friendly advice for canucks in subway in may

[thecanyonwalker]

how integral are wetsuits for the first week of may?

[oldno7]

Wetsuits will be mandatory in early May(and recommended, most other times) , especially this year. Our snowpack has hovered around 170% of normal and we have another huge storm forecast this weekend. It just keeps piling up. While a lot of the water in the Subway is spring fed, this year there will also be a considerable amount of runoff. Hope that helps.
Kurt

[Felicia]

Some fun reading:

http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11707

[ratagonia]

Wetsuits will be mandatory in early May (and recommended, most other times) , especially this year. Our snowpack has hovered around 170% of normal and we have another huge storm forecast this weekend. It just keeps piling up. While a lot of the water in the Subway is spring fed, this year there will also be a considerable amount of runoff. Hope that helps.
Kurt

What he said.

In addition, at some point in April or May, the basin above the Subway melts out and the Subway floods with high enough water to make it impassable. WHEN this happens is highly variable, but we are building up more snowpack in that basin than even a normally snowy winter so...

Early May, there might not be all that much available to do in Zion. If I were you, I'd have some adventures in Escalante mapped out, in case Zion is just too snowy. Very popular, but for good reason, Coyote Gulch as a 2-night backpack is exquisite.

ya might wanna take a gander at:

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/rave/0804boot/index2.htm

Tom

[Cirrus2000]

... and we have another huge storm forecast this weekend.

Enough, already! Man, I don't want to be snowshoeing at the end of May!

Have a great time, thecanyonwalker, and welcome to Bogley, fellow Canuck!

[oldno7]

In reality, I was thinking around the first of May, Bo might post a TR on kayaking the left fork.

[Bo_Beck]

In reality, I was thinking around the first of May, Bo might post a TR on kayaking the left fork.

Nah Kurt! Not the Left Fork. Might be doing Deep Creek/Narrows though? Actually right now I'm working on the logistics of a 5 day private San Juan float in mid-may. But immediate at hand today is Zion! Heading up with crampons, alpine axe and camera. Can't wait! See ya!

[UtahAdventureGuide]

I was in The Subway on May 5th 2005 with very high water levels. most of the upper canyon we were not able to touch the bottom and were force to just 'go with the flow'. When we reached keyhole falls it was pretty much unpassable. We had to bivy and hike back out the next day, SAR was waiting for us at the top when we finally got out. We all had dry suites and it was still very cold.

The following year we did it again on the same weekend and there was almost no water, just ice and snow.

Below is a link to the stream flow data we monitored before out trip. When we went in May 2005 it was hovering around 1,700 cfs.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv...95,00300,63680

Here are a couple pictures from that trip.

http://www.canyonwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Subway
http://www.canyonwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Keyhole_Falls

[Bo_Beck]

In reality, I was thinking around the first of May, Bo might post a TR on kayaking the left fork.

Nah Kurt! Not the Left Fork. Might be doing Deep Creek/Narrows though? Actually right now I'm working on the logistics of a 5 day private San Juan float in mid-may. But immediate at hand today is Zion! Heading up with crampons, alpine axe and camera. Can't wait! See ya!

PS: Was up at the park yesterday 02-21-10, and hiked to the top of Angels Landing. It was still snowing lightly, but the big storm the night before mainly brought about 3" of slush to the main canyon. I'd say that the top of Angels got maybe 8"-10" of new snow. I'm pretty certain that higher elevations got a pretty good dumping to pack on even more snow on top of the already above average snowpack! I would have to think that (unless it turns hot all at once) spring run-off will be a long event this spring and summer?

[ratagonia]

Below is a link to the stream flow data we monitored before out trip. When we went in May 2005 it was hovering around 1,700 cfs.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv...95,00300,63680

Here are a couple pictures from that trip.

http://www.canyonwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Subway
http://www.canyonwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Keyhole_Falls

Unfortunately, there is no gauge on North Creek, and the North Fork of the Virgin is not a good indicator of what is going on over there. I have hiked in, looked at the stream and turned around. If you bring 2 x 100 foot ropes, you can at least do Russell Gulch before heading home...

Tom

[UtahAdventureGuide]

If you bring 2 x 100 foot ropes, you can at least do Russell Gulch before heading home...

Tom

Tom, Do you have any beta on Russell Gulch you can send me. I did it about 15 years ago and haven't been back. I would like to visit some of those old routes this season.

Thanks

[trackrunner]

If you bring 2 x 100 foot ropes, you can at least do Russell Gulch before heading home...

Tom

Tom, Do you have any beta on Russell Gulch you can send me. I did it about 15 years ago and haven't been back. I would like to visit some of those old routes this season.

Thanks

It's in the book
http://5z8.info/double-your-wang_r1n4j_inches-now

thread with beta
http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16577

[Cirrus2000]

It's in the book
http://5z8.info/double-your-wang_r1n4j_inches-now

Nice URL!

I quite enjoyed Russell Gulch - really nice rappels. That last overhanging one is pretty cool. Lovely place.

[ratagonia]

It's in the book
http://5z8.info/double-your-wang_r1n4j_inches-now

Nice URL!

I quite enjoyed Russell Gulch - really nice rappels. That last overhanging one is pretty cool. Lovely place.

I'm scared to click on those URLs. 'course, ya gotta be careful of ones like /fluffykittensplayingwithpuppies which can also lead to unpleasantness...

#36 Russell Gulch

While the normal route into The Subway is often called the "Russell Gulch Approach", it actually crosses Russell rather than descending it. This variation descends the canyon with three rappels of 100 feet (30 m), adding a little technical interest and another nice section of canyon to the normal Subway Route. It adds about an hour to the route, for small groups.

While this route is fairly straightforward, the rappels themselves have awkward starts and are not suitable for beginners. Don't take them, they won't have a good time.

Rating: 3B III
Time Required: 7 to 10 hours
Preferred Season: Summer or fall.
Cold Water Protection: Wetsuits advisable in all but the hottest weather.
Longest Rappel: 100 feet (30 m)
Special Difficulties: None

Approach: Follow the normal approach to the Subway to where it crosses Russell Gulch. Don't cross. Instead, traverse right (west) across the top of slabs then down steep slickrock and dirt to the canyon bottom. Find the path of minimum impact

[trackrunner]

It's in the book
http://5z8.info/double-your-wang_r1n4j_inches-now

Nice URL!

it's from Shady URL
Tom posted this tiny url found in the other thread I linked.
http://tinyurl.com/dc5vko

But I figured why "just shorten the url, make it suspicious and frightening"

Had to post that link. The shorten link turned out to be a classic

more on shady url
http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20337

[ratagonia]

But I figured why "just shorten the url, make it suspicious and frightening"

Had to post that link. The shorten link turned out to be a classic

Too funny. And here's the ultimate combo pack:

http://5z8.info/open_exe_begin_trans...ing_filter-48-

T

(oh man, bummer. When I made it up, it linked up to MY website, now Amazon).

[thecanyonwalker]

wow! thank you for all the suggestions and insights based on experience. it's awesome to have people share so freely!

sounds like we are in for a potentially VERY cold day out - if we can safely travel it at all - our back up for the day was to check zion narrows if we couldn't get a permit via the lottery, but I just received notice that we did in fact win access for our trip - we are headed for three days on buckskin / paria for the end of the week. Really hoping we will be granted some decent weather and get a chance to experience subway in good form.

Thanks again to everyone - and any further suggestions are welcome!

TC

[UtahAdventureGuide]

Just got my permit for The Subway on Saturday May 8th. Might have an opening or two.