Day 1-2: La Verkin Creek, Kolob Arch, Beartrap Canyon, Double Arch Alcove

[OwenM]

Day 1:
My backcountry permit says 80% chance of precipitation(snow), high of 38, 21-24mph wind. Ranger told me the most recent update called for a low of 19, and winds to 45mph, which I don't doubt, since a gust actually knocked me over when I was leaned over with my weight on one foot while still in the parking lot at the Lee Pass trailhead, and my rental car's doors kept getting slammed shut while I was getting stuff together. I hiked the La Verkin Creek Trail from Lee Pass into the Kolob Canyons, took a 1 mile side trip on the Kolob Arch Trail, continued to Beartrap Canyon, which is at mile 9.3, and adds another mile round-trip. My campsite was #16, about 8-8.5 miles from Lee Pass. Many people only go as far as the Kolob Arch Trail, or the Hop Valley connection at mile 7.3, but they are missing out, IMO, because the best parts are from shortly after the connection to the end of Beartrap Canyon.

Kolob Arch is the second longest free-standing arch in the world.

Campsite #16. I took a 5min break here, but decided not to set up camp until after doing Bearttrap Canyon.

 

[OwenM]

Beartrap Canyon:

These are from my campsite, or right behind it:

This is the only time I put on my long underwear bottoms the whole trip! I had water shoes and wetsocks, but didn't bother to put them on in Beartrap Canyon, so ended up wearing them around camp...

 

[OwenM]

Day 2:
I typically start early throughout this trip-about an hour before sunrise unless I'm in a scenic place with things I haven't seen yet.
About 1/2 hour after starting:

After coming out La Verkin, added in a 5 mile side hike of the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek to Double Arch Alcove. It was a nice hike. Pretty, and there are a couple of old cabins that are locked up and screened to keep people from bothering them.

Every now and then a little pebble will break loose, and roll down the hill...

'Course some pebbles are bigger than others.

Best I could do with my camera of Double Arch Alcove. I actually bought a postcard with a good pic of it to show my family

From here, I went to Springdale, UT, having decided to go ahead and do the Zion Narrows the following day rather than save it 'til late in the trip and chance something screwing things up.
Went to Zion Adventure Company, and rented a drysuit, 5mm wetsocks, and 5.10 Canyoneering shoes to use in the Narrows.

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Great photos

Love your posts Bro

Keep em coming

 

[tonym]

Outstanding pics, I always enjoy your trip reports!

Keep up the great work!

 

[kgd]

One hell of a trip. Thanks for taking us!

 

[OwenM]

Thanks guys!

Outstanding pics, I always enjoy your trip reports!

Keep up the great work!

Thanks. I've been putting pics from my weekly overnights in that sticky thread up top, but I figured this one needed a thread of its own...or however many threads I've started about it

 

[fugawee]

where is this,Arizona?
I know in one of these threads you mention Las Vegas...
yes,evidently there is someone who doesnt know

 

[OwenM]

Sorry, this is Zion National Park in Utah, and then day 8 I go to Red Rock National Conservation Area, which is just outside Las Vegas, NV.

btw, the Mormons named it Zion after scripture, implying that it was like heaven on Earth, or the finest example of God's handiwork.
Psalms 50:2 "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shone forth."

 

[milani74]

Amazing pics Owen. It looks like you had a great time in the outdoors. Thanks for sharing.

 

[tonym]

Thanks guys!

Thanks. I've been putting pics from my weekly overnights in that sticky thread up top, but I figured this one needed a thread of its own...or however many threads I've started about it

I had no idea, thanks for letting me know! You know what they say about sticky threads.. It's the best way to have something ignored..

 

[TheGame]

There's threads stickied here?

Great pics. Looks like a good trip :thumbup:

 

[Mistwalker]

Truly spectacular scenery, thanks for sharing the trip. Hiking that area in the autumn just made my bucket list...I hope i get to do it.

 

[OwenM]

Hiking that area in the autumn just made my bucket list...I hope i get to do it.

Do the Narrows if you have the opportunity. My pics do none of these places any justice, but that's most especially true of the Narrows, which I did on day 3. I went first thing in the morning so there wouldn't be many people, but when the sun gets up, many of the walls turn radioactive orange or solid gold, depending. I didn't get to see this until on the way out, but it's indescribable. In one of my pics there's a guy ahead of me. He was a photographer rushing to set up a single shot two hours early. If you google the top 10 hikes in the world, or top 5 in the US...it's there.

 

[grunt soldier]

those are some spectacular pics brother. as always great post

 

[Mistwalker]

Do the Narrows if you have the opportunity. My pics do none of these places any justice, but that's most especially true of the Narrows, which I did on day 3. I went first thing in the morning so there wouldn't be many people, but when the sun gets up, many of the walls turn radioactive orange or solid gold, depending. I didn't get to see this until on the way out, but it's indescribable. In one of my pics there's a guy ahead of me. He was a photographer rushing to set up a single shot two hours early. If you google the top 10 hikes in the world, or top 5 in the US...it's there.

Thanks, I'll make a note of that one.