Best and Essential Gear for Canyoneering Zion?

Robin, having done a few canyoneering trips, my opinion is it is not a sport you can jump into without competent instruction and an experienced group leader. The objective hazard risk level is more similar to rock climbing; and of course you have water obstacles. The fact that you are asking such a generic question tells me you have some research to do. Maybe start here:
http://www.canyoneering.com/gear/gear_needed_tech.html
Please be careful and let us know how it goes.

1. Search forums for zion talk…theres been some
2. For shoes, I'd be considering teva x1 racer..some rent from nearby outdoor stores outside zion
3. For waterproofing pack, I'd line mine with a POE Pneumo LTW Dry Sack …the valve location may cause an issue
4. Get opinions on necessity of hiking poles..at some point they may get in the way
5. Carol Crooker wrote an article here about canyoneering

http://tinyurl.com/yw843a

Robin,

I have done a number of slot canyons this year in Zion and one overnight technical backpack (most people do it in two nights but we kept weight down and moved fast). There is one easy rappel in the Subway and the Narrows is just backpacking in wet conditions.

I recommend a hiking pole for most routes. I take one on many routes, but for the Narrows it will help in balance as you walk down the Virgin River. In slot canyons, a pole can be used to test water depth. In addition, the approach to slot canyons is frequently very steep terrain and with a heavy backpack containing ropes and gear, a pole is frequently useful for balance.

For shoes, I like the Inov8 Flyroc and the Teva X-1. A heavier option with better sticky rubber soles is the FiveTen Canyoneer 2. The Teva is superb in water. In a drainage like the Paria, I would highly recommend it. However, the Narrows has a lot of rocks. This is typical of Zion canyons. The Teva has a rather thin sole and so it is poorer than the Inov8 Flyroc when you are constantly stepping on rocks. The Flyroc has very good water characteristics (I posted comparison tests with several shoes quite some time ago). In September, with either shoe, I recommend neoprene socks. I use and like NRS Titanium Hydroskin socks.

As far as keeping your pack contents dry, I recommend using either the OR Hydrolite Dry Sack or the Sea-to-Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack.

My favorite rappel device for canyoneering is the Petzl Pirana. I'd recommend the Petzl HMS Attache carabiner for it.

Have fun.

I agree with Brett. You need to be somewhat knowledgeable about what you are getting yourself into.

Craig

A quick search on the net revealed a pretty good site that includes information and gear.

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com

I think it will be helpful for you.

We're going to do the canyoneering course as soon as we get into Zion. Everyone has been very helpful in getting me on the right track towards further education and good gear. Thanks

Hi Robin,

My wife and I took the course in Zion and then did a one-day trip in the canyon. You are in for the time of your life! I can't WAIT to go back and do some more! If I lived in Utah, this would be my #1 sport.

I'd say rent gear. Canyoneering gear gets seriously trashed, and fast. By renting, you won't worry about sand in your rope, thrashed packs, damaged drysuits…I vote for the rental deal. I'm all about light but in hardcore canyoneering, it's a different story.

Have a fantastic trip!
Doug

This 4th of July weekend, me and two friends did an overnighter thru-hike of the Narrows, a dayhike to the Subway (in-and-out), then a dayhike to Angels Landing in 4 contiguous days. Suffice it to say it was mind-blowing. Part of the reason we had such an extraordinary time was that we gave ourselves several months to properly research and prepare for the trip, so our equipment choices were mostly ideal.

(The NPS does not allow more than an overnighter in the Narrows, and only allows daytrips in the Subway. Both trips require permits that can be reserved ahead of time or in-person. Just a FYI since you said "we're doing a few 2-3 day trips," suggesting you don't know this.)

The Narrows…

This year southern Utah's water levels were exceptionally low, so in the Narrows the majority of the wading will be ankle to mid-shin deep. The deepest water you will have to wade through will only come up to your waist. That said, there are of course deeper spots in which you can choose to swim. Doubtlessly the water level will be even lower in mid-September.

