Yesterday while descending Water Canyon with a small CAD I learned a little something about quicksand. Over the past several years I have experienced quicksand, quickmud, and various other mires, but NOTHING like what I experienced in Water Canyon on 4/18.

After descending into Middle Water Canyon, we got past the first three raps and started heading down the long hallway into Lower Water Canyon. About half way through this section, we experienced a couple of sloppy, sucking sand areas, but nothing above the knees, which made extraction casual. Moments later, however, I stepped off of a rock in the middle of the watercourse and INSTANTLY sank to my crotch into thin, watery sand. It was somewhat entertaining initially, and I took 10 seconds or so to have the moment captured photographically for all to see. Within those 10 seconds, the sand solidified around my legs and developed the consistency of concrete. I was unable to move any muscle below my waist, so I started digging and scooping water and sand to attempt to free myself from the sucky obstacle. After 10 minutes of digging, damming up the flow to better remove sand and water from the area, and attempting to lay flat, I was still unable to free myself. Enlisting help from the others, we were still unable to make headway with the extraction, as all attempts to dig out were thwarted by sand filling back into the hole. I also realized that no matter what force was used, there was NO WAY that I would be able to be “pulled free” without separating all of my joints below the waist. Reassessing the dilemma, we began to approach the problem more seriously…

First, we built platforms for people to lie on so they wouldn’t be pulled into the quicksand. We used tools (stones, helmets, sticks) to improve our digging abilities. We had multiple people digging to better stay ahead of the refilling of sand… all this seemed to have little-to-no effect. This went on for 40 minutes before I began to feel some physical pain from the constriction. One of my clients, Adam, and I discussed the fact I was quickly becoming a victim of compression or “crush” syndrome. As the sand kept refilling the cavity around me it becamenoticeably tighter and eventually was hindering blood flow in my legs, causing minor amounts of ischemia;  after 40 minutes, this was creating severe and uncontrollable lower leg cramps that I could not remedy, as it was impossible to move my legs. Yikes.

Adam and I digging frantically to try to make progress

Adam and I dug in again, this time at a faster pace, agitating the sand and then quickly digging it out. Eventually, we freed my right leg. Amber, another client, climbed into the mix to help excavate and extract. She worked VERY quickly digging (not unlike a dog digging a hole) and was able to reach my foot, which made it possible to pull the left leg out. Whew! A close call I never could have imagined from my prior experiences. As we continued down-canyon, I noticed many more areas of the canyon which had potential to hold this sort of quicksand and should be crossed with care.

Quicksand lessons learned:

1. If you sink into quicksand, even a slight amount, work very quickly to pull yourself from it (preferably in a flat or lying position). Don’t stop moving! Immediately start, and don’t stop working your way out.

2. No matter how entertaining it may be, don’t take 5-10 seconds to take a picture, as this is all the time it can take for the sand to solidify.

3. Dig VERY QUICKLY while agitating the sand to better free yourself. Think you’re digging quickly enough? No, you’re not!

4. Ask for help. In certain positions, it is virtually impossible to quickly dig yourself out if the angle is awkward.

5. If the sand continues to fill it could potentially get tighter causing much more severe issues.

6. Maintain good communication with anyone buried in quicksand, as claustrophobia can easily take hold.

Great to learn lessons like this. Painful, but a worthy lesson in an area I thought I had mastered in my past.

ZAC is selling off its fleet of Emotion sit-on-top kayaks & kayak paddles. Up for sale are:

• 5 Co-motion tandem kayaks ($378 each, two seats and two paddles included)
• 3 Temptation kayaks ($330 each, seat and paddle included)
• 9 8-foot Spitfire kayaks ($180 each, seat and paddle included)

All kayaks are gently used. Most have been on the water less than 5 times and some have never been used.

Pricing is 40% off retail. Prices do not include tax or shipping. Due to the oversize nature of the boats, shipping charges will probably be around $100.00. Better to pick it up, if you’re in the area. A good reason for a Zion trip!

