archbishop
09-10-2010, 04:46 PM
I've finally finalized my plans for my trip to Zion park coming up at the end of October.
Here's a quick run down of the schedule followed by a few questions.
Kolob Terrace down to the main canyon.
Wed 20th Start at Top of Kolob Terrace. La Verkin trail. Camp at Site 13
See the arches in the evening or morning before leaving.
Thur 21st
Hop Valley trail to Connector trail to Wild Cat canyon trail. Camp just north of x7635
Fri 22nd
Down the West Rim trail. Camp at 6,5, or 4 site.
Sat 23rd
Continue down the West Rim into the main canyon. Stop and do Angel's Landing.
Camp at one of the main campgrounds.
Sun 24th
I want to see Vistors center, Human History museum, Nature Center, Archeology trail, Emerald pool, Weeping rock, and the River walk. Some of these things can be done on the 23rd as time allows.
Camp again the one of the main campgrounds, or get my car back from Kolob Terrace and continue on.
This is my trip Here are my questions.
I went to the online reservation and made two reservations.
One for Site 13 on La Verkin and one for Site 4 on the West Rim. I really wanted site 6, but it's booked for the date I need, and 5 can't be reserved online, so I went ahead and reserved my 3rd choice which was site 4. Perhaps though it will help me get into the Main canyon a bit earlier the following day and won't be such a bad choice. I don't believe that I need to reserve anything for the 21st because I'm not in a designated camp site that evening and I have reservations for the date before and after. Is this correct?
No reservations needed for the main camp grounds in the Main canyon? Also, are there any alternatives. I'm not a big fan of the campsites with lots of people. (Or is it not what I'm imagining?)
How do I get from the main canyon back up to where I left my car up at Kolob Terrace? Anyone want to hire out their taxi services?
First day I plan on getting water out of the La Verkin Creek. I suppose on the second day before leaving my campsite I can get water for that second day. Third day I think there is water available by camp site 9 on the West Rim. Or perhaps I should cache some water near the road that crosses over the connector trail or the Wild Cat which ever it is. Thoughts on this third day water source?
Any thoughts on how I should prioritize on what to see in the main canyon? I'll most likely run out of time. I'm really interested in doing the River walk. I had wanted to Narrows but my local hiking buddy bailed on me and I don't think my swimming skills are strong enough that I feel safe going alone. So I looked at this hike as being away to come the closet to this hike for now. I'm interest in Archeology so I thought some of the museums might be interesting. I'd like to see the smaller trails, for interest of someday bringing my family, but in the end I'd be willing to forgo some of the smaller trails so I can fit in the River walk and such. (It seems sacreligious to come for the first time and not to trails like Weeping rock, and Emerald Pools.)
Oh yeah, almost unrelated to this on Monday the 25th I'm going to go to Grafton Ghost town and to Silver Reef Ghost town then onto Kanarra canyon. For late October would I be advised to bring a farmer john wetsuit for Kanarra canyon, and potentially the river walk?
See my other posts to, I'm still interested in a backpacking partner.
Thanks, I know this is a long post with a lot of questions, but I really want to make sure I've dotted Is and crossed Ts.
Here's a quick run down of the schedule followed by a few questions.
Kolob Terrace down to the main canyon.
Wed 20th Start at Top of Kolob Terrace. La Verkin trail. Camp at Site 13
See the arches in the evening or morning before leaving.
Thur 21st
Hop Valley trail to Connector trail to Wild Cat canyon trail. Camp just north of x7635
Fri 22nd
Down the West Rim trail. Camp at 6,5, or 4 site.
Sat 23rd
Continue down the West Rim into the main canyon. Stop and do Angel's Landing.
Camp at one of the main campgrounds.
Sun 24th
I want to see Vistors center, Human History museum, Nature Center, Archeology trail, Emerald pool, Weeping rock, and the River walk. Some of these things can be done on the 23rd as time allows.
Camp again the one of the main campgrounds, or get my car back from Kolob Terrace and continue on.
This is my trip Here are my questions.
I went to the online reservation and made two reservations.
One for Site 13 on La Verkin and one for Site 4 on the West Rim. I really wanted site 6, but it's booked for the date I need, and 5 can't be reserved online, so I went ahead and reserved my 3rd choice which was site 4. Perhaps though it will help me get into the Main canyon a bit earlier the following day and won't be such a bad choice. I don't believe that I need to reserve anything for the 21st because I'm not in a designated camp site that evening and I have reservations for the date before and after. Is this correct?
No reservations needed for the main camp grounds in the Main canyon? Also, are there any alternatives. I'm not a big fan of the campsites with lots of people. (Or is it not what I'm imagining?)
How do I get from the main canyon back up to where I left my car up at Kolob Terrace? Anyone want to hire out their taxi services?
First day I plan on getting water out of the La Verkin Creek. I suppose on the second day before leaving my campsite I can get water for that second day. Third day I think there is water available by camp site 9 on the West Rim. Or perhaps I should cache some water near the road that crosses over the connector trail or the Wild Cat which ever it is. Thoughts on this third day water source?
Any thoughts on how I should prioritize on what to see in the main canyon? I'll most likely run out of time. I'm really interested in doing the River walk. I had wanted to Narrows but my local hiking buddy bailed on me and I don't think my swimming skills are strong enough that I feel safe going alone. So I looked at this hike as being away to come the closet to this hike for now. I'm interest in Archeology so I thought some of the museums might be interesting. I'd like to see the smaller trails, for interest of someday bringing my family, but in the end I'd be willing to forgo some of the smaller trails so I can fit in the River walk and such. (It seems sacreligious to come for the first time and not to trails like Weeping rock, and Emerald Pools.)
Oh yeah, almost unrelated to this on Monday the 25th I'm going to go to Grafton Ghost town and to Silver Reef Ghost town then onto Kanarra canyon. For late October would I be advised to bring a farmer john wetsuit for Kanarra canyon, and potentially the river walk?
See my other posts to, I'm still interested in a backpacking partner.
Thanks, I know this is a long post with a lot of questions, but I really want to make sure I've dotted Is and crossed Ts.