Zion National Park – Mid May

"Lesson Learned: Bring LOTSA water when hiking in the desert! :)"

I think I mentioned that… ;)

Great report!

hahaha, I believe you did….I've never drank so much water in my life.

Side note: You friends at Zion Adventure Comp are fantastic. Thanks for the recommendation.

Awesome!

It's really fun to see familiar places through the eyes of someone visiting for the first time. Thanks Steve.

I'm impressed that you eat so little food! Especially lunches. I usually plan on 8 bar-food-equivalents for lunch, which works out to 1600-1800 calories for lunch alone. Whatever works, I suppose.

We'll have to send you to the Escalante next. Get you off the trails and into the real uncivilized country.

Hope you liked it. I still cant get my video uploaded…keeps aborting for some reason. I'm going to try and compress it a bit so the file is smaller.

I even brought food back with me. I usually don't start getting a serious "hikers diet" until a few days into a trip.

Escalante, here I come!

Steve – you have an amazing gear list, BTW. SUL.

Great trip report…I live in Vegas. It's funny how we dream about far away places and take the amazing ones we live near for granted.

Next time you're in the area, try an overnight saunter or a day hike through the virgin river narrows. The scenery is amazing through this little 16 mile hike, and you're hiking through water about half the time. Water proof your gear, and enjoy floating down the deep sections!

Does your tarp just cover your top half or something?

PS- the heaviest thing in your pack, besides your camera, IS the pack, and a Blast, at that? that's just ridiculous

Thanks David…I’m obsessed… :)

John, The Narrows were actually closed when I was there due to high water/flow. I usually head to vegas about once a year just for a weekend vacation so thought I’d do it next time as a day hike and that way I can bring my girlfriend.

Jeff, that’s my N2 Tarp. It’s full size at 52″ wide X 110″ lg. Made of 0.33 cuben so it’s as light as you can get. I could probably go for a lighter pack (and camera) but my Blast is so comfy and the camera takes awesome video – I guess they’re my luxury items.

David,

My wife and I would love accompany you…just let me know and we'll do So Utah together next year! Or if you're in Vegas during the hot months, we'll do the 11,918' Charleston Peak, and camp in a meadow at 11,000 feet above Las Vegas! The Desert is amazing!

John

Great report Steve.

Great report Steve!!

When hiking in the desert, my water weight is often more than 50% than everything else I carry.

Wow, Steve. That's a seriously light kit you're using. It must feel like day hiking even with all your food. I had to laugh at your description of Angels Landing. My impression was the same when we were there. Lots of tourists in flip-flops just inches from the precipice.

Nick, I have never dealt with such high temps and relentless sun (I'm from Canada). There is definitely a learning curve there…I just wasn't watching my water intake and drank my whole supply before I even realized it!

Dondo, yeah, Angels Landing is something else. I can't believe people don't just fall off the thing. I was surprised (and scared) at how exposed some of the sections were…but still a good time!

Edit: I finally got the video uploaded…if you're bored, take a look.

Good report Steve. Zion is a beautiful place and Angel's Landing a very "fun" trip up. You do need to carry a lot of water though!

"I have never dealt with such high temps and relentless sun (I'm from Canada)."

Planning is critical. You HAVE to know where the reliable sources of water are located.

Also you have to drink frequently, just small amounts of water to stay hydrated. It is the most efficeint method. Craig just did two days in what is arguably the hottest desert in North America. Craig is an accomplished desert hiker, and would drink water twice as frequently as me. Since I live here, my body is more acclimated.

If you get to the point where you are very thirsty, you are not drinking often enough.

BTW, did you see any rattle snakes?

Nick,
You are correct. When I was low on water I cursed at myself for being so dumb. I knew it wasn't an "emergency" but I wasn't comfortable with the thought of having no water for the rest of the night and for the morning hike to the spring. I lucked out and found that stream. It was a good lesson, and Zion was probably a good starter trip for me if I plan to visit other areas down there.

As for rattlesnakes, sadly no (no scorpions either). Just a bunch of deer and a slimy frog. Loved every minute of it!

As for rattlesnakes, sadly no (no scorpions either).

I told you so :)