Thanks,
Shelley

May 2012 issue of St. George Magazine

St. George Magazine did a story on “adventure in Southern Utah” for their May issue, and we made the cover! Well, one of our clients made the cover, and one of our guides was on the other side of the lens (we still aren’t sure who). Writer Lisa Larson interviewed Shelley Buckingham, our outfitting manager, for the piece, and they have a slimmed-down version of the article online. It’s much better to see all the great pictures though, so check out the virtual magazine for the best viewing experience.

5 Local Tours to Enjoy in Our Backyard
By Lisa Larson

Living in the red rock beauty of Southern Utah, it’s easy to take the nearness of these natural wonders for granted. While there are countless tourists from around the world that descend on national parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon, recreation spots such as Lake Powell and a variety of slot canyons, it’s remarkable the number of locals who have yet to experience all that Southern Utah has to offer.   For those who are unsure where to begin, there are a variety of guided and self-guided tours available, whether you’re looking for adventure, history or serenity.

Living in the red rock beauty of Southern Utah, it’s easy to take the nearness of these natural wonders for granted. While there are countless tourists from around the world that descend on national parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon, recreation spots such as Lake Powell and a variety of slot canyons, it’s remarkable the number of locals who have yet to experience all that Southern Utah has to offer. Read the Entire Article

For those of you who have visited the ZAC store recently, you may have noticed a few new changes to our building. In addition to our new Fuzo Overland vehicle parked out front, you’ll also see our newly landscaped area as well!

On April 3rd, a handful of our staff members pulled together and put on a Planting Day to improve the area in front of our building. We planted desert, water-wise plants such as Yucca and Penstemon to create a xeri-scaped rock garden from our parking lot out to SR-9.

Aside from planting, we have since been working on laying down weed-barrier, a drip irrigation system, and decorative gravel. Stop by and check it out!

ZAC's new overland terrain vehicle

Did you know that you don’t need to travel thousands of miles away to the “Down-Under” continent to get The Overland experience? Zion Adventure Company offers educational overland 4×4 tours that describe the geological and biological histories of the southwestern Utah area while crossing challenging and exciting off-road terrain! And this year, ZAC has added a new vehicle to its fleet and she’s a beast!

The new overland vehicle, nicknamed Funso, is a modified and empowered 2011 Mitsubishi Fuso. Featuring gigantic extreme off-road tires, a custom built framed cage, and knowledgeable drivers, traveling through the cliffs and canyons of the Zion area has never been this fun! Planned to officially make her virgin run in early May, Funso is expected to bring ZAC’s overland 4×4 trips to a whole new level! In the meantime, feel free to stop by and take a quick tour or call now to make your reservations.

As I jogged along the Pa’rus Trail this week I thought to myself, “Wow, Pa’rus sure isn’t like Angel’s Landing or Observation Point, but I really like this trail.” Here are my favorite things about the under-rated and under-appreciated Pa’rus Trail:

1. At 3.5 miles round-trip, it is the perfect running distance for anyone who wants to get a quick jog in before they start the day, or maybe just before dinner.

2. Minimal elevation change on this trail (50ft) means that walking, running, or biking here will not need maximal physical exertion, unlike many of Zion’s steep, craggy trails. In fact, the Pa’rus is a great place for a causal sunset or moonlit stroll with a loved one, where conversation is more important than accomplishment.

3. This is the only trail in the park that is puppy and bicycle friendly, so if your little furry friend is getting tired of being cooped up at your campsite, help him get some energy out by walking him on the Pa’rus.

4. The wide paved trail allows for many people to share the trail all at once without any bottle-necking like you might find on top of Angel’s Landing. Great for families who want to walk two or three-abreast, or folks who want to stop along the trail to look at birds or flowers for a while.

5. The Pa’ Rus Trail is easily accessible from the Park’s Visitors Center and via the South Campground. When we’re traveling with family and friends, it can really help to steal away for an hour for some personal time, and the length and proximity of the Pa’ Rus is just right.

6. Beautiful water, graceful bridges, and soaring cliff scenery provides perfect photo opportunities for the budding or seasoned photographer, with no jockeying for position or crowds to get in your way.

7. There are many access points for taking a dip in the Virgin River, which makes this a great place to cool off in the middle of a scorching summer day.

8. Kids and adults alike will be interested in the many trail-side exhibits which offer insightful facts on the surrounding area.