We went cheap and waterproofed the contents of our packs (normal, 50-65 liters, nothing special) with double-layers of garbage disposal bags. This worked out just fine for us. We all used trekking poles, which we were rather smug about as we watched other people fumble around with their single wooden "Narrows" poles. The trekking poles were certainly speed-generating for the Chamberlain Ranch approach, and helped greatly with stability when wading in the rockier portions of the Narrows. While the upper portion of the Narrows were akin to wading on submerged bowling balls, the lower portion was akin to wading on submerged and slimy bowling balls. I recommend trekking poles.

The slippery nature of the Narrows hike has most experts calling for boots. Me and the male friend wore lightweight hiking boots (mesh, definitely no Gore-Tex), while the female friend wore low-top water shoes (Merrill?). By the end of the trip, she was suffering ankle issues, while us guys both had knee issues. None of us wore neoprene socks, which worked out just fine.

During our visit, the temps at the Visitor Center were about 100, but the water temps in the Narrows were high-50's to low-60's. I wore a T-shirt (wool/polyester) during the day and brought a fleece for night (Arc'teryx Delta AR, is that a midweight?). My friends wore well-ventilated sunshirts.

I used a summer bag (+45) in a lightweight 2-person tent, and the night was very restful. Most (if not all) of the campsites in the Narrows are on silt, so it is possible to even leave the sleeping pad. That said, we all used pads just because we brought them.

I recommend a waterproof camera with some sort of tripod, as EVERYTHING in the Narrows is deserving of a photo. A waterproof camera allows you to shoot that much more, as you can just stuff it in a pocket and not worry about wetting/submerging it. A normal camera would require that you dig it out from its protected location and uncover/re-cover it with whatever you used to shield it from water. You also want some sort of a tripod as the most surreal/beautiful parts of the Narrows is darker than you think. You need to shoot natural scenery without a flash, but in the low-light conditions, the camera will need to keep that shutter open for quite a long time. Trying to shoot that hand-held is a recipe for blurry, ruined photos.

The Subway…

If you do not have canyoneering experience, you can do the Subway as a bottom-up in-and-out hike. This is what we did as I was the only one in my party with rock-climbing/rappelling experience. This will allow you to get to the tubular Subway section. If you're confident with scrambling/climbing (and more importantly, down-scrambling/down-climbing) to a height of 20-or-so feet, you can progress further and get to the place with the iconic tree-at-a-diagonal. This is a must-have photo. A bit of chest-deep-wading through potholes (the water is a bit chilly here) and you can get yourself to Keyhole Canyon and Keyhole falls. We could have potentially gotten ourselves further up with a dwarf-toss (my friend is 200 lbs, while I'm a 150 lbs climber) at Keyhole Falls, but we decided not to chance it.

While the info for what you can access by the bottom-up route may not apply to you if you decide to do the canyoneering thru-hike, the section down from the Subway is something we experienced twice, and hence know a bit about…

Due to all the boulders, it is very technical hiking along the river valley, more along the lines of Class III scrambling. Whether you want trekking poles or not is hard to say. I was completely dependent on them due to issues with my knee, and they helped greatly with descending/down-stepping the numerous 2-4 ft drops. OTOH, the female friend felt they were a hindrance and did not allow her to use her hands as much. Hiking in the river as much as possible will reduce the technical difficulty.

The ~400 ft descent/ascent into/out of the river valley is very steep and pretty exposed. It's not Class IV as a fall probably won't kill you, but it will certainly mess you up. During our hike a woman had to be rescued by a dozen rangers (not an exaggeration) and be air-lifted from the canyon due to a broken ankle.

General recommendations…

I don't recommend camping in Zion Canyon. First, it's probably the hottest of all the locales mentioned. Secondly, there is a fierce windstorm EVERY DAWN as "air from the higher elevation attempts to equilibrate with the air in the canyon as the sun sweeps in," quoth the ranger. None of us got much rest in our tents in Watchman Campground, which was actually the better of the two campgrounds. We actually left a day early just because we concluded that the night we had scheduled for rest before the drive home the next day wasn't going to be very restful anyways. You are well-advised to get a room whenever you're not in the backcountry.

