Zion Day 2: The Narrows

The one big caveat to my previous caveat is that I did get information about how to best hike the Narrows. One of my coworkers had just recently done a similar trip and she gave me one big piece of advice: rent the full gear for your hike into the Narrows. She recommended two different places in town and of course I managed to choose the one that required an additional one mile walk to pick up the gear the night before the hike. Even better, I somehow managed to reserve two sizes too big for the kids.  Thankfully they were willing to go along with the ridiculous oversized outfits. 

After getting suited up at the campsite the following morning and another long line for the shuttle (where I happened to run into a coworker) we were off for another day of hiking.  The first mile of the hike is along the river and is flat enough for anyone and everyone to enjoy.  By the time we made our way through the crowds and got to the end of the paved trail, it was lunch time, so we stopped to eat our sandwiches before wading into the cold waters.  

And then we were off, wading and navigating our way up stream.  Thankfully the number of people thinned out significantly once we turned the first bend.  And there were moments where we were completely alone and it was amazing.  It was such a different and unique experience hiking through the waters, completely dry thanks to the dry suits.  I could have spent all day making my way up the valley. 

We made it all the way to Narrows Alcove before the cold wind and frigid water stopped us.  Alva’s hands were ice cold and there was no way of keeping them warm.  Oskar and Martin went up around the bend to check it out while Alva and I tried to protect ourselves from the wind and warm up her hands.  While Alva was putting her hands in my armpits (it was the best I could come up with) some very kind people stopped and asked if Alva wanted handwarmers...  They had seen us from up the river and figured out what was going on.  And even more importantly, they had a spare set of handwarmers in their backpacks.  It was one of many instances of meeting incredibly kind and generous people while out on the trails.    

While Oskar and I wanted to keep going (we had our hearts set on at least making it to Wall Street or Orderville Canyon) we made the right decision to all head back.  It taught the kids that as a group, we needed to ensure everyone was safe.  The entire walk back, Alva received more than a handful of nods and comments of respect for her ability to hike and forge the river. And both Oskar and Alva induced moments of jealousy as they “floated” with the current in their oversized, air filled dry suits. 

We got back to the campsite later that afternoon, exhausted and hungry.  Only the promise of dinner out at a restaurant could get them up and out one more time.