So, go lace up your walking/running shoes or grab your bike, bring the puppy, your swimsuit, sunscreen and water, and head to the Pa’rus Trail. It may not be glamorous or famous, but Pa’ Rus provides a great every-day walk that has something for everybody and is every bit as beautiful as the hikes that make you huff and puff.

Bill Westerhoff explains why Zion is so awesome

ABC’s Los Angeles affiliate Channel 7 recently visited Southern Utah for their “Eye on LA” show. Host Tina Malave joined ZAC guide Bill Westerhoff for a rappelling excursion up in Cave Valley, one of the gorgeous plateau valleys you’ll find on the way up the Kolob Terrace Road. I wasn’t able to post the video here, but you can check it out on the ABC 7 site.

Sitting on the Seattle Link train, I was immensely entertained watching a little girl playing with her mother; making faces, burrowing her face in her mom’s shoulder, and asking questions about the passing scenery. Across the isle from me, a man was watching the pair with furtive glances. His eyes revealed the simple pleasure of seeing someone completely free. There was something in his expression, however, that did not fit. His eyes betrayed a tremendous smile, but, with visible effort, he kept his mouth tightly shut. Something kept him from expressing how joyful the moment was. I didn’t get to see it, but I bet his smile splits his face from ear to ear, is filled with big white teeth, and is often accompanied by rolling belly laughs.

I have thought many times about all that was contained in this moment. Seeing the struggle on the man’s face reminded me that I am robbing the world of joy when I do not express myself fully. I was on my way to visit a Waldorf school, that morning, where I hoped to learn how this alternative program addresses self expression. My friend, Massimo is being home schooled with a Waldorf curriculum, and everything I hear about Waldorf and its founder, Rudolph Steiner, illustrates a thoughtful holistic view of human development. More than anything, I connect with the emphasis on nurturing self esteem as part of education. During my visit, I was impressed by the classwork I saw. It was colorful, rich, and showed great care. It was evident that the students were invested in their learning, and were doing more than creating geometric patters, learning rules of punctuation, or reading about Julius Caesar. The goal is not to get good grades, it is to support the development of free, responsive adults. Steiner’s ideas resonate with me, because he was asking questions about human nature, and seeking answers in practical arenas.

These two experiences are tied to the latest development in my life, and the reason for this blog post. I keep thinking of a line from a Mary Oliver poem. It asks the question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

I have never had a clear vision of what my life would look like, but it has always been a goal to be myself fully, to learn and grow every day, and not squander my one precious life. In the past few weeks, my plan has changed a great deal. I have decided to leave Zion Adventure Company to pursue teaching at a Waldorf school.  I am putting it all on the line, and wagering that my intuition will guide me to a place where I can realize my greatest potential. This means leaving a job and a community that I care about deeply, going back to school, and making the commitment to a completely new lifestyle. I am packing up my possessions, bidding farewell to my friends, and setting out on a great adventure. I am thankful for everything I have learned at Zion Adventure Company. I have no doubt that my time here was an important part of an ongoing journey. This may be my last blog post on the Zion Adventures site, but it will always be a part of me.

Take great care.
Yours,
Calvin Laatsch

Imagine… You’ve been hiking and running deep in the Zion backcountry for 13 hours, carrying only a few snacks and one water bottle. You’ve summited a handful of peaks, rappelled off small trees poking out of bare rock, and swum in 40-degree pools of stagnant canyons water. Many, many miles and vertical meters have passed. Now it’s 10:30 PM, your headlamp is dead, and you’re squeezing energy from the far reaches of your left pinky toe to keep going. And THEN, you get to one last, mandatory unexpected swim of unknown length. Do you put your wetsuit back on? Do you cry? Do you just lay down and close your eyes? No… you grit your teeth, make it happen, and blog about it when you get home. Because you are hardcore. Which I am not.

Nice story, Dakota Jones. Thanks for showing how the crazies get it done in Zion. The honest, inspiring words about digging deeper than you think is possible is worth keeping in mind, no matter who you are or what makes you crumble.