Don't bother to cook if you're not in the backcountry. The dining establishments in Zion Lodge (specifically Red Rock Grill) and right outside the park in Springdale (specifically Zion Noodle & Pizza Company, Sol Foods Deli) are quite decent and reasonable, and have beer on tap! That said, breakfast at Bumbleberry Restaurant was forgettable.

Angels Landing is a must-do hike/scramble, but not recommended if 1) you have a severe fear of heights, and/or 2) can't trust your hands to hold body weight. The top section of this hike is an extremely exposed bona-fide Class IV scramble (meaning that you die if you fall, and really should be using roped protection) that the NPS installed hand-chains as somewhat questionable protection (IMO). Just in the last year 6 people plunged to their deaths, and two people died just this past June. Nevertheless, this is a spectacular (but short and popular) hike without compare. You are recommended to do this hike as early as possible in the morning, after the wind dies down to manageable levels. This will allow you to beat the heat, and possibly avoid the crowds that invariably clog up the Class IV top section. Also, keep a wary eye out for unsafe hikers.

Photos of our adventure can be found here:
http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/DtEW/Zion%20Adventure/

Excellent trip report and photos! Thank you for sharing.

David,

Are you sure that 6 people have died at Angel's Landing within the last year alone, including June 2007. I found a reference to a person that died in August 2006 using Google, but nothing on the National Park Service Web Site.

I think you make the Angel's Landing hike seem far more dangerous than it is. Class Four? Need Rope? I agree that it is exposed but there are chains everywhere.

Craig

Craig,

You are correct, that figure has turned out to be an exaggeration. What I should have said was "there have been 6 fatalities on Angels Landing since 1987, the latest ones occuring in June 2007 and August 2006."

http://www.nps.gov/zion/parknews/falling-fatality-from-angels-landing-in-zion-national-park.htm

http://www.adventure-space.com/blogs/outdoor__national_park_news/archive/2006/08.aspx

Do note that the NPS's figures are lower because their "(figures) includes only incidents where suspicious activity was not involved."

There's always debate about whether Angels Landing is adequately protected whenever a fatality occurs.

http://nationalparkstraveler.typepad.com/national_parks_traveler/2006/08/woman_dies_in_f.html

Would you agree that Angels Landing would be a Class IV if there wasn't a chain up there?

I think I may have mis-conveyed my thoughts in my prior post. I'm not really suggesting that you should rope-up in its current state. The supporting point I was trying to make was that I consider the chain to be inadequate protection for many people. The central point was simply that Angels Landing is a must-do, but one that must be taken seriously due to the amount of exposure involved.

The problem is that while a chain is adequate protection for some people (probably most everyone here on BPL, who I am assuming to be fairly-fit adults with a grasp of natural risks), the chain requires both attention and the ability to hold your own body weight to arrest your fall. Many people I saw up there did not fit this requirement, so the chain is actually inadequate protection and just false security for them. I really think the NPS should put in a via ferrata up there to deal with who actually visits, as opposed to counting on common sense and self-selection, which never happens when a place is as famous and accessible as Angels Landing.

My wife and I hiked up Angels Landing and did the narrows in 2003. I agree that Angels Landing is a bit steep, and the chains are of little use. It was a spectacular trip and I can't wait to go back!

As far as regulation goes, I'm all in favor of letting natural selection take its course in the outdoors. There's too much coddling in the U.S due to law suits and ignorance. From my experience overseas, if you fall and die, well then you are either dumb or just unlucky! I tend to agree with this philosophy as opposed to blocking everything off and stringing up fences around everything.

The only time it makes sense to me if there is a chance the public can cause irreparable damage to something. Again, ignorance prevails in our society.

