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Kara Williams
Freelance Writer |
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Aspen Sojourner Weekend Getaway By Kara Williams Lake Powell is like no other place on earth. Its soaring red-rock buttes, sandstone arches and narrow canyons sculpted by nature’s elements over millions of years are almost otherworldly. Combine the incredibly varied rock formations with emerald blue-green water and the desert’s sunny skies, and you have the ideal backdrop for a relaxing houseboat vacation. Formed by the damming of the Colorado River in 1963 (to the ire of environmentalists and archaeologists), the reservoir known as Lake Powell stretches between Utah and Arizona for 186 miles when it’s full, but the lake has been receding after several years of drought. “It’s the lowest I’ve ever seen it,” says Missouri Heights resident Lois Evans, who has been houseboating annually on Lake Powell—and watching lake levels rise and fall—for 20 years. “But it’s still wonderful and pretty aesthetically. You see different things.” Plus, there are now even more beaches to anchor at, canyons to investigate and hikes to take. A houseboat, combined with powerboat or jet skis, is the best way to intimately experience and explore the vast reservoir and its 2,000 miles of shoreline. You can rent all three from Bullfrog Marina—the northernmost houseboat-renting marina, and a mere six-hour drive from Aspen. Houseboats, which accommodate up to 12 people, cost $1,400 to $3,400 for three days, ranging from the basic “Explorer” with its swim slide and equipped kitchenette to the “Discovery XL,” which features air conditioning and a rooftop wet bar. To make a houseboat rental more affordable, and more fun, it’s common for several couples or a few families to share one boat and split up food preparation by having each couple prepare one or two meals for the whole group. There’s a grill on board; don’t count on the stove to work like yours at home. Bring plenty of drinks; you’ll regularly replenish the ice in your coolers at the marina, where there are also groceries available. The night before you pick up your houseboat, consider booking a room at Bullfrog’s Defiance House Lodge so you can be first in line when the marina opens at 8 a.m. After receiving a safety briefing and thorough driving instructions, you’ll want to head out to find a sandy spot as base camp for pitching tents or sleeping under the incredibly starry sky, setting up a volleyball net and building a fire ring for roasting marshmallows. If you can find time in between fishing, water skiing, tubing, swimming and hiking, an excursion to Rainbow Bridge is worth the trip. It’s 50 miles by water from Bullfrog to this spectacular national monument, so pack lunch in your powerboat and make a day of it. Also check out the Defiance House ruins up Forgotten Canyon, where rangers answer questions about the structures the Anasazi Indians left behind, and Moqui Canyon for its fine fishing, ruins and mysterious pictographs. But discovering secret arches, private coves and special spots is what makes houseboating on Lake Powell your own unique vacation. For more information, call 800.528.6154 or visit www.lakepowell.com. |