Setting Expectations for a Lake Powell Trip

• If all goes well, Lake Powell is a heavenly place to spend time and to work on eliminating those tan lines.
  


• Some things might not go well:
  • The weather can be crummy for several days.
  • An engine (or both) can die.  We may have to be towed back to the marina.
  • Houseboat systems can malfunction.  We may have to spend our vacation time getting it repaired.
  • People might disagree about plans and priorities, or get into arguments, even over trivial matters.
  • Someone might get sick or injured.


• I am not a travel agent nor a tour operator.
  • This trip is enormous fun, but it is a cooperative group effort.
  • Everyone has to help out, physically and financially.
  • Loading, orienting, and departing takes several hours.
  • Cleaning at the end of the trip takes several hours.


• You are responsible for your own health, well-being, and happiness.
  • Know what you want and be clear about expressing it.
  • Be willing to negotiate and compromise with the rest of the group.
  • Expect to do some work, but also to take away some magic memories.


• You can wear as much or as little as you like.  But why would you?  I won't.
  • But don't expect or create a sexual environment.  Be nude, not lewd. This is not a sex club.


• Different people enjoy the lake in different ways.
  • Some people will lounge around and read a lot.
  • Some people will spend a lot of time hiking or swimming or skiing.
  • There will probably be some drinking.
  • Regarding music: It's first come, first served.  If someone puts on a CD or tape, no one else is to yank it without their permission.


• If you are unhappy about anything, try to resolve it privately with the appropriate person(s).
  • Avoid public negativity -- both initiating it and being drawn into it.
  • How you perceive and interpret facts affects how you feel, so,
  • Set positive expectations and plan to interpret positively
  • Look on the bright side of any situation.


• Recycling: At home I recycle whatever I can, but on the lake I don't bother, except for aluminum cans because it's convenient.  If this bothers you, feel free to take personal responsibility for recycling other categories of materials.
  


• No smoking or pets on board the Wildwind. No illegal substances whatever are allowed on the trip.
  


• Please be courteous with your use of the heads.  For example, the shower just pumps lake water.  If it’s not too cold, you might as well bathe in the lake.
  


• Expect and prepare for an adventure.
  


• Go with a cheerful disposition, a flexible attitude, and a light pack.

WHAT TO BRING:

Travel light and as portable as possible.  You might have to carry stuff quite a distance from your parking space to the boat and back.  Pack for easy access aboard the boat since stuff is usually stored on the bunks (half of them upper bunks).

• Sun protection. Sun hats, sun clothes (light, but long sleeves, pants), sun screen, dark glasses.  Bring a couple pairs of hats and sunglasses (they sometimes accidentally end up at the bottom of the lake).  Bring lots of SPF 15 (or higher) waterproof sunscreen lotion.
• Bedding: Sheets, pillow, blankets (or sleeping bag).
• Your beverages for the week. The available variety and range of personal preference has gotten too great to bulk-purchase beverages for everyone. Bring plenty, both for your recommended gallon per day intake in the desert, and so that you don't get too upset if someone else takes yours by mistake. There is plenty of potable tap water on board the houseboat.
• Towels to sit on
• Camera and lots of film or storage media
• Small flashlight
• Batteries for whatever you bring that uses them.  Rechargeable batteries are good, too.  Household AC is available all the time for small battery charging applications (NOT hair dryers!).
• Bathroom stuff:  biodegradable shampoo, washcloth, toiletries, medications, etc.
• Water toys (blow up water mattresses, float toys, kayaks, etc.)
• Footwear In-water footwear: Tevas or water socks are great to protect your feet at the lake because they are made to get wet.   An old pair of tennis shoes, that you don't mind getting wet and dirty, can also work.  Hiking footwear: bring hiking shoes if you plan to take long walks.  On the houseboat: Barefoot is usually most comfortable. We try to keep sand out of the houseboat.
• Clothing: You don't need much, and most people bring too many. Even the clothes-compulsive can get by with a couple of swimsuits and T-shirts. Clothes can be washed by hand with dish soap. I keep my single set of clothes clean by not wearing it! In May or October, evenings can get cool, so bring some extra clothing, or a pair of sweats, that you can layer on.
• Definitely leave at home your curling iron, hair dryer, and jewelry or other valuables!

