Zion Bogley Fest Subway

[ststephen]

With only 6 days to spare before my long-awaited Bogley Fest trip the NPS finally deemed Subway safe enough for anyone other than "Canyon Man". I had lucked out getting a full 12 person permit and the final group was:

Me (ststephen)
My wife, Robin
Son, Aaron
Chere (blueeyes)
Don (don)
Erik (erik)
Alison (abirken)
Nick (ibenick)
Dave (pubalz)
Dave's daughter, Sam
My friends from Santa Cruz: Jon and his son Jack

We had some logistical difficulties getting everyone to the Wildcat TH and then some more trouble getting the whole party down the trail but...we did finally succeed in regrouping near the slick rock bowl overlooking Russell Gulch and soon we were all down in the Left Fork itself.

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Found this little guy huddled on the ground as we descended into Russell Gulch. Anyone know what it is?

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The water level was a little high, but nothing difficult. Made for some lovely swimming opportunities. There were smiles all around as we played in the pools and just enjoyed the place and each other's company. I have some video of one of the swims I'll have to get uploaded to share as well.



Don treated us all to his new "The Flash" outer-wear:

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My friend Jon, doing some bouldering:

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Aaron looking very serious:

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Dave by Keyhole Falls:

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Yours truly:

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Alison, Robin and Chere:

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We were lucky with the weather, cool a little sunny mid-day and then some shade and light showers as we did the climb out. We even made it back in time for the BBQ at the group site. All in all a very fine day!

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[ilipichicuma]

Awesome! The place looks way different than it did in April!

[oldno7]

nice TR Paul, great pictures.

[deathtointernet]

Great pictures. Also it's good to see something that definitively confirms that the sand I ran into in October is gone from the corridor and pools below Keyhole Falls. It looks soooo much better this way!

[abirken]

YEA! What an awesome weekend. I am ready to go back and do it all over again. I just MIGHT! :) Great TR Paul and thank you for hooking up the permits to both Keyhole and Subway. :2thumbs:

[arnellfam]

Nice TR and great pictures - thanks for taking time to post. I tried Subway from the bottom up in mid-May with a bunch of teenagers and got turned back at the mouth of the Subway by the freezing, deep, fast-flowing water . It took us five hours to reach the mouth and four hours to return to the bottom. The river was 10-20 feet across most of the way down as well (compared to a friend who went a couple years back and said it was a trickle). Looking forward to getting back later this summer.

[abirken]

Some of my favorites of The Subway. I can't figure out how to attach these any differently so I apologize for them being so big.


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[dmMatrix]

It has been years since I have been through the Subway. These pictures bring back some great memories. GREAT TR.

[accadacca]

Ditto on the great pictures! Do you have any pix from the BBQ or other adventures? :popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

Don scares me!!!!

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[Brian in SLC]

Great shots!

[ststephen]

Ditto on the great pictures! Do you have any pix from the BBQ or other adventures? :popcorn:

Yes, I posted a few other random pix in the invite thread. I think Alison has more Keyhole's which might warrant its own TR. I also will post a TR on Birch which we did the day after in a smaller group.

http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?49743-Zion-Fest-June-18-amp-19-2011

[ststephen]

Don scares me!!!!



We're thinking the whole group should wear something similar next time...:naughty:

[abirken]

We're thinking the whole group should wear something similar next time...:naughty:
HAHAHA!!! This means we all have to get very creative! Hmmm.......thinking, thinking, thinking......:lol8::naughty:

[ibenick]

We're thinking the whole group should wear something similar next time...:naughty:

I've already been shopping around. :naughty:

[ibenick]

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[jdgibney]

That looks like such a great time, great pics everyone! I'd love to be able to join you guys some.... year!
Nick, was it difficult to lug a SLR and a tripod?

[ibenick]

That looks like such a great time, great pics everyone! I'd love to be able to join you guys some.... year!
Nick, was it difficult to lug a SLR and a tripod?

Not so much difficult as it was annoying to not take as many pictures as I would have liked. It was also a bit scary to jump into pools with a couple grand in camera gear only protected by a dry bag in my backpack. Next time around I'll definitely bring a point and shoot and probably rig up a dry bag system that will enable me to get the SLR out more often.

[ratagonia]

I just posted my full trip report on my blog and here are some of my photos for this group TR. The link to my full TR is http://backcountrypost.com/?p=869


Awesome picks, Ibenick. Might want some of em for the next Zion Book.

T

[ibenick]

Awesome picks, Ibenick. Might want some of em for the next Zion Book.

T

Thanks, Tom! It would be an honor to provide photos, shoot me an email anytime, ibenick at gmail.

[jpratt11]

Great photos. My favorite time to do the Subway is mid May. I've seen it with a lot of water in it, but if you bypass the bowling ball section there's nothing difficult about it. Although Keyhole looks challenging when the water is flowing strong.

[abirken]

Not so much difficult as it was annoying to not take as many pictures as I would have liked. It was also a bit scary to jump into pools with a couple grand in camera gear only protected by a dry bag in my backpack.


Funny because around every bend you had this look on your face. The look of missed opportunities! :cry1: But this just means you have to go back now so it's all good. :2thumbs:

[bigred72]

Sweet trip and report!!! This is on my list for 2012!!! Don, I like your style.

[maarten.1975]

Great TR.
I'm hoping on doing the Subway in Mai, during my next trip.
Already inviting anybody who wants to join me...... :naughty:
(somewhere between 18 - 28 of Mai)

[Michael_WB]

Maarten:

somewhere between 18 - 28 of MaiAs much as I'd like to join you, May/June will see me swinging ice axes at rapidly-retreating glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca :bandit:.

I have however provisionally reserved time off work in late September for a week's worth of canyoneering and Whiptail-dining :naughty:

Cheers,

Michael.