Finally got to Apache lake but I heard some bad news..

[Duramax]

We got to Roosevelt Friday night through the backside (87 to 188). A friend of mine and his family also went up, so we did our boating on Roosevelt Saturday since I couldn't talk him into going to Apache. Of course, about 3:00 we get a storm and blow the lake out and ended up losing power at the hotel later that night.
Sunday my buddy heads home and my wife and I decide to go to Apache.... finally. The road isn't bad, typical Apache, and we ended up launching at 3mile Wash. The ramp, or what they call the ramp, does drop off some but not horrible. When we were pulling up, a decent size Vbottom was loading up and they pulled out just fine. IT DOES DROP OFF A LITTLE STEEPER, but not horrible, just so there is not confusion!, lol. The more to the left you go, the less of the angle. Just be careful.

Anyway, had a wonderful time on the water! Maybe 5 boats total and it was great. We went to all the spots, rope swing, Hermits cave, bottom of Roosevelt Damn, and Party Cove. The wife started driving the boat and loves it. Big win right there! When we were launching, a guy walked up and said he had heard that the night before a boat got caught in the wash runoff while anchored at Party Cove and capsized? Party Cove is the end of a big wash, and I have heard it can get going with big storms, couple that with the fire they have had up there and it's not good. As we are idling in to the cove we see two Sheriffs boats. As we get closer, I see more people standing on rocks. I told my wife it looks like they are looking for a body. Sure enough, today at work I heard that two people are missing along with the boat. Very said if that is true. Anybody have anymore info?



On with the show. Here are a few pics. The Apache - Hermits cave - bad ass Mercs! =)

 

[2Driver]

The Bush fire cooked so much area I cant image what the discharge from the first really big storm is going to look like. I recall small washes after the cave creek complex fire that filled with black thick goo rolling at 20 mph.

 

[Duramax]

The Bush fire cooked so much area I cant image what the discharge from the first really big storm is going to look like. I recall small washes after the cave creek complex fire that filled with black thick goo rolling at 20 mph.

The 188 from Globe to Roosevelt is burned both sides 75% of the way. It's crazy. It opened back up Sunday for our drive home which was great.

 

[Activated]

MCSO search underway for two passengers of capsized boat at Apache Lake

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says crews are looking for a capsized boat at Apache Lake.

www.abc15.com

 

[Duramax]

MCSO search underway for two passengers of capsized boat at Apache Lake

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says crews are looking for a capsized boat at Apache Lake.

www.abc15.com

I heard they found the lady and the boat this morning? Prayers go out to the families. So sad.

We are taking a few weeks off and heading out there again. It is a great little lake.

 

[Carlson-jet]

Sad deal indeed.
My memories of Apache were great night fishing, sleeping in the boat then wake up for early morning fishing. Some of the best memories I have.

 

[kurtis500]

I know that lake and cove soooo well. Was this a sailboat that went over?

 

[StevieHops]

It was a wake boat, it capsized after a walk of debris hit it

 

[AzMandella]

Been going to Apache my whole life . 54yrs . Have not been there since the fires . Yes Party Cove can get raging with flash floods . You can get caught off guard if you are not paying attention to the weather . Most regulars know to stay out of the main coves fed by washes during the monsoon season . You couldn't pay me to camp , let alone launch at 3mile . I've seen trailers washed into the lake there .

 

[Duramax]

Been going to Apache my whole life . 54yrs . Have not been there since the fires . Yes Party Cove can get raging with flash floods . You can get caught off guard if you are not paying attention to the weather . Most regulars know to stay out of the main coves fed by washes during the monsoon season . You couldn't pay me to camp , let alone launch at 3mile . I've seen trailers washed into the lake there .

Good point, and I should have known better. Burnt Corral looked great actually, and it's just a little longer drive. With the road being closed maybe permanently coming from the Phoenix side, I'm sure Apache will be pretty tame this year....at least that is my hope.

 

[kurtis500]

Heres a pic from August 2008. I can imagine larger and steeper runoffs with the Bush fire damage made party cove a deadly place to be. The people killed near Payson are proof you dont have to be near the storm for it to kill 10 people without warning. Lower Burnt Corral was washed out in this pic and without a fire or etc. The wash areas can get really bad when a rare heavy monsoon storm rolls through. The channel dug by this storm is still there in lower burnt corral and two smaller channels are still at the beach in the main burnt corral campground. During this storm i was hiding in my 5th wheel and ightning hit the grill right outside my camper window, talk about an eye opening expereince. My eyes were closed and I could see every vein in my eyelid, it was that bright. (In the picturetThe boat and camper came after the storm)