LAKE POWELL, Ariz. — Shane Schieffer has successfully become the first person to swim the entire 140-mile length of Lake Powell, unassisted, while towing all of his gear.

Schieffer made the final few strokes of his journey on Friday, reaching as close to Glen Canyon Dam as possible. He is now back home in Colorado, recovering.

“I would say my energy is at about 80% now, coming back from the swim,” he said.

Schieffer started his swim at Hite Crossing, far northeast of Page, and finished at the dam after 11 days. It's not possible to swim right up to the dam, so a buoy line marked the finish line.

Schieffer's long swim was anything but easy.

On day one, the water was muddy, shallow and full off debris and dead fish, he said. He lost 15 pounds along the way.

At one point, a flash flood

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