Anyone hiked the Subway in Zion N.P.? - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Jeff Lebowski · 09-05-2006, 01:43 PM

I am thinking of doing it with the family in a couple of weeks. Any suggestions/pointers would be appreciated.

DirtyHippieUTE · 09-05-2006, 03:20 PM

Many, many times...

1- Check with the backcountry desk the day before you go for any update info. Rangers and other hikers go thru almost every day and will usually leave info on changes at the backcountry desk (you need to go there anyway to get your permit).
2- Make sure you've got a good route description. The entry isn't hard to find but every year I hear about a friend who missed the entry and ended up walking around for hours trying to figure out how to get down into the canyon.
3- Take a short lenght of rope. There are a couple of "climb down" spots and a rope makes them much easier (and less dangerous). Often there are ropes in place but you never if they will be there and then you don't know how long they've been there.
4- Get a small dry bag (maybe 2). They're cheap and they are much more reliable than ziplock baggies.
5- Keep some dry shirts in your dry bag. The water is often very cold and small or skinny people can get cold if you stop for lunch (memories of my friend's son shivering).
6- Be prepared to swim. There are a few spots where swimming is not optional. IIRC there are very few of them and they are short but things change.
7- Keep in mind that the "hike" out is actually a very steep (but not very long) switchback trail. It can be difficult after a long day in the water. Some people have trouble in soggy Teva sandals. I usually carry a pair of cheap sneakers in my dry bag for the hike up and out.

Check with Tom's guide http://canyoneeringusa.com/utah/zion/subway.htm

DirtyHippieUTE · 09-05-2006, 03:21 PM

p.s.

Get a permit ASAP. They only give out a set number per day and that is a popular hike.

bigpiney · 09-05-2006, 06:14 PM

All of what hippie said is true, scpecially the permit part. You will be swimming and the water will be cold. It is a great trip and well wortht the effort.

Also you will need 2 cars so that you can shuttle between the start and end of the hikes.

Buy one of those cheap undrwater disposable cameras and take lots of pictures.

DirtyHippieUTE · 09-05-2006, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigpiney

Also you will need 2 cars so that you can shuttle between the start and end of the hikes.

This is true. Don't let somebody feed you that line of crap about leaving a bike at one end and riding to get the car. If somebody wants to try that option tell them to go ahead but make sure you drop off a cooler full of drinks, something for shade, and a few camp chairs for the LONG wait while he goes for the car.

Sadly... I learned this the hard way.

fusnik11 · 09-05-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyHippieUTE

p.s.

Get a permit ASAP. They only give out a set number per day and that is a popular hike.

This is the most important part, as generally the trail has experienced hikers to assist in any 'sticky' situation.

Jeff Lebowski · 09-05-2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigpiney

All of what hippie said is true, scpecially the permit part. You will be swimming and the water will be cold. It is a great trip and well wortht the effort.

Also you will need 2 cars so that you can shuttle between the start and end of the hikes.

Buy one of those cheap undrwater disposable cameras and take lots of pictures.

Hmmm.... This may be tough. We may be there with only one vehicle. Crapola.

DirtyHippieUTE · 09-05-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Hmmm.... This may be tough. We may be there with only one vehicle. Crapola.

IIRC you can contact some of the outfitters in town for a shuttle service.

Jeff Lebowski · 09-15-2006, 04:42 PM

Well, we were all set to do the Subway this weekend. If the permits were sold out, we were going to do Orderville Canyon as a backup. We had the extra driver and all the gear all set up. But then a cold front moved in for the weekend (predicted high in the low 60's). We decided it would be too chilly, given the swimming and the shady canyons. $&@*@!!! Oh, well. We will be all set for next summer.

Thanks to DHU and others for tips.

SeattleUte · 09-15-2006, 05:43 PM

Stay at my brothers' resort:

http://www.zionponderosa.com/

09-05-2006, 01:43 PM	#1
Jeff Lebowski Charon Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the heart of darkness (Provo) Posts: 9,564	Anyone hiked the Subway in Zion N.P.? I am thinking of doing it with the family in a couple of weeks. Any suggestions/pointers would be appreciated. __________________ "... the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

09-05-2006, 03:20 PM	#2
DirtyHippieUTE Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,151	Many, many times... 1- Check with the backcountry desk the day before you go for any update info. Rangers and other hikers go thru almost every day and will usually leave info on changes at the backcountry desk (you need to go there anyway to get your permit). 2- Make sure you've got a good route description. The entry isn't hard to find but every year I hear about a friend who missed the entry and ended up walking around for hours trying to figure out how to get down into the canyon. 3- Take a short lenght of rope. There are a couple of "climb down" spots and a rope makes them much easier (and less dangerous). Often there are ropes in place but you never if they will be there and then you don't know how long they've been there. 4- Get a small dry bag (maybe 2). They're cheap and they are much more reliable than ziplock baggies. 5- Keep some dry shirts in your dry bag. The water is often very cold and small or skinny people can get cold if you stop for lunch (memories of my friend's son shivering). 6- Be prepared to swim. There are a few spots where swimming is not optional. IIRC there are very few of them and they are short but things change. 7- Keep in mind that the "hike" out is actually a very steep (but not very long) switchback trail. It can be difficult after a long day in the water. Some people have trouble in soggy Teva sandals. I usually carry a pair of cheap sneakers in my dry bag for the hike up and out. Check with Tom's guide http://canyoneeringusa.com/utah/zion/subway.htm __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own...

09-05-2006, 03:21 PM	#3
DirtyHippieUTE Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,151	p.s. Get a permit ASAP. They only give out a set number per day and that is a popular hike. __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own...

09-15-2006, 04:42 PM	#9
Jeff Lebowski Charon Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the heart of darkness (Provo) Posts: 9,564	Well, we were all set to do the Subway this weekend. If the permits were sold out, we were going to do Orderville Canyon as a backup. We had the extra driver and all the gear all set up. But then a cold front moved in for the weekend (predicted high in the low 60's). We decided it would be too chilly, given the swimming and the shady canyons. $&@@!!! Oh, well. We will be all set for next summer. Thanks to DHU and others for tips. __________________ "...* the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

09-15-2006, 05:43 PM	#10
SeattleUte fairlds.org Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 10,665	Stay at my brothers' resort: http://www.zionponderosa.com/ __________________ Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster

09-05-2006, 06:14 PM	#4
bigpiney Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Big Pine , CA Posts: 842	All of what hippie said is true, scpecially the permit part. You will be swimming and the water will be cold. It is a great trip and well wortht the effort. Also you will need 2 cars so that you can shuttle between the start and end of the hikes. Buy one of those cheap undrwater disposable cameras and take lots of pictures.