I might be taking a teaching job near Gallup New Mexico, has anyone sailed around there? I see there are a few small lakes.
Thanks
Has anyone sailed by 4 corners near Gallup New Mexico
Moderator: MK
Yes - you can sail Morgan Lake near Farmington, which is the cooling pond for the 4-Corners Power Plant.
It's a great little lake about 1x2 miles, and stays warm year round - it is the cooling pond for the power plant! (It's coal-fired, by the way. No nukes.)
We used to road-trip there from Gunnison, CO during college and sail in February and March with 60+ degree water temp. Sometimes the water would freeze on our sails (and our faces), but we'd just fall in to warm up. Summertime water temps are quite warm.
There is nothing around to block the wind for miles and miles and miles (and miles). It's a pretty windy place, gets mostly frontal system-based wind, and is on an Indian Reservation. The reservation is dry, BTW. Probably not a good idea to pack along the beer.
Aside from the power plant, the scenery is gorgeous (if you like the desert). You can see Ship Rock from the lake and it's not too far from the mountains.
I don't know about the other lakes around there, but Morgan is a treasure. There is more to discover about the place, but I'll let you find out some of that on your own. Just don't eat the fish in the lake (can you say heavy metal, dude?) There used to be a shop down there, but that is long gone.
For another sailing treat, you could always head to Blue Mesa Reservoir. That's where I did most of my sailing, and it is located near Gunnison, CO. It will be about 4-5 hours from you and makes a good weekend trip. The lake is huge, and - especially in the fall - gets great afternoon thermals. The drive alone is cool. It will take you over some of the best mountain passes in CO.
-Coach
It's a great little lake about 1x2 miles, and stays warm year round - it is the cooling pond for the power plant! (It's coal-fired, by the way. No nukes.)
We used to road-trip there from Gunnison, CO during college and sail in February and March with 60+ degree water temp. Sometimes the water would freeze on our sails (and our faces), but we'd just fall in to warm up. Summertime water temps are quite warm.
There is nothing around to block the wind for miles and miles and miles (and miles). It's a pretty windy place, gets mostly frontal system-based wind, and is on an Indian Reservation. The reservation is dry, BTW. Probably not a good idea to pack along the beer.
Aside from the power plant, the scenery is gorgeous (if you like the desert). You can see Ship Rock from the lake and it's not too far from the mountains.
I don't know about the other lakes around there, but Morgan is a treasure. There is more to discover about the place, but I'll let you find out some of that on your own. Just don't eat the fish in the lake (can you say heavy metal, dude?) There used to be a shop down there, but that is long gone.
For another sailing treat, you could always head to Blue Mesa Reservoir. That's where I did most of my sailing, and it is located near Gunnison, CO. It will be about 4-5 hours from you and makes a good weekend trip. The lake is huge, and - especially in the fall - gets great afternoon thermals. The drive alone is cool. It will take you over some of the best mountain passes in CO.
-Coach