Day 3: Zion Narrows

[OwenM]

The Zion Narrows are entered after taking the 1 mile Riverside Walk from the Temple of Sinawava at the end of Zion Canyon. When you run out of trail/sidewalk, you just keep going right up the river.

Getting chest deep in the first few minutes kind of worried me about how things would go, but except for a swimmer under an obstacle in Orderville Canyon, I don't think it got that deep again. I have a bit of a water phobia, though it's mostly just in my head, and usually disappears when I'm actually in a rapid(in a kayak or raft), or in this case, in the water.

Mystery Falls-exit point of the Mystery Canyon route for canyoneers:

Before long I was playing, and racing the 10 second timer. Phobia?
I actually made really good time, and made it 4 miles upriver to Big Springs a lot faster than expected(which I have on video, and somehow managed not to take a pic of).

Reading an acquaintance's books about thru-hiking the AT reminded me how much I love Reeses Pieces. He was always grubbing on them. Now I'm always grubbing on them...

 

[OwenM]

Orderville Canyon starts out kind of drab, but ended up being the high point of the day for me.

Testing my new waterproof pack liner. It's...waterproof.

 

[OwenM]

One of several obstacles, and the turnaround point for dayhikers, Veiled Falls.

otw out

 

[kgd]

Awesome stuff. I can't imagine the challenge of wading through your entire hike like that. The dry suit must have been sweaty hot at times!

 

[OwenM]

I'd never had a drysuit on before, and didn't know what to expect. It's Gore-Tex, made by Kokatat, and didn't provide much warmth by itself(plus the water was 45-50F). I had on pants and 1/4 zip shirt, both Powerstretch fleece, and was very comfortable. Only unzipped it for a few minutes when taking a break, and really didn't need to, since it was in the 40s when I started, and windy. Being in the water kept me comfortably cool most of the time, and I don't think I ever broke a sweat. Wading upstream was more challenging in the deeper water, especially when the current was strong, but most of the time it wasn't more than knee or thigh deep.

 

[HornyToad]

I'm glad you took some nice pictures as I am never making that trip. Too hard.

 

[tonym]

That's looks to be a hell of an adventure. It looks to be the type of trip where gear will make or break it. Am I wrong?

 

[OwenM]

That's looks to be a hell of an adventure. It looks to be the type of trip where gear will make or break it. Am I wrong?

I had a GREAT time!
Gear does make all the difference, sometimes. I was in temps from 19-79F, and really never had an uncomfortable moment(except I wished for a brimmed hat in the desert-lots of direct sunlight on both the East and West rims). Already found out the hard way how wild and unpredictable Kolob's weather is, and was prepared for anything this time.
Used pretty much the same stuff every day. Ltwt. Smartwool PhD socks, Marmot Scree pants, and Capilene1 shirt. Just added my puffy jacket, or a cheap Russell "Dri-Power" shirt(to protect my Capilene) as needed, and long underwear bottoms and rain gear once each.
The only thing I've been wanting that was missing was an unlined softshell jacket like my pants. Needed something tougher than a windshirt, but less restrictive and bulky than a hardshell. On the same day I did the Narrows, I bought an OR Ferrosi jacket at a shop in town. Thin, light, stretchy, and has a hood. Wasn't phased by light rain, snow, wind, heat, anything. Like my pants, it dries VERY fast, and mud and dirt just fall off of it, while thorns and bushwhacking through heavy brush in a finger canyon didn't tear it. I even kept it on when it got close to 80 degrees because it breathed so well I never even felt hot(love that dry heat like I do the dry cold!). Along with those Scree pants, this might be the best piece of gear I ever bought.
'Course in the Narrows I had the rented stuff and Powerstretch fleece I brough specifically for that.

Did bring two sleeping bags. Last time I hiked into Kolob was into a snowstorm, and the temps dropped 20 degrees below forecast, into the teens, and I about froze my butt off. This time I used my Marmot Arete 40 degree bag on the East side, where the temps didn't go below 40. The 15 degree Marmot Pinnacle was brand new. Came the day before I left. EN-rated to 10F, which means it's a sub-zero bag for somebody as warm-natured as I am. In retrospect, I probably should have bought something...less warm, but it seemed like a good gap between it and the Arete. It's so warm I can't even zip it up until it's in the 20s(and then with only boxer briefs on), though, so it will only get used a few weeks out of the year here at home.