After an extended work week, hiking was on my radar for sunday. Long time friends from Big Sky Mt. had come into The Rat and made their presence known ealier in the week along with another retired couple. They had spent couple weeks hiking at Great Basin, Cedar Breaks, and Snow Canyon before heading to Zion. I was anxious to get out and do some hiking with them since I had known them for maybe 15 years and never once had an opportunity to spend some quality time with them. I thought that The Subway might be a real treat for those "Northerners" as they sampled their "Desert" innagural trip. Weather according to NOAA was calling for 20% chance of precip. with highs at 56 deg. in Springdale. I know that they had no reservations about undertaking such an adventure (lots of BC Skiing, and hiking in The Winds, Tetons, and Glacier) had them tempered for a chilly jaunt into the Left Fork of North Creek. I wasn't quite so charged as they (fairweather hiker am I) so I had come up with a plan "B". Down to the Powell Plaque, Labyrinth Falls and back. Wellllll....we met at 8AM in Virgin at the KT Road turnoff and the radiance in these 60 and 70 Y.O.'s eyes showed me nothing more than 4 big kids excitement waiting for the Candy Store to open! "OK....suck it up Bo, and lets give these kids a treat"! Along for some joy was my climbing buddy Lyle and my wifes and my adopted kids Pamela and Eric down from The Flathead River, Mt. Lud stated that he didn't need no stinkin wetsuit, but his wife, and the 70 Y.O. couple came prepared. (I had brought 2 extra wetsuits) When we got to the Wildcat TH and the wind was howlin' and it felt like 32 deg. outside, I was able to get takers for my extra wetsuits. Imagine that? Anyhow...it was a windy, sand blowin' in the eyes kind of approach. We ran into a few other hardy folks from Washington DC and others from SLC area that weren't going to miss out on their permits. Once down into Russell Gulch/ LF, the wind had normalized to just periodic gusts swirling from downcanyon. We got to the first swim and wetsuits came on reluctantly by a few (others welcomed the extra insulation). The first plunge had everyone thankful for those burdensome, bulky pieces of attire. I had always thought that cool outside temps. would make the water feel warmer? Nope! We laughed and played as we passed one group, and were passed by 3 other groups. One of the groups was 4 women and one fellow from Scotland. No wetsuits! 4 of them were in a somewhat hypothermic state and really wanting to be done with the swimming, but one particularly robust gal in now see-thru attire was just having the time of her life! They were all a joy! The 4 japonese from D.C. whom I believe had never ventured much from the city were getting the hang of it and made it out safely :-) Anyway...I believe that this has got to be one of the most enjoyable hikes I've ever had. Great friends (now I've just got to head up to The Winds so they can show me their playground), awesome fun groups leepfrogging, and in time to grab "A Murder Burger" at Oscars. Now it's back to "Reality" and another super work week at "The Rat"!
PS: Lud, Annette, Yvonne and Gary....hope you guys have a great couple weeks or so hiking the North Rim at GC starting tomorrow! See you sometime at the end of the month on your way home! Thanks Pamela and Eric. Happy job hunting! Lets get in a night climb or 2 this week Lyle!
