Kids were out of school today, so we grabbed a couple of their friends and headed out. 2 of the friends this was their first canyon.
Not sure how to describe the canyons. Some would call them low, I would prefer to call them full. Full of sand that is. There is more sand in the canyons than I have ever seen, therefore they are holding as much water as they possibly could. The long hallway in keyhole is full, but it is still only chest deep. The first rap in Pine, I could reach the anchors and set the rope from the bowl, not up on the ledge. Second rap, 7′ down to sand. Downclimb under boulder – no more, now climb up RDC for a little sketchy traverse and drop back into drainage. Cathedral, doubled a 90′ rope onto a sand bar that is taller than the exit point. Still a lot of cold water and wetsuits definitely recommended. Now is the perfect time to be in Zion. Permits are easy to get. Crowds aren’t too bad. I hear from people that it’s too early to do water canyons. Why, water can only get so cold before it freezes. Grab a wetsuit and head out
Alan Garrett
June 29, 2014: Water only in one spot and chest high at that. Went without wetsuits but used 3mm socks and were fine. Went later in the day so there was no waiting. It may have been a little chilly is we were wet and waiting in the shadows. After the last rap, the pools up high we refreshing. Pools got downright warm closer to the highway switchback so dip early if you are so inclined.
joeb
A bit of a joke – but the last several springtime outings we have always run up against groups in Keyhole, Echo & Pine Creek and had to sit around for awhile and were really glad to have 3/4mm fulls with booties and gloves because when you are not moving, it gets real cold real fast. And per your post & Wes’ initial question, I am assuming the canyons are still in cold water mode.
joeb
Bring the wetsuits as one of the basic rules of canyoneering in Zion
– the faster & more organized your group, the more likely you are going to end up behind the large group of clueless noobs particularly in the coldest, darkest part of the canyon
2065toyota
I’ve never heard that as being a basic rule for Zion, most canyons do not need wetsuits.
I also recommended wetsuits for that same reason, but there really is very little water in the canyon at this current time. Conditions change continuously so everybody must make their own judgement calls
Wes
Thanks !
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2065toyota
3’s and 4’s were plenty. Small group moving fast would prob need none, but I always recommend them
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Wes
What mm wetsuits did you take? Planing to head out for pine creek next Saturday!
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2065toyota
Side note. Look at the dates, this whole week the date remains the same whether read forwards or backwards. Hopefully that info didn’t replace something importing in my brain