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John Phillips' Paddling Site

Thanks for dropping by my page, I'm John Phillips, this is my paddling page, I'm not quite done with it yet so please give me some slack.

You've gotta bring all this stuff when you head for the outdoors on water.

CAMPING SAW	A camp saw is very good to have if you are going to a really wild area. If you are camping in a developed camp area by a trail you probably won't need one but it could still be useful.
FISH NET	Bring a fish net even if you don't plan to use it, especially if you are going somewhere where there are very few other people who can help you out if you get stuck.
STEELWIRE	Always bring a short piece of steel wire, it is very useful if something needs to be fixed.
COOKING POT	Don't forget to pack a cooking pot. How else will you boil water and cook your food.
CAMPSTOVE	You can cook food and boil water over a fire but you will be wasting precious time and energy. You need to have a good wood powered camp stove. I bought a Trailstove after a friend of mine told me how it had saved his life in a snow storm. I've been trying to find something like it in stores but I haven't had any luck with that. It's a very simple and fool proof design, no moving parts that can break down. It cooks a bit slower than a gas stove but that's no problem at all. It's pretty cheap too.
FOLDING TOOL	Back in the old days I used to carry a Swiss army knife where ever I went, then the Leatherman tools came, now I carry one of each. If I had to pick one I would probably pick the Leatherman tool just for the pliers, but there are lots of tasks where the Swiss army knife still has the upper hand.

Making a fire

Gather some wood, a handful of very thin twigs and a couple of handfuls of finger thick sticks will be enough to get things started. You also need to gather a number of larger pieces of wood to keep the fire going for as long as you want to.

Make a ring with rocks on the ground or dig a pit for the fire.

Make a teepee shape with the sticks and twigs, the thinner pieces on the inside and the thicker on the outside, leave a space open on one side of the teepee.

Put some starter material such as some dry leaves into the side opening and ignite.

Once the teepee collapses into a random looking heap of fire you can start adding the bigger pieces.

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Fritch, TX

Contrasting spectacularly with its surroundings, Lake Meredith lies on the dry and windswept High Plains of the Texas Panhandle in a region known as Llano Estacado, or Staked Plain. Lake Meredith was created by Sanford Dam on the Canadian River and now fills many breaks whose walls are crowned with white limestone caprock, scenic buttes, pinnacles, and red-brown, wind-eroded coves. Above lies the mesquite, prickly pear, yucca, and grasses of arid plains. And up the sheltered creek beds stand cottonwoods, soapberry, and sandbar willows. The National Park Service administers the recreation area under a cooperative agreement with Bureau of Reclamation. Lake Meredith serves the area as popular water recreation area.

CONTACTS

Email - rhonda_terry@nps.gov

Fax- 806-857-2319

Write to
P.O. Box 1460
Fritch, TX 79036

- or -
419 E. Broadway
Fritch, TX 79036

Phone
Visitor Information - (806) 857-3151
Headquarters - (806) 857-3151

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Administrative Offices: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Park open 24 hrs.

Getting There
PLANE - Amarillo International Airport is located in Amarillo south of the park.

CAR - Multiple access points exist for Lake Meredith. Visitors from Amarillo may take either highway 136 north or Highway 287 north.

Weather & Climate
Four Seasons: Cool and rainy to hot and dry Winter lows: 0 - 10 degrees F, Summer highs: 95 - 105 degrees F, Annual rainfall: 20 inches

Accessibility
Wheelchair ramps available at some boat ramps. Park headquarters and some comfort stations handicapped accessible.

Contact the park for more information.

Getting Around
Multiple access points and roads exist within the park. Maps available from park headquarters. Driving on established dirt roads allowed within the park. Off road vehicle use allowed only in the creek bed at Big Blue Creek off road area or in Rosita off road vehicle area.

FEES/PERMITS

Activity Fee
BOAT LAUNCH FEE
$40 for Annual
$4.00 for Day
$10.00 for 3 Days
All vessels that require state registration (TX numbers) are subject to the fee. This includes personal water craft such as jet skis, wet cycles, and similar craft. Boaters may purchase either a $40 annual sticker, a $4 one day permit, or a $10 three day permit. Part of the fee demonstration program directed by Congress in 1996, the boat launch fee funds boating safety improvements at launch ramps and waterways. Since this is not an entrance fee, the National Park Pass does not apply to this fee. Golden Age or Golden Access pass holders receive a 50% discount on this activity fee. A valid state boat registration card must accompany your Golden Age or Golden Access Passport when purchasing a permit.

