October Road Trip - Canyon #3. Orderville Canyon

Timing.

After doing NF Robber's Roost and squeezing in the Baptist Draw mission, we raced to find a campsite not too far from pavement. It was a good thing we did, because rains created small rivers of water all around or camp in the morning. The impending storm had been a source of anxiety as it threatened to keep us out of Baptist, but really our timing could not have been better. The rain came with just enough time for us to do the canyon and get to a safe campsite. The other two planned canyons would be in Zion after the storm, in which we would be sporting wetsuits. In fact I was stoked that it had rained for the possibility that pools would be full. I love it when a plan comes together...

After arriving at one of my most beloved campsites outside Zion, we spent a day hiking Angel's Landing. The next day I would finally get to descend a canyon in Zion after learning the trade in the Roost and Swell over the years. Obviously Orderville is not a challenge, but I go to these places primarily for the beauty and was itching to see what a slot would look like in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

I was not let down. As we had traveled across Utah, I noticed that most trees were just barely starting to turn and my hopes for the privilege of fall colors were dashed. Touring around Zion didn't help either, as I could only spot a few bushes that had the balls to change color.

Hope gone, I trudged into Orderville. Still, of course incredibly elated and excited for the beauty and adventure ahead. As we got closer to the slot, we saw a few yellow trees. Interesting. Entering the slot and turning the first corner, wow! All of the trees in and around Orderville had turned or were turning. Beautiful, heavenly, sublime. We spent the next 9 hours wandering through the canyon, mouths agape, bewildered by the beauty of it all.

By the time we reached the narrows, we had maybe 20 or 30 minutes of daylight left. So much for exploring the narrows for the first time. I don't like making bad time, but if the slow pace is caused by the need to bask in splendor, that is a great success. Moving down the Virgin River as quickly as we could, we made it to the paved trail with the last ounce of daylight finally fading. Not bad. Scratch that. Pretty damn good. Even better? Das Boot and the Subway were waiting for us early the next morning.

Timing.

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Amazing photos, I love orderville....how cold was the water?

Great pictures. I like Orderville better than The Narrows.

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