I'm probably spending too much time on this subject that is off the main topic of this web site, but I just had to make more comment.

Lady Mountain is another hike climb similar to Angel's Landing. A difference is the park service decided it was too dangerous so they removed all the aids. Now it is a hike that only those involved with climbing and canyoneering in Zion do.

I think it is more likely that the Park Service removes all the chains at Angel's Landing than make the change you suggest David.

It may be better to leave routes undeveloped and let the outdoor user beware of the possible risks.

I love Zion and have been there several times during the last 12 months. It is always amazing to me how crowded Zion is, especially on popular routes like Angel's Landing (I climbed it last year starting with the 5:45AM shuttle, the first one – and only had four hikers on the route until my return) and the Narrows. On the other hand, go on a rappel route like Englestead, and you won't see anyone until you get into the last part of Orderville Canyon and the Narrows, where there are lots of visitors.

For the person who started this thread and others interested in canyoneering in Zion, I suggest that you try some of the least traveled routes rather than the popular routes that have been mentioned. The problem with this is you need to know what you are doing and having a person join you experienced with the route is best.

I won't say anymore.

Craig

Hey everyone, thanks for all your feedback on this post.

We flew to Vegas, rented a car anddrove to Zion from there, about 275 miles, no big deal, you can go 85 practically the whole way. Much cheaper than going to Salt Lake.

We did a 1/2 day canyoneering/rappeling training at Zion Rock & Mountain guides, and I HIGHLY reccomend them.
Everyone we dealt with there was really cool. Jeremy was our trainer and he is also their premeire guide. They are a small company and were able to give us several deals. We used their services to get a shuttle to the beginning of the narrows. Jeff was our driver and was a very fascinating person, and gave us all kinds of locals-only tips and trailhead ideas.

We rented the narrows package from them–they don't use the 5.10 shoes anymore cause apparently they break down too fast. They use the neoprene socks with La Sportiva river shoes. The shoes were great and really comfortable, BUT, with my sensitive feet, I totally got a terrible blister on the left ankle that changed the nature of the rest of our trip.

We did the Subway the next day, and because I couldn't bear to wear anything that touched my ankle, I did it in flip-flops! I was REALLY careful, but now I know it's possible.
Elinore was very weary of doing any down climbing so we rappelled at least 4 or 5 ledges/boulders. It was actually more fun this way anyway.

I would reccomend really solid secure sandals for the Subway–your feet are in and out of water, as their is a little swimming involved, Chaco's or something similar would be perfect.

For the Narrows, you really don't need a water proof pack–just line your pack in case you fall (during shallow water season), but for the subway, it would have been really nice to have a rentable waterproof pack or draining pack with items in waterproof bags to thrash around. We spent a lot of time in the subway trying to figure out what was next—rappel?, swim? climb? Hike? Tons of fun, but will be even better a second time.

The long, steep climb out of the river would be a good time to have shoes, but it's not that far.

We were then supposed to embark on the 42 mile West Rim trail connecting to 2 other trails, back to the lodge. I literally couldn't handle any more in my flip flops and still was not able to wear shoes, so we cancelled it :(. We had great campsites–on the way is Kolob Arch, Angels Landing, 4 days 3 nights, and probably very few people on the trail!

Zion is amazing, as soon as you get out of the touristy places. We are going to go back as soon as we can. We want to do more canyoneering, as it is so fun and amazing.

Oh, and it's quite expensive to eat there, for the frugal traveler, but go to Oscars-it is worth it. And the mean bean is the good coffee shop as well.

And again, if you want to know everything about Zion–climbing, drivng, hiking, biking, canyoneering, including secret spots, go hang out with the fellas at Zion Rock and Mountain guides. Tell them Elinore and Robin recommended them–they'll probably remember us, we were there like everyday botherin them–Oh and they have the cheapest shower in town too. Otherwise you gotta go to the RV place.

But Zion is like another planet–so amazing.

Thanks for the feedback…glad you had a great trip!