Best time for Subway w/ newbies

[Chanobelli]

When is the best time to take newbie

[Scott P]

Depends on the snowpack. In a low to average snow year, mid June to late June can be good because flash floods are rare and thunderstorm season hasn't usually started yet. Sometimes in very heavy snow years it still can have high water then. Days are at their longest then.

I've done it most commonly in early to mid September. The weather then usually isn't quite as hot as mid summer, but the water temperature is usually still pretty warm (comparitively of course). September can still be flash flood season though (but usually not quite as bad as August), so you have to have a really good weather forecast.

[Slot Machine]

[QUOTE=Chanobelli;523943]When is the best time to take newbie

[ratagonia]

Depends on your friends, but...

For many, the hike is more of a challenge than the minor technical issues. If your friends are solid hikers, should not be a problem. If your friends are NOT solid hikers, the long, rugged hike out can be a knockout punch, especially in July and August when it is really hot out.

and may I also suggest training them on rappelling before the excursion to Zion?

Tom

[jman]

Depends on your friends, but...

For many, the hike is more of a challenge than the minor technical issues. If your friends are solid hikers, should not be a problem. If your friends are NOT solid hikers, the long, rugged hike out can be a knockout punch, especially in July and August when it is really hot out.

and may I also suggest training them on rappelling before the excursion to Zion?

Tom

I agree with Tom. I took my father through his first technical canyon last year down the subway and all the obstacles he was able to conquer just fine (including rappelling and dealing with the cold) but the hike out (and the exit ascent) is what killed him.

[Slot Machine]

If your friends are NOT solid hikers, the long, rugged hike out can be a knockout punch, especially in July and August when it is really hot out.

Tom

Good point. I have a funny story to tell about a lady that got "knocked out" on that exit.

A few years ago, our group arrived at the steep Subway exit after hiking for 10 hours. We had several nurses in our group. Nurses are great at caring for others, but not great at caring for themselves, so they had not trained one minute for the hike. One nurse got about 50 feet up the 500 foot vertical exit ascent, and her quads/hips simply burned out (and she was 25 ish years old and about 60 lbs overweight). A couple of the fellas in the group had to literally push her caboose up the rest of the trail. Luckily she had a good sense of humor about it. :haha:

That was during the last week of September and had little to do with the heat.

When it's hot, I just take a dip in the creek and then mosey up the exit trail. I hate carrying crap through The Subway, especially a wetsuit. Hot weather = less crap. YMMV.

Also, In July I've been trapped behind a large group that were putting on wetsuits before the first falls. :angryfire: People that aren't used to wearing wetsuits take foreeeeverrr to put them on. Don't be the doofy group changing into wetsuits when it is 105 degrees outside. :nono:

Bob

[kiwi_outdoors]

wife and I did Subday in June of 2005, after doing Keyhole the day before. I thought that was fine. Experienced hikers are we, I had prior rap a nd minor rigging experience. The hike out is really annoying, but not a knockout.

We used 3mm full wetsuits, and that was fine too.

[Chanobelli]

Depends on your friends, but...

For many, the hike is more of a challenge than the minor technical issues. If your friends are solid hikers, should not be a problem. If your friends are NOT solid hikers, the long, rugged hike out can be a knockout punch, especially in July and August when it is really hot out.

and may I also suggest training them on rappelling before the excursion to Zion?

Tom

I plan on making sure everyone is well rounded in rappelling before we make the trip. I'm trying to also ensure they are ready for the hike but some may end up suffering through the hike out i'm sure.

[ratagonia]

I plan on making sure everyone is well rounded in rappelling before we make the trip. I'm trying to also ensure they are ready for the hike but some may end up suffering through the hike out i'm sure.

If I have a big tip for that, it is to bring plenty of food, and eat it. When people are hot, they often stop eating. Not Good.

Tom

[Chanobelli]

If I have a big tip for that, it is to bring plenty of food, and eat it. When people are hot, they often stop eating. Not Good.

Tom
I'll make sure everyone brings plenty of water and food thanks for the advise.

[Iceaxe]

If doing the hike out in July or August we just play in the river pools until the exit is in the shade. The exit is east facing and gets the shade in the late afternoon.

[moab mark]

If doing the hike out in July or August we just play in the river pools until the exit is in the shade. The exit is east facing and gets the shade in the late afternoon.

Amen :2thumbs: Start at about 11 am.