Lake Mead Info

[JustMrWill]

Going to Nevada next week...hike Grand Canyon Monday-Wednesday. If I survive and can still walk, want to head over to Lake Mead for a day (Thursday or Friday). <br /><br />Anybody have any suggestions on what to do...boat rental places...fishing tackle rentals...parks/beaches etc?<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Just got back from a good weekend at Mead. We boat there 3 - 4 times a season. There are 5 - 6 marinas with boat rentals etc. The biggees are Lake Mead Marina (closest to Vegas), Callville Bay (nicest facilities), Echo Bay (2nd to Callville and there is a hotel) and Temple Bar (most remote, but best scenery).<br /><br />Watch out for wind out of the south. Thunderstorms can come out of nowhere and are real exciting.<br /><br />Try this link for more info and phone numbers.<br /><br /> http://www.nps.gov/lame/water.html <br /><br />BTW, my Avatar is a satellite view of Mead . . .

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Thanks.<br /><br />We ended up renting a 16' aluminum runabout (40HP outboard) from Willow Creek Marina (below the dam). Drive the 12 miles up to Hover Dam...saw the sights..took tons of pictures. All in all had a great time...was only 101* so not too bad. Hiking the Grand Canyon was alittle interesting in the heat but I made it... <br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Awesome! Heading to Mead on Saturday for 4 days. The scenery up from Willow is pretty cool huh? Check out this pic from there.<br /><br />

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Man, I hope that thing holds! <br /><br />Did you check out the hot springs just below the dam? Great side canyon hiking there!

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead Info

See the big dumb 16 year old in the bow? He and his friend (in the other boat) swam to one of the hot springs from the boats (this was last year). They loved it.

 

[KRS]

Re: Lake Mead Info

How "Big" is Mead, heard that it's packed and too much boat traffic (I am not talking about spring break here) just want to take my family (young kids) and have a good time.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Lake Mead Info

2nd biggest manmade reservoir in the world. There are areas you can go where you won't see anybody. The further North you go, the more remote it is. Great lake.

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead Info

The only clarifiaction I would have is that it is less crowded toward the East. From Temple Bar East there is nothing and nobody. Some people at Sandy Point, but just enough to make you comfortable if you had boat trouble.<br /><br />There can be some activity North as there are two marinas up there. The West side is the busiest, but still so large that traffic is rarely an issue. We go to Mead because it is NOT crowded.<br /><br />azfyrfyter63,<br /><br />Where do you boat?<br /><br />Edit: Sorry DR. I now understand, you meant UPRIVER which is ultimately NORTH, and I was thinking more the northernmost point on the lake . . . See my Avatar and this will make more sense.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Lake Mead Info

We decided not to hike to the hot springs (just spent 2 days hiking the Grand Canyon...was alittle worn out). Uploading pictures today...so will post my version of your above picture when done.<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Lake Mead Info

No prob. Quietcat. Yeah, that's what I meant, but that part of the lake/river, isn't for everybody. I love it though. Another wet winter like this last one and maybe they'll open Pierce Ferry again. That's where I usually put in.<br /><br />What trail(s) did you hike MrWill?

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Yup, and the Canyon . . . I have heard a rumor that you can still get up there even when the lake level is low, ya know from South Cove. I know a kid, who knows a guy, no really I do know someone who swears he powered deep into the Canyon on Memorial Day weekend. The river guides definitely know the way, it is just impossible to see though.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Oh you can get through. There is a pretty strong riffle at pierce bay that you have to power up, but after that it's smooth sailing for 30 miles all the way to separation canyon. It's best to follow the tide chart so you hit that part of the river when it's low, otherwise the current is too strong. Talk about remote! Lots of truly remarkable scenery up there.

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Yeah, been up there a few times, and it is the reason that you and I know this is the best boating in the US <br /><br />Last summer chickened out at Iceberg Canyon as you could literally get stuck on a mud bar two feet from smooth sailing and couldn't see the difference. See note above about stupid friend and then guess who got stuck, sucked mud and cracked manifolds . . .<br /><br />Clue alert: clue alert: I was drinking coffee at Sandy Point

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead Info

BTW, if you want a copy of a very high res version of that avatar go here: <br /><br /> http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/LakeMead/ <br /><br />There is a 2000 view (avatar) and a 2003 view. The 2003 view is at 1140 something feet which is basically the lake level now . . . I printed it out at about 8 x 10 and had it laminated. Best map you'll ever get.<br /><br />I got more cool links for Mead. Let me know if you want mo stuff. When you going back? I want to follow somebody in . . .

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Last Friday...6/9/2005<br /><br />

<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Lake Mead Info

My Mom (the true hiker) and I Started down South Kaibab at 4:35am last Monday (6/6/2005) and reached Bright Angel Campground around 10am...was only 101* then (reached 110* in the sun). Tuesday @ 4:35am we hiked up Bright Angel to the South Rim...arrived at the top at about 12:30pm...the last 1.5 miles took us 1.5 hours...was about 100* and no shade.... <br /><br />Truely a terrific experience. The peoplewho look over the edge and never go to the bottom only see half of the true canyon...its beyond words or pictures.<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Qc. That is a very cool map! I like your idea about laminating it. I usually do a Lake Mead trip in the Spring and a Lake Powell trip in the Fall, but Powell is getting dangerous at the water level it's at, for my size boat anyway (small), so I may just go back to Mead. I always enjoy it more anyway. I like to camp at either Surprise Canyon or Separation Canyon although I have gone as far as Gneiss Canyon (my favorite!). I wouldn't go any later that the middle of September so if something happens you can hitch a ride out with one of the motor rigs coming out of the canyon. They stop running Sept. 15th.<br /><br />MrWill, sounds like you had a great trip. The time the average tourist spends looking at the canyon is 15 minutes! They spend more time shuffling through T-shirts in the lodge that they do actually looking at the canyon. Good for you hiking down to Phantom.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Lake Mead Info

Was talking with a "local" one night at the Grand Canyon...<br /><br />Pre-automobile time...average stay at the Grand Canyon 2-3 weeks...<br /><br />Now - 2-3 hours...they bus touristist in from Los Vegas...they spend 1/2 hour looking over edge and the rest in the gift shops! Most of the ones I saw were huffing and puffing walking from rim to gift shop..or coming down the steps of the bus!<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[QC]

Re: Lake Mead Info

We'll be on Mead through Tuesday this week. My boat is the one in front of the dam above, if anybody else is planning to be there . . .<br /><br />Later dudes (and dudettes). Yeah, baby, yeah!!!