Reflection of 2015 Lake Powell Houseboating

Entering Zion National Park was breathtaking. As we neared our camping site, my eyes wandered every way taking in the beauty and well preserved nature of the park. The heat was overwhelming so we did a short hike in the Narrows. Wading through the water was very refreshing. The next day we rode a shuttle to the start of the Angels Landing hike. It was a challenging yet fun hike. After the hike, everyone immersed themselves in pizza, burgers, fries, and of course ice cream. We drove for another couple of hours to the Wahweap Marina, close to the houseboats, where we slept openly.

In the morning we packed up and drove to the lake. We loaded our boats for departure and spent most of the time driving and getting both boats together. We were able to do 2 competitions; hoop throw and slide relay. We soon docked and went to sleep. The next day we started merit badges and water sports. Competition events between both the boats continued and the scouts were enjoying the tense atmosphere.

The next 3 days were packed with events like boat competitions, merit badge classes, water sports, and fishing. We also visited Rainbow Bridge which is only approachable by a boat-ride through the canyons. It was a mystifying sight and I learned it is the world’s largest natural bridge. I had a great time with other scouts as we listened to music, played cards, and sleep. After more boat competitions, the score came to a draw; 5-5. Also, scouts learned water activities like knee-boarding and wakeboarding.

The houseboat voyage finally came to an end as we docked at the marina and unloaded/cleaned the boats. We drove to Page to eat pizza, replenish supplies from Walmart, and drive to Lee’s Ferry campground for the night where we slept openly. Early morning we went to the Colorado River for a dip in the freezing waters. Immediately, we left for a long drive to the Grand Canyon where I went on a 3 mile hike. We met with everybody later and set up tents. The next morning we did an easy hike on Bridle Trail to end our outing. The view was marvelous and so high it made me feel a bit dizzy. It was a long journey home in ASM Steve’s truck but we made it back with smiles on our face.

It was my first time on a houseboat and I really enjoyed this experience.