UT: Zion – Das Boot & The Subway 5.13.14

Hitting the trailhead at 9 we proceeded to adventure. A drier winter and a wetsuit rented for Darryn, the newbie, we were going to go through Das Boot. While the Subway was quota’d, we were the only ones interested in the cold water of the upcanyon and adding it to our permits was no questions asked (well, aside from the usual ones.) While I got lots of looks saying “where are we going?” as we tried to find out entrance, we found it fine. Now that I’ve been there once it will be so much easier.

By half past noon we were suited up and wading in the water. Brr. I wondered if my 3/2 would be enough as water climbed up my body. Really not that bad. The water was predominately knee deep, occasionally reaching the rear. With holes of dry ground and sunbeams popping up ever so often we stayed good for a ways. A short rap off a log gave the inexperienced an interesting intro to rappelling. Then a downclimb down another log gave everyone a fun mind game. More water. More pretty walls. More awesome light. Gah its awesome!!!

The water gets deeper. A swim. Brr. More belly and chest deep. Hooray to the sunbeams. They make everything comfortable instead of bareable. A tall downclimb intimidates Darryn and Jake and I team up to get him down. A swim follows and holy crap that spot on my butt is cold!! A swim I was going to take leisurely to see the others go into the pool turns frantic. I want out! We get to sun and I feel my wetsuit, and then my underwear. Jeez that hole went all the way through. Well… guess I’m going to move a bit faster. Luckily not much Das Boot follows. Another rappel drops us at the end, and another world.

Das Boot and the Subway are like two opposite but beautiful sisters. One is dark, subtle, wavy, and cold. The other, bright, clear, warm and unique beyond belief. We savored the moment before it was quickly over. Four o’clock saw us rappelling into the Subway proper.

And thus started the slog out. Its gorgeous country and the day was good. Now two more folks want to make the Subway annual.

And finally, I got a good bit of footage in Das Boot. Because GoPro batteries are horrid I did not get much of The Subway. So I got a video to share. Enjoy and thanks for reading.