Special Use Permits
GROUP

Special use permits are required for all groups over 15 people-including activities like camping, picnicing, water activities, etc. Call or write for permits in advance. Permits may also be obtained from Park Headquarters located in Fritch, Texas

CAMPING

Blue Creek Bridge
Open All Year
No designated sites, however there are chemical toilets and picnic tables. This area is one of two designated off-road vehcile use areas. Off-road vehicles however, are restricted to the creek bed. No water or RV hookups available. No camping fees. NOTE: All riders of 3 & 4 wheelers MUST wear a DOT approved safety helmet and eye protection.

Blue West
Open All Year
Blue West campground is on the north side of the lake off Highway 1913. Individual campsites have picnic tables, shade shelters and some grills. Vault toilets, no drinking water or RV hookups. Access to the lake shoreline is difficult from this site: however, a public boat ramp is located nearby. Blue West campground is seldom full. There is an excellent view of the lake from this campground. No camping fee.

Bugbee
Open All Year
A popular location with shoreline fishermen, Bugbee is a semi-developed camping area with no individual campsites. Some picnic tables and an "outback" chemical toilet are provided. Camping availability changes with fluctuating lake levels. No water, RV hookups or camping fee.

Cedar Canyon
Open All Year
Cedar Canyon a shoreline campground is fairly small, located off Sanford-Yake road. There are no designated camping sites, availability varies as lake level fluctuates. A comfort station with running water and flush toilets is located in the boat ramp parking lot. Restrooms open seasonally, no RV hookups or camping fee. RV dump station located at the head of the Cedar Canyon entrance road. The possession and consumption of alcohol is prohibited at Cedar Canyon.

Fritch Fortress
Open All Year
Beautiful views from this bluff location make this an attractive campground. Individual campsites have picnic tables, shade shelters and grills. Comfort station with running water and flush toilets opened seasonally. No RV hookups, RV waste dump station nearby. No camping fees. Public boat ramp nearby.

Harbor Bay
Open All Year
This shoreline campground is located just outside the community of Fritch, Texas. Harbor Bay has no indivudual camp sites. Camping availability varies greatly with rising and falling lake levels. Harbor Bay becomes extremely crowded on summer holiday weekends. The access road is blacktop, but the camping area can become soft during rainy conditions. Chemical toilets located near the public boat ramp. Some picnic tables are provided. No RV hookups, RV waste dump station nearby. No camping fees.

McBride Canyon
Open All Year
No designated camping sites. No access to the lake from this campground. Beautiful area, with huge cottonwood trees shading the picnic tables. Chemical toilet, no water available. No RV hookups or camping fee. Dirt road can become impassable during and after rain.

Mullinaw
Open All Year
Located southwest of the McBride campground, Mullinaw campgound has undeveloped sites with picnic tables and chemical toilets. No water availale, no RV hookups. Horseback riding allowed, corrals available for horse camping groups. No camping fee.

Plum Creek
Open All Year
This area contains some large shade trees and is quite popular with hunters and horseback users. No designated camping spots. This undeveloped area has chemical toilets and picnic tables, no water, RV hookups or camping fee. Hitch rails and horse pens are provided. Devil's Canyon Trail is for the beginner to experienced horseback rider. The trail is also used by hikers and mountain bikers.

Rosita
Open All Year
Located along the Canadian River, Rosita is one of two off-road vehicle use areas and a horseback riding area. There are a few chemical toilets, and picnic tables, -no drinking water. No designated camping sites, camping fee or RV hookups. NOTE: All riders of 3 & 4 wheelers and morotcycles MUST wear a DOT approved safety helmet and eye protection.

Sanford-Yake
Open All Year
This campsite is located on a spectacular bluff overlooking Lake Meredith near the marina, on the Sanford-Yake Road. The campground is simular to the more traditional National Park Service campgrounds. Individual campsites have picnic areas, shade shelters and grills. There is one central comfort station with running water and flush tiolets, which is open seasonally. No camping fees or RV hookpus. A RV waste dump station nearby. A public boat ramp is located at the Marina.

Spring Canyon
Open All Year
Designated campsites with picnic tables, shade shelters, grills and chemical toilets. No RV hookups or camping fee. The possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Swimming at your own risk is popular at the shallow end of the Stilling Basin. NO LIFEGUARD SERVICE PROVIDED. Spring Canyon experiences heavy day use on holiday weekends spring through summer. Vehciles are NOT allowed off designated roadways.

FACILITIES

Ranger Stations
PARK HEADQUARTERS
Open All Year 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F
Phone - (806) 857-3151
Location - 419 E. Broadway, Fritch TX 79036
Closures - Closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays. Open on weekends for boat permit sales from April through Labor Day.
Exhibits - none
Available Facilities - Southwest Parks and Monuments Association bookstore sells a wide variety of titles covering the history and natural history of the Texas Panhandle.

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