arnellfam
07-16-2011, 08:36 AM
I'm the scoutmaster of a local boy scout troop and we're planning a 50 miler to the Boulders in central Utah at the end of July. One of our prep hikes this summer was the East Rim trail in Zion National Park.
We did this hike on a Saturday (East Rim to Weeping Rock) with a group of 12yo boy scouts and two other leaders to satisfy one of the Hiking merit badge requirements (10.6 miles). We parked a car in Zion Canyon at the Junction pull-out parking area and drove to the East entrance in a second vehicle. We started the hike at 8:00am and finished just before 2:00pm.
I was concerned about the weather report predicting daytime temperatures of 90 degrees in Springdale, but with the difference in elevation the temperatures on the hike were perfect. We could have started an hour earlier and been just fine. We met only seven or eight other hikers\groups along the way, until we reached the Observation Trail split. Then there were tons of people. Jolley Gulch and the various parts of Echo Canyon were simply stunning, as were the vistas a couple of miles in and just as you begin your descent 6.5 miles in or so. The area had a particularly late, wet spring and the wild flowers were plentiful and beautiful.
I totally miscalculated the time needed to retrieve the shuttle car. We were held up at the tunnel for large RVs both coming and going. It took at least 45 minutes. All of the boys who went were relatively fit and although the hike was challenging, it was a great match. They were all justifiably proud of themselves. It was a good lead-in to our next, more rigorous 10 mile prep hike, Observation Point/Hidden Canyon (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?56454-Observation-Point%5CHidden-Canyon-in-Zion-National-Park).
46276
At the trailhead.
46277
46278
Jolley Gulch. Pretty spectacular drop-off!
46279
Overlooking Echo Canyon.
46280
46281
Lunch break
46282
Looking down into Echo Canyon.
We did this hike on a Saturday (East Rim to Weeping Rock) with a group of 12yo boy scouts and two other leaders to satisfy one of the Hiking merit badge requirements (10.6 miles). We parked a car in Zion Canyon at the Junction pull-out parking area and drove to the East entrance in a second vehicle. We started the hike at 8:00am and finished just before 2:00pm.
I was concerned about the weather report predicting daytime temperatures of 90 degrees in Springdale, but with the difference in elevation the temperatures on the hike were perfect. We could have started an hour earlier and been just fine. We met only seven or eight other hikers\groups along the way, until we reached the Observation Trail split. Then there were tons of people. Jolley Gulch and the various parts of Echo Canyon were simply stunning, as were the vistas a couple of miles in and just as you begin your descent 6.5 miles in or so. The area had a particularly late, wet spring and the wild flowers were plentiful and beautiful.
I totally miscalculated the time needed to retrieve the shuttle car. We were held up at the tunnel for large RVs both coming and going. It took at least 45 minutes. All of the boys who went were relatively fit and although the hike was challenging, it was a great match. They were all justifiably proud of themselves. It was a good lead-in to our next, more rigorous 10 mile prep hike, Observation Point/Hidden Canyon (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?56454-Observation-Point%5CHidden-Canyon-in-Zion-National-Park).
46276
At the trailhead.
46277
46278
Jolley Gulch. Pretty spectacular drop-off!
46279
Overlooking Echo Canyon.
46280
46281
Lunch break
46282
Looking down into Echo Canyon.