I'll be there the weekend. of the 10-11 plus staying the rest of the week.
Posted by Bret Edge on October 26, 2012 at 8:53 PM
We're tentatively planning to be there Nov. 9-14. This is a family camping/hiking trip but I'll be up for sunrise and sunset every day. I don't expect to find much in the way of fall colors but it will still be nice to escape Moab for a few days.
Posted by Peyton Hale on October 27, 2012 at 9:57 AM
I'll most likely be there the 4th through the 8th. (Spending my birthday in Zion sounds like a great day to me!) I'd like to do the narrows and the subway but the hike that doesn't require rappelling.
Posted by Karl Buiter on October 29, 2012 at 2:56 PM
I am considering doing the Narrows on the 4th.
On Saturday I got as far as the third crossing before the water starting going into my NEOS Navigator 5 overshoes. I talked to an outfitter on Sunday and may give it another try with better gear.
Has anyone access the park from the North Fork? I did checkout and confirmed access to East Mesa Trail through Zion Ponderosa. Looks like a nice rim-level 3.5-mile trail to Observation Point. But on the way back from the East Mesa access to North Fork. I noticed several accesses to the Orderville portions of the Narrows.
If you catch this in time, I'm headed down there and hope to meet up with Kane Englebert and Kurt Budde, two more NPN guys from CO and AZ, respectively. Don't know quite yet what our plans are, but we've talked about the Narrows, and I thought it might be interesting to do a shuttle-hike starting at the top of the east side and descend down through Echo Canyon, over to Hidden Canyon, and end up down at Weeping Rock. Drop me a text or call at 951 852 6804 if you'd like to meet up and/or coordinate something. Maybe at late dinner at Casas de Amigo's on Saturday, say 8pm?
Good luck,
Mark.
Posted by Karl Buiter on November 5, 2012 at 1:45 PM
Thanks Mark, Kane, Kurt! We hiked the Virgin Narrows Sunday. Definitely an experience! Some photos will appear.
Sorry Jason, we just did not connect up this weekend. Since you are there through the a portion of the week, you should have some great conditions up there.
I am scheduled to do Zion again next weekend. Drop me a line if anyone is in the area.
Posted by Karl Buiter on November 5, 2012 at 11:17 PM
Snow Coming. Not sure how much.. Mid-Teens Friday Night in Zion.
Here is the NWS Special Weather Statement for the region... (it comes in all caps) .
...WINTER STORM EXPECTED FRIDAY...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL LIKELY CROSS THE REGION FRIDAY...CRASHING
TEMPERATURES AND BRINGING A PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW TO MUCH OF
UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING. ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL IS FORECAST DOWN
TO THE VALLEY FLOOR...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTHERN UTAH.
THE SNOW IS FORECAST TO END SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY. SIGNIFICANT
MOUNTAIN ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE.
AccuWeather is not so aggressive in their forecast. Could be interesting.
Posted by David Bostock on November 10, 2012 at 9:33 PM
Hey there, PNWNP member here. I've been in Zion for the last week. What a wild wonderful time. Sun, shade, wind, rain, snow, and lots of color. The snow last night into today was light but made a nice dusting on the peaks and the fallen trees in the canyon. I've spent the last five days photographing the color in the canyon. It's been the best photo trip of my life, I'll try to post some over here, or in the main forums over the next week or so. Zion is an incredible place.
Posted by Karl Buiter on November 12, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Thanks David,
I got up to Sinawava at dawn on Saturday the 10th - nice snow squall that began pea-size sleet and became white and fluffy. It all added to the overall flocking of leaves - I'd say maybe an inch in the ground in places where it stuck. Narrows was closed (>150 CFM). By late morning I was on the 89 headed up to Glendale playing with the idea of hitting Bryce - but the unplowed pass and time to roundtrip convinced me to focus on Zion. Tried to get to the East Mesa trailhead in Zion Ponderosa but it began to rain mud - or was that my BFG offroaders throwing crud up as I escaped from a very snowy / wet trail? :) A bit of Checkerboard Mesa; and a dead sunset. I heard from locals that the sunset on Friday was incredible - best in 11 years. Anyone get a shot?
Sunday was a pleasant hike from Big Bend to the back side of Sinawava along the west side of the river. Lots of Deer and pretty views. And a brief exploration to Kolob Terrace.
Yeah, it was a really productive weekend! Hope everyone else got to enjoy the mix of fall and snow!
Discussion
10 repliesWho else will be in the region?
Especially interested if anyone is planning Virgin Narrows or off-main-canyon hikes. Or other nearby locations up the 89, Kanarraville, White Pocket.
On Saturday I got as far as the third crossing before the water starting going into my NEOS Navigator 5 overshoes. I talked to an outfitter on Sunday and may give it another try with better gear.
Has anyone access the park from the North Fork? I did checkout and confirmed access to East Mesa Trail through Zion Ponderosa. Looks like a nice rim-level 3.5-mile trail to Observation Point. But on the way back from the East Mesa access to North Fork. I noticed several accesses to the Orderville portions of the Narrows.
If you catch this in time, I'm headed down there and hope to meet up with Kane Englebert and Kurt Budde, two more NPN guys from CO and AZ, respectively. Don't know quite yet what our plans are, but we've talked about the Narrows, and I thought it might be interesting to do a shuttle-hike starting at the top of the east side and descend down through Echo Canyon, over to Hidden Canyon, and end up down at Weeping Rock. Drop me a text or call at 951 852 6804 if you'd like to meet up and/or coordinate something. Maybe at late dinner at Casas de Amigo's on Saturday, say 8pm?
Good luck,
Mark.
Sorry Jason, we just did not connect up this weekend. Since you are there through the a portion of the week, you should have some great conditions up there.
I am scheduled to do Zion again next weekend. Drop me a line if anyone is in the area.
Here is the NWS Special Weather Statement for the region... (it comes in all caps) .
...WINTER STORM EXPECTED FRIDAY...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL LIKELY CROSS THE REGION FRIDAY...CRASHING
TEMPERATURES AND BRINGING A PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW TO MUCH OF
UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING. ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL IS FORECAST DOWN
TO THE VALLEY FLOOR...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTHERN UTAH.
THE SNOW IS FORECAST TO END SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY. SIGNIFICANT
MOUNTAIN ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE.
AccuWeather is not so aggressive in their forecast. Could be interesting.
I got up to Sinawava at dawn on Saturday the 10th - nice snow squall that began pea-size sleet and became white and fluffy. It all added to the overall flocking of leaves - I'd say maybe an inch in the ground in places where it stuck. Narrows was closed (>150 CFM). By late morning I was on the 89 headed up to Glendale playing with the idea of hitting Bryce - but the unplowed pass and time to roundtrip convinced me to focus on Zion. Tried to get to the East Mesa trailhead in Zion Ponderosa but it began to rain mud - or was that my BFG offroaders throwing crud up as I escaped from a very snowy / wet trail? :) A bit of Checkerboard Mesa; and a dead sunset. I heard from locals that the sunset on Friday was incredible - best in 11 years. Anyone get a shot?
Sunday was a pleasant hike from Big Bend to the back side of Sinawava along the west side of the river. Lots of Deer and pretty views. And a brief exploration to Kolob Terrace.
Yeah, it was a really productive weekend! Hope everyone else got to enjoy the mix of fall and snow!
I'll post my top shots soon.