Anna gives a Narrows Orientation before setting everyone up with equipment

Easter Break is ALWAYS an exciting time at Zion Adventure Company, as Training Season transitions to Busy Season and the quiet season official ends. It always feel a little crazy, but it’s also a lot of fun. We love it when Easter falls a little later (anytime in April, really), as it gives us an extra week or two to get new staff up to speed before they jump into the fire.

If YOU are visiting this week or next, you can help us make your ZAC visit really smooth by doing a few easy things:

1. Set your watch! If you are coming from Las Vegas or Arizona, Zion (and Utah) is one hour ahead of those time zones. Many visitors are disappointed when they arrive “on time,” only to discover they are actually one hour late. Oops!

2. Note our hours. We are open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM. Sometime folks see people walking in and out before 8 AM: these are guided trip clients, who we try to depart with before things get busy at 8 AM. If you arrive before we open, please wait outside patiently while we get the store in order. Thanks for your help!

3. If you know you want to rent gear, make a reservation ahead of time by phone or email. When you reserve gear ahead of time, we make sure it is ready and available for you when you get here, and you are able to get in and out much more efficiently.

4. Browse our website and this blog for more information. We have a LOT of information on the Zion Narrows, our guided trips, and hiking in Zion National Park free for you to browse before you get here.

5. Check ahead to see whether The Narrows is open. See the below article for details.

Every day now, we hear one question more than any other:

“Is The Narrows hike open?”

We are always happy to answer this question for our store visitors, but we’d also like to help you answer this yourself at home, on the road, or wherever you may be. If you want to see whether The Narrows is open, just check the USGS website. The data you’re looking for is in the areas highlighted in the red boxes below:

The upper red box (the graph) usually shows continuous cubic feet/second (CFS) data. (For some reason, the data has large gaps over the last few days; this is not normal.) The Narrows is OPEN, if the CFS level has not exceed 150 CFS for the past 24 hours. Even with the gaps in this current graph, we can see the CFS level was around 165 yesterday morning, so The Narrows is closed today.

The lower red box indicates the current CFS level. While the data is current listed as “unavailable,” there is typically a CFS number here indicating current conditions. Remember, however, that the current CFS level is less important than the 24-hour high, which you find in the upper red area.

If the above description is confusing in any way, please leave a comment to let me know. I really want to offer an easy-to-understand explanation, as many folks find it difficult to interpet the USGS info and the Park rules. Thanks!

I drop in on Texan photographer Kelly DeLay’s Cloud 365 Project occasionally, and I noticed today that he shot his 1000th cloud image from the top of Angels Landing this last week. There’s also a cloud image taken from Springdale the following morning. Kudos to Mr. DeLay for some serious tenacity in sustaining such an interesting long-term project. And he has a pretty cool website, too.

Jim Jones in his home studio

I want to get the word out about two great events happening today in Springdale:

• Worthington Gallery is hosting a tribute gathering in honor of renowned, late Zion painter Jim Jones. Jones passed away in 2009, but his incredible talent, vision, and color lives on in his work, which will be on display at the Gallery. Along with fantastic art, there will be wine, light fare, and even live music under the gorgeous cottonwood trees at the Worthington. Jim Jones Giclee prints will be sold at 25% off this evening, and all proceeds from the event go towards construction of the Jim Jones-inspired Southern Utah Museum of Art Center.

• Dr. Gary McClellan Bell, professor at Texas Tech University, will give a lecture entitled A Century of Mismanagement: A Brief History of Wildfire in America. The Z-Arts!-sponsored lecture will take place at the Canyon Community Center at 7:00 PM, and admission is free. Here is the press release:

Dr. Bell will discuss the history of wild land fire in America, human responses to that natural phenomenon, with a particular focus on the twentieth century, and then an analysis of the hugely powerful and complex forces, including tremendous economic incentives, that almost guarantee a continued increase in wild land fire size and intensity, damage to natural and human property, and an increasing threat to human life.

That’s a mouthful, huh? Wildland fire is a super-important issue in most of the Mountain West, and especially in small towns like ours with small fire departments (and small fire department budgets). Come learn about the complex problems and challenges surrounding the wildland-urban interface, and how things fire challenges have grown so formidable in the West.

If you plan well, you can probably hit both these events tonight. Hit the Worthington