shore, put out an anchor (or anchors) on shore, then tie off the stern from either side.  Here's an example of the anchoring set up on a houseboat...


Or, if you like landing craft (and who doesn't??), you can beach this, drop the front, and you are there...




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