Trip Report: 2007 Lake Powell trip participants came from 7 different states. Bill & Gretchen, Ron & Nannette, Deb from Nevada. Kevin from Utah, Steve from Washington, Tim & Tracy from California, Brian from Oregon, Don from New Mexico, and Joel from Iowa. We all drove to Bullfrog Marina on Saturday (10th) and spent the night at the mobile homes in Bullfrog camp area.

Sunday, Nov 11th: Drove the vehicles and kayaks to Bullfrog Marina at 8am, loaded the gear, supplies and kayaks for about 2 hours. Since this was a larger houseboat (59 feet) than previous years, we had to go thru all of the features before leaving. Launch was around 11am. Steve made Egg McMuffins on the grill on the way out. Forgotten Canyon was at mile marker 106 and it was about a 12 miles houseboat ride that lasted about 2.5 hours. We found a great spot at the end of Forgotten Canyon with large sandy beach and plenty of room to setup tents and campfire. Dinner was Chinese Stir Fry. Weather was partly cloudly, but warm 60's, had some light rain while sleeping.

From Nannette: Egg McMuffins with provolone. Parked the houseboat a hair's width from the trees. Joel tells jokes with his back to the fire, summoning the Fire God. Don tries out all of the booze.

Monday, Nov 12th: We all woke up at 6:30am from the sound of the generator and a smiling face from Bill making coffee (he is the coffee god). The first day destination was across the channel to Smith Fork for a paddle and hike. We paddled out of Forgotten Canyon (1.8 miles) and into Smith Fork, a narrow slot canyon with steep walls and no place to get out except the end. We hiked up the canyon for about 1 mile where it narrowed to about 3 feet wide, it was spectacular. Since it was getting late, we hiked out of the canyon and paddled back to camp around 5pm. Paddling 7 miles and hiking 2 miles. Dinner was Risotto. Weather was sunny, warm 70's and no wind.

From Nannette: Breakfast was eggs, sausage and home fries made with yams.
I have 13.3 miles total with hiking included. Smoked salmon risotto with asparagus for dinner with butternut squash. Tracy, salad goddess and all around "good sport" made a tomato, basil, arugula delight. Played Scattegories.

Tuesday, Nov 13th: The 2nd day destination was to explore Forgotten Canyon where we were
camped. We paddled into Lone Pine Canyon which forked out of Forgotten Canyon, it was a high wall canyon with no place to land. There was a small slot canyon at the end that went into the rocks about 15 feet and room for a couple of kayaks one way. We then paddled to the end of Forgotten Canyon past our camp site for hike. About one mile in was the Defiance House ruins on the north ridge, it was restored, but was very interesting. We ate lunch on the rocks below the ruins. After lunch we hike back into the canyon for about 3 miles to find a high wall waterfall spout. It was a tough hike thru the creek bed with rocks and bushes. Looked like a highly populated beaver area and we never really found the waterfall area. Dinner was Chicken Marsala. Weather was sunny, warm 70's and no wind.

From Nannette: Creme brulee french toast for breakfast. Invasion day. Oak Ridge Boys, the Cosmic Trash Engineer (at Defiance), the crows eat the anchovies! Chicken stew & another of Tracy's wonderful salads.

Wednesday, Nov 14th: Who needs an alarm clock when the generator starts around 6:30am. The plan for the day was to visit Knowles Canyon about 1.5 miles north on the main channel and hike to the top of Tapestry Wall. After paddling to Knowles, it was decided to hike the Tapestry wall, so we paddled into a cove about 1.5 miles from Tapestry wall. We secured the kayaks and started hiking up and around some deep canyons. After some wrong turns we made it to the top of Tapestry wall overlooking the turn in the channel, Cedar Canyon and Knowles Canyon. It was pretty spectacular and about 700 feet above the water. As we were hike back to the kayaks, the wind started to come up and the waves in the channel were getting rough. Luckily the wind was blowing in the direction of Forgotten Canyon. It was a rough paddle back to base with some confused water in the channel. Dinner was Chicken Stew. Weather was sunny, warm 70's and wind got up to 15-20 mph.

From Nannette: Oatmeal for breakfast, Chicken Marsala for dinner with mashed potatoes & peas.

Thursday, Nov 15th: Since we did not visit Knowles Canyon on the previous day because of wind, we decided to paddle to Knowles Canyon and maybe futher into Cedar Canyon. We got a much later start, but the main channel was very calm, almost glass. Paddled into Knowles Canyon to see the arch on the entrance of the north wall. The canyon went back into a wide canyon and the canyon were not as steep as the other we visited. Got to the end and took a short hike and had lunch. After the hike some paddled north to the newly discovered Graczyk Island (founded the day before by a polish person). Dinner was Shrimp Fajitas and it was Margarita night (lots of margaritas). Weather was sunny, warm 70's and no wind.

From Nannette: KEVIN'S QUICHE! Joel's brownies.

Friday, Nov 16th: The last day destination was to explore Hansen Creek Canyon and Crystal Springs Canyon, both about 1.5 miles south of Forgotten Canyon. When we reached the channel, it was like glass again. We crossed the channel and went into Hansen Creek, it was wide open low wall canyon with plenty of carp. Ron even found a dead Caaaarp. Next we paddled accross the main channel to Crystal Springs Canyon, it was spectacular high wall canyon that weaved back for a couple of miles. It ended with no way to get out and hike. We finshed the paddle north back into Forgotten Canyon, there was no wind. The last day we covered around 16 miles of paddling and no hiking. Dinner was Chicken Chili with Cornbread. Weather was sunny, warm 70's and no wind.

From Nannette: Brownies again, but Joel put the eggs in 1/2 hour after putting them in the oven. A new technique. Passive eggression. Strata for breakfast. Ron & Nannette get officially engaged.
The kayaker across the shore from our site said he saw signs of cats, tracks by the water's edge.

Saturday, Nov 17th: Last morning to wake up from the sound of the generator, it was earlier because it was packing time. The plan was to get out of camp at 8am and we would of made it, but the starboard engine would not start. After about 30 minutes, it was determine someone had moved the controls on the top deck and the engine was not in neutral. Bill backed out between the tree with no problem. On the way back to Bullfrog Marina, we made a stop into Moqui Canyon which was a possible move destination on Thursday. It was a high walled canyon that weaved back a long ways and narrowed and found no camp sites, good thing we did not make the move. Got back to Bullfrog Marina around 11:30am and started the unloading the houseboat and loading the vehicles. This took about 2-3 hours, but most of us left around 2pm for the long drive back to the 7 states.

From Nannette: Breakfast pizza.

It was a great trip, the best weather of any November trip on Lake Powell. Enjoy the pictures below and I will update more when I get them from the group. Thanks to Gretchen for organizing all the food and to Bill for being the Admiral of our vessel and the coffee with a smiling face in the morning (Maybe we should call him sunshine Bill).

The most eligible bachelor, Joel. Girls don't wait to long to catch this one.

Brian in a deep water cave.

Here is something you don't ever see, a no wake buoy abut a half mile from the water in Forgotten Canyon leading to the Defiance House ruins. We made sure we did not make a wake while walking thru this area.

Indiana Bill looking inside the main house.