Lake Powell Awesomeness

This year was our big trip to Lake Powell! We left for the Lake just a little less than a week after school got out. This is not a small voyage. It takes 18 hours to reach Lake Powell and we took it in 3 days. They were a fun three days, with only 6 hour drive times each day. Just about perfect.

Lake Powell has some amazing scenery. We loved the contrast between red rock, blue sky and water. Quite stunning.

Levi was the best big brother and cousin. He would entertain the little guys in the lake for hours. They loved it.

Around the camp, the kids could enjoy our own shallow pool that was completely closed off to the larger lake. It was really warm water and safe for the kids. The water was rising one foot a day, it was really crazy to walk out each morning and see the difference over night. The weather was perfect, ranging from upper 80's to upper 90's, sunny and calm. The best Lake Powell weather.

Kaelan and Ashlyn enjoyed the camp so much. They were constantly in and out of the water, playing in the sand, and climbing on rocks. They loved rolling in the sand and by the end of the day they looked like little orange sand people.

A look around camp:

Tent complete with Ansel and a lizard in the foreground, islands that we swam to, fishing the pools (even spearfishing), watching movies at night, eating popcorn and star gazing. Lots of fun.

Here is a little video with KK telling us about what he is doing in Lake Powell:

The boating was really fun for the kids. Here is our first ride:

Kaelan loved laying in the bow of the boat and bouncing with the waves.

ALL the boys loved the tubing:

At first the boys struggled to find the right position on the tube, and submerged it when the boat started going faster. I love Calder's expression in this one:

We were going fairly fast when it went under and they held on under water crazy kids!! We had to stop the boat for them to pop back up.

After they got the hang of it:

Lizard catching was another favorite. We had our own little "lizard island" as the boys dubbed it, where many lizards were caught and rescued from the drowning island. KK rescued a grasshopper, he was so proud of himself!

One day we made the trip up the lake to get to the Defiance House ruins. It was a long boat ride (FUN!) and then a 2 mile hike in the heat (NOT fun). But the boys made the most of it, and it was definitely worth the sacrifice.

I can't imagine living in such an inhospitable place with no easy access to water, steep cliffs which I am sure more than one Anasazi toddler must have taken a plunge. But what a view! These were tough people, living on next to nothing. A very hard life.

Good times!! I have missed going 6 or 7 times a year like we used to as kids. This was great. I hope to go again very soon!!