Zion National Park…
While I’ve been in Utah a few times, I had never gone through Zion yet. The upper third of these mountains consists of Navajo Sandstone. It is a very touristy place and I took advantage of the off-season to discover it.
1. Going up in Zion Canyon, accessible by a paved road.
2. Cottonwoods don’t have leaves anymore in this season.
3. Angel Landing. For those who know it, climbing this edge while rock is covered with snow and ice is quite… well… aerial! 😉 I must say that there are a few hundred feet of emptyness on each side and that certain passages are not more than five feet wide.
4. Hiking the West Rim trail…
5. Top left, the edge by which one accesses Angel Landing.
6. Reaching Navajo sandstone in characteristic light color.
7. Toward South…
8. Lower Zion Canyon in late afternoon.
9. From my camp… 😀
The next morning, after obtaining the required permit because the hike is quite engaged, I went for a long hik of about 14 miles. Rather than hiking, I should say a gymkhana! Except for the first two miles, it’s going upstream in a torrent crowling large blocks, constantly going up and down, crossing fifteen times the water at 37F, skating on snow and ice, without any sun… In short, something not to recommend to anyone, especially in this season. Moreover, the ranger looked at me with surprised eyes when I asked him for the permit, saying: “Do you really want to go ther in this season?”. 😀
Why this hike you might think. To exploreng a rather exceptional slot canyon, the “Subway” as it’s called.
10. While there is still about 2 miles to go, the canyon is still open and small waterfalls jump down rock stairs.
11. The most photographed waterfall, less than 1 mile down the slot canyon.
12. Here is the entrance of the slot canyon with its characteristic form that earned it its name.
13. Floods of the river dug a kind of tube-shaped hose.
14. The “turning” from downstream.
15. Small waterfalls dug a series of pots where the water is emerald.
16. Above, the canyon reopens before closing again. It requires climbing equipment to continue.
17. Beautiful pots.
18. The turning from upstream.
19. Coming out of this incomparable canyon…
That’s it for today! 😉
To be followed in some days…
D5 Creation
Thanks Mike. Is your penthouse top fabric also insulated or do you just keep interior warm with the heater running? And what about your water system? Is it fully inside the van?
In VivaLaVida, even with the special insulation and the insulated high top, heater ran quite a bit during a night with -9F…
Hi Claude, the penthouse canvas is not insulated. I keep the heater on low during the night. I have camped in single digit weather but not below 0F. I drain my water tank during the winter and just bring a jug of water to use for cooking and washing. My tank and lines are inside, except for the fill, so I might be good but don’t want to chance it. So far I haven’t been out longer than a weekend in really cold weather so not too bad.
I had an issue with the heater only once. It was due to a low battery and the heater would not start. I lowered the top and slept down below, which is where I usually sleep, and had a down sleeping bag to sleep in. Stayed warm during the night but it was cold getting out of the bag in the morning.
Travel safe,
Mike
Hi Claude, glad you made it to the Subway. I was wondering if you still planned to hike it. What day did you hike? A friend and I did it on November 20th and the weather was about 60 degrees in the afternoon. We ran into a small amount of ice on the water in a couple of places in the early morning, but that was all. There are icicles hanging from the Subway walls in your pictures. Wow!
It is truly a beautiful and magical place. I plan to go back someday for more pictures.
Glad you made the hike to experience the scenery.
Travel safe,
Mike
Hi Mike,
I hiked the Subway on December 28th. It was quite colder than when you hiked it, likely about 34-36 degrees when I was there and there was nobody else. as it snowed two days before, I had snow and ice almost all the way to it. I didn’t had any dry suit and it was too cold to walk in water to get higher in the slot. So I’m also gonna have to head there again another time… 😉
What’s your next planed travel?
Take care,
Not sure when I plan to travel again. I do short weekend trips in the SMB all the time to the Tetons and Yellowstone. My friend, who hiked the Subway with me, and I would like to hike it from the top down, through the Subway, and then out to the parking lot. We will probably try to get a permit for this summer or fall. A ways away, but spring time brings more rain and the chance of flooding.
Hoping to make a SMB trip this spring sometime to Monument Valley and into Southwest Colorado. I’ve never seen Ouray, Durango and Telluride areas. Lots to explore in that area.
Travel safe,
Mike
Is your SMB well insulated? It’s cold actually in the Tetons or Yellowstone..!
If you’re wanna try to hike the Subway in summer or fall, you must be lucky to win at the permit lottery. To visit the Wave, I only got one after 16 unsuccessful attempts… Good luck! 😉
My SMB is insulated. Not sure what kind of insulation Sportsmobile puts into their vans but with the diesel heater I have no issues keeping it warm. I was camping in the Tetons over the New Year weekend and stayed plenty warm.
Travel safe,
Mike
so beautiful… and damm… your a brave guy!
Not brave canyon, just Lucky and happy to be able to do it… 😉