Other strictly optional stuff you may wish to bring:

• Beer or other liquors (note, glass and boats don't mix, be careful)
• Cell phone (but only Verizon service on the lake, and only when in view of Navajo Mountain)
• Walkie-talkies if you have a set, or handheld VHF
• Maps, note paper, journal
• Daypack and water bottle (for hiking)
• Portable CD or tape player (that can run on batteries) with headphones for private listening.  There is a public CD player on the boat.
• DVDs (movies can be played on our laptop computer on board)
• Wet suit (in May and October or later)
• For more restful sleep:  ear plugs, eye mask blindfold (especially if you are not used to bright light of daybreak).
• GPS
• Telescope:  Even though we are often parked at night in some narrow slot canyon, that tiny patch of sky still has more stars in it than the whole sky at home.
• Fishing equipment Note: you need a Utah license, available at the marina store. Also, freezer space is scarce for most of the trip.
• Laptop computer (if you just can't leave work at the office...)
• Stuff you’ve always wanted to read but didn't have time: books, magazines
• Guitar, harmonica, tuba, etc. (but, only if you play well!)
• Games:  if you have a favorite game, bring it along (there are several games already on board the houseboat)
• For July or August trips, bring a water spray bottle that you can use to spray yourself down when you get too hot (especially good on hikes).

How the Wildwind trip ACCOUNTING works:  (If you'd rather not even know, just ignore this.)

• Trip expenses vary from trip to trip, based upon time of year, number of guests, and actual costs of boat maintenance expenses and consumables used, etc.  The trip is non-profit, on a shared expense basis: I pay in the same share as everyone else, and any excess amount is refunded at the end.  You are welcome to view the accounting at any time, and at the end of the trip I’ll send you a final report with refund checks (if any, but almost always true).
  


• The shared expenses include all meals and snacks aboard ship (but not alcoholic beverages); houseboat and ski boat fuel and oil; our boat maintenance fees; and various shared incidentals, but no travel expenses to and from Utah. All leftover non-food supplies that I buy for the trip I take home and “donate” forward to the next trip (I store them at home).  All group food left over at the end of the trip is divided round-robin between all interested people still on board when we clean the boat.
  


• If you bring personal food or supplies (a “private stash”) of any kind, that’s fine.  Just keep it with your stuff, or mark it as yours if you put it in a public place.  If you share it with the group, tell me your cost or give me your receipt, and I’ll credit you for it unless you take it back at the end of the week prior to the food divvy.  (It’s up to you whether you want to be credited or just be generous.  You are certainly entitled to a credit for any contribution you make to trip expenses.)
  


• Alcohol is one exception.  It's strictly BYOB, and based on past gripes, I won't credit anyone for booze, even if they share it with the group. And there will be no charging anyone else on the trip for alcohol or anything else. If you choose to share it, it becomes a gift.
  


• Also, the shared expenses include a $200 honorarium for each person bringing a full-fledged ski boat, but not for a sailboat or PWC.  This honorarium is in lieu of all other ski boat related expenses.  Plus we buy all the gas and oil needed for any of our boats at the lake.  Boat owners, I need to know your net costs (out of your pocket) for boat gas burned at the lake so I can credit you. Please let me know these expenses, and all other credits due, within a day or two after the trip ends, so I can close the accounting and issue refunds without delay.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY (For now I’ve decided not to make people sign it...)

In consideration for permission to board Wildwind 2, I understand and agree that the owners of houseboat Wildwind 2 are not responsible for my health and well-being.  I understand that living aboard a houseboat on Lake Powell incurs certain risks of loss, including, but not limited to, property damaged, lost overboard, or stolen; and certain risks of injury, including, but not limited to, cuts, abrasions, broken bones, lost extremities, and loss of life.  I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the houseboat owners for loss, damages, or injury resulting to me or my property in connection with my traveling aboard Wildwind 2 or any speed boat used while living on Wildwind 2.

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This page last modified on 29-Mar-2006