Rained out of the Subway: She said YES!!!!!!!!!

[skiclimb3287]

Four years ago on my first attempt to get a Subway permit in the lottery, I succeeded and had a great trip through. During the summers of 2010 and 2011, I tried for multiple permits and got skunked every time. Finally success was reached again and I drew a permit for 4 for Saturday, July 14th! Of the group of 4, I was the only one to have gone through previously. The group consisted of my girlfriend Carrie, and our friends Andy and Bella. Excitement was high in the group as the weeks went by. Fires raged across the state with no rain in sight for the better part of 3 months. Temps soared in Zion to the 100s and high 90s in SLC. We needed rain, but this was perfect weather for a trip through the Subway without wetsuits.

It just wasn't meant to be . As the weekend approached, the forecast called for the first big storm of the summer...and the prediction kept getting worse and worse. We kept a positive vibe and decided that we would hit the trail head at 6am and hope that the storms wouldn't build until late afternoon as is typical. At the least, we could get a bit of a hike in away from the crowds of the main canyon and turn around before dropping down into the subway. On the drive from St. George we hit a little bit of sprinkling rain, but at the trail head things looked OK, with the clouds breaking up. By the time we split off of the Northgate peaks trail, the sun was shining on us and no threatening clouds were in view. Maybe...just maybe.

Just out onto the slickrock


Clouds are breaking up!


Beautiful view and blue sky poking through



We continued down the slickrock bowl, following the new route. As we proceeded, dark clouds began building right over the far ridge of the Subway. Boy was this going to ruin my plans. As we were approaching the crossing of Russel Gulch, I looked up and noticed the clouds were becoming closer, lower, and more threatening. I made the statement, "hey guys...I think we are about to be engulfed by that cloud..." Immediately, everyone raced to drop their pack and dig out the rain gear. No sooner than packs were on the ground, the sky let loose an unbelievable fury of rain. After finally getting the rain gear on, we stood and watched as our plans got literally washed away...and with them, my plans as well Well, now to figure out plan B.

It's raining? Carrie decides it is time to have a snack


After standing around for a bit and watching the ridge across go in and out of the clouds, it was time to turn back. Just as we all started the about face, Carrie says, "hey, I think I hear water running" to which Andy agreed. We decided to investigate. As we reached the gully off to the side of the high point we were on, we witnessed the beginnings of a flash flood! I had said the night before that if we got rained out, I wanted to at least go see a flash flood from a safe spot as I had never witnessed one. Well, guess we didn't have to look far! As we watched, the waterfall forming right in front of us kept growing. After a quick assessment of our location, I noted that we were on safe ground and if the need arose, a few feet away was easily accessible ground 15 feet higher. As we looked around, we could see more and more waterfalls! While in awe of our surroundings and the power of water being witnessed, I started contemplating how to alter my plans.

First sight of the flash flood beginning


Check out the waterfall!


And the others as well!


Well, hell, were watching a flash flood above Russel Gulch and the Subway, why not. I dropped my pack, dug through my dry bag and stuck it in my pocket. Andy asked if Carrie and I wanted our picture taken in front of the newly formed waterfall. Of course! A picture was taken and Carrie started to step away. I pulled her back, and as she turned around she found me down on one knee with a ring box open in my hand and I asked her to marry me. She was caught off guard. I succeeded in that aspect! She said "Yes! Of course!" and gave me a huge kiss! I am officially the luckiest guy in the world! I don't think many girls (if any) can say they got engaged in a flash flood . I guess it was fitting since in the summer of 2011 I had also taken Carrie hiking in the gorges of central New York during hurricane Irene. She puts up with a lot! At least there was one hell of a consolation prize to the day!

Photo in front of the newly formed waterfall


Will you marry me? "Holy crap! I can't believe it! Did you guys know?"


The happy engaged couple


Flooding


More flooding


Yet more flooding


After a few "engagement photos", Andy and I took a look to see if we could cross up onto the next ridge to see down into Russel Gulch. We could, and were treated to a crazy view of at least 7 or 8 large waterfalls pouring into the drainage. From our vantage point, we could see a point where Russel Gulch narrows and water was shooting off what appeared to be some sort of drop! After taking in the view, we headed back to his wife and my new fiance(!) and began the trek back out.

A cool waterfall


The girls between the two flows


Andy on the ridge with many falls just beyond


The view into Russel Gulch


Crazy waterfall!


A zoomed in view of the flooding in Russel Gulch


Time to head back


Beautiful views as the storm clears




Back at the trail head, the skies had cleared and beers were had in the parking lot. After some discussion, it was decided to stay away from the crowds and head to cave valley. Carrie and I had previously found two of the caves, but Andy and Bella had never been there. We showed them the caves and in the process continued scouting for Mother of Earth cave with no luck. After exploring for awhile, we headed to Oscars for burgers and beers. As we made the turn off the Kolob Reservoir Road, we noticed the storm was building once again.

The mummy marking the entrance to Cave Valley




Pictographs in the first cave


More pictos from the first cave


Green guys


Photo with the monster looking pictograph


Love the view!


