Wading in Zion
on Tina's Journal (China), 13/Oct/2011 18:53, 34 days ago
Well today I did something I had never done before.....hiked up river. Within Zion National Park you can literally wade The Narrows. The Virgin river flows within the canyon and luckily enough it hadn't rained for a few days previous so the water level wasn't too high, especially for a shorty like myself! We hired the wading gear from a store just outside the park which comprised of the correct shoes, socks, waders, waterproof rucksack and walking pole. The temperature of the water was only 10C so there was no way I was going just in shorts. Our guide Mex however waded comfortably in his shorts and sandals....he's done it time and time again! We hiked up river for two hours including a lunch stop with the highest level of water reaching my waist. It was absolutely amazing to be in the middle of a river looking up at the canyon walls. Looking up from within CanyonAltogether it took about 4 hours and by the end it became quite tiring on the legs. It is something I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Zion as a must to do, only of course if you're steady on your legs. You have to constantly think and feel about where to put your feet. Unfortunately I didn't get many photos whilst wading as concentration and keeping my camera safe in its waterproof bag was my priority. Taken at the lunch spotThe waders kept me bone dry even though I did slip into the river towards the end....lost concentration!One view from the hot tubThe pool and hot tub back at our lodge was well deserved that evening.