One of the great things about having a stand up paddle community around us, is that we have the opportunity to enjoy adventures that I may never have thought of. Our good friends, Harold and Kim, planned a historic trip to the upper part of the Hoover Dam (constructed in 1931) at Lake Mead. Just when I thought I found some favorite places to paddle, here came another!
The Hoover Dam impounds the vast Colorado River to create Lake Mead. The lake begins to drop in elevation when the desert heats up and causes high demands of water in Las Vegas, Arizona, California and Mexico. The levels vary from year-to-year, creating a distinct, ashy ‘bath ring.’ There are tons of places to explore here on our SUPs, as it is the largest reservoir in the United States, and reminds me of Lake Powell.
When Harold and Kim mentioned this trip, I realized it could be #37 on our Arizona Stand Up Paddle List. Fantastic! Nate and I packed up the 12’2 ATRII, and my little 9.0 surf SUP for this outing.
We camped in a quiet, hilly, lakeside cove, pretty much all our own. And coincidentally, when we dropped in to paddle to the dam, we were alone also. Lakes get pretty quiet in the fall and winter, and this makes for some of the most peaceful and calm times on the water.
When we got to the dam, there was a perfect rocky outcropping to view the massive structure in front of us. We parked our SUPs and relaxed comfortably in the November sun for a while.
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I like hearing the reasons my friends enjoy our outdoor quality time. Joe, with his red Hobie ATR II said he liked chilling out under the Hoover dam. Kim, with her Infinity, enjoyed hanging out with her SUP family and drinking in the scenery.
Harold savored the gorgeous red-orange-tan colors of the rock funneling down the mountainside behind our campsite.
“Getting to spend time in laughter, and new friendships. We have a like-mindedness that bonds us all together,” said our friend Heather.
Kim, Heather and I went for a short hike on the burro trails that meandered up ridges by the water’s edge, giving us an expansive view of the massive lake.
“Climbing to literal heights I had never achieved, with the love and support of my friends the whole way. Priceless! “ said Heather.
For myself, I will continue to love the diverse beauty of each environment we encounter on our stand up paddleboards, within the borders of Arizona. Our perfect ending for this adventure was sitting around the fire at night, with fragrant shaggy juniper wood burning, as we watched a multi-fluorescent sun set on the lake.