Pictos in the ceremonial cave


Altar and bones


View of the whole cave


And here comes the rain again


The plans for Sunday were to have a leisurely breakfast and then start heading north, stopping in Leeds to do Yankee Doodle and maybe Boltergeist. We left St. George with blue skies. As we headed north, the Silver Reef came into view and the mountains were enshrouded in threatening clouds. With that, Andy and Bella decided it was time to head home to their 2 year old. We said our goodbyes, and Carrie and l looked longingly at the mountains as another day of canyons was getting washed out discussing what to do. Neither of us were in a rush to get back to Salt Lake. We drove through the huge houses in Silver Reef and checked out the museum. The decision was made to head to the Parowan Gap on the way home since we had been once before in very strong light which bleached out many of the petroglyphs. Now we had our new DSLR and it looked like with the storms we may get some nice lighting! Sure enough, we arrive to extremely dark clouds on the other side of the gap. We took some photos and as we reached the end of the gap a stiff wind picked up and the temps dropped 20 degrees. Here we go again! A few more quick photos, and we hurried back to the car. We drove a couple miles down the road, snapped one more photo of the storm approaching and headed back to I-15. Within minutes we found ourselves driving through pounding rain.

Zipper-glyph


Large snake


Nice panel


Threatening skies


Threatening skies w/ boulder full of petroglyphs


Close up of the boulder


Storm building on the other side of the gap


Different view of a panel


One last engagement weekend photo in front of the snake panel


Here comes the storm!


Cool lighting across I-15


An overdone HDR version that looked fun


View further north


Cool clouds


Black and White version


Back to Salt Lake we headed with a car ride full of wedding talk. Mainly trying to decide if we can logistically pull off our wedding in the Zion area

Cheers to a great weekend, monsoon and all!

[ratagonia]

Awesome, AWESOME!, and Congratulations!!

Tom

[Bo_Beck]

Congrats!!!!!!!! Great TR!

[oldno7]

Nice Tr and Congrats on the engagement.

One question---you went to plan "B" which you apparently made up as you went.

What was plan "A"?

[hank moon]

Somewhere in there, the two biggest thumbs up ever?




Attachment 56558

[Iceaxe]

Congrats

[Scott Card]

I was looking forward to this TR and the photos of the rain but, DUDE! Well played! Congratulations and best wished for a wonderful future. Pop the question while Zion was flashing -- brilliant!

[Mountaineer]

Congratulations, and great pictures and trip report! I'll bet the flooding was amazing to watch.

[canyonguru]

yeah very good job. good thing you turned around that is a lot of water.

[accadacca]

That is SOOO cool! Congrats and awesome trip report!

[ghawk]

So cool!! and congrats! That whole report was just awesome! Congratulations and best wishes

[ilipichicuma]

Congrats, dude! Canyoneering proposals are totally the way to go! Also, that flooding looks awesome! Ever since I heard about them I've always wanted to see a flash-flood.

[stefan]

congratulations! nicely done

[Deathcricket]

Well played sir, well played....

Now plan a huge wedding in the back section of Kanarra creek, have Dave Mathews play as the band, airlift guest up to the plateau, and invite all of Bogley attend. It's the really the only way you can top this TR I think.

[skiclimb3287]

Thanks to all for the congrats and good wishes. It turned out to be quite the experience! As it seemed that my plans were destroyed I was presented with an arguably even better opportunity. Really glad everyone enjoyed the TR...took me forever to put together last night!

Sorry I didn't post these in the TR, but it was late and I was not feeling like dealing with the YouTube upload. Anyway, here are a couple videos I took with my Panasonic TS3...thank god for waterproof cameras in that rain! Sadly, my GoPro was in my pack and I didn't think of getting it out. The first vid is from where we were standing when the flood started and where I proposed. The second one is from the ridge that Andy and I crossed to in order to look down into Russel Gulch. Enjoy!

One question---you went to plan "B" which you apparently made up as you went.

What was plan "A"?

Plan A was to propose somewhere in the canyon. Top of the list was at the pools between the last rappel and the Subway. Was going to decide on location based on atmosphere, crowds, etc. I had contemplated putting the ring on a carabiner, clipping it to me, and landing the final rappel on one knee, as Carrie always is the one to have me on bottom belay. As different as that would have been, I am thinking I still one up-ed it

Somewhere in there, the two biggest thumbs up ever?

There is all sorts of stuff in there... including a big thumbs up!

Well played sir, well played....

Now plan a huge wedding in the back section of Kanarra creek, have Dave Mathews play as the band, airlift guest up to the plateau, and invite all of Bogley attend. It's the really the only way you can top this TR I think.

Hmmm.... now you got me thinking! I take it you have the connection to DMB?

Speaking of that, it looks like we are leaning towards doing the wedding in Zion next fall...well Springdale! Any of you that live in the area know of good wedding vendors to recommend? Venues, Photographers, caterers, etc.? Any recommendations would be awesome! The way I see it, we now have an excuse to come down more often than we already do to look at stuff! Next trip is scheduled for about 3 weeks from now.

Cheers!

[blueeyes]

Awesome report. Congratulations!!

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

[Scott P]

Exellent! Congrats and I wish you the best together!

[Byron]

You are the man!

[Felicia]

Exellent! Congrats and I wish you the best together!

X2

[Dan-wild]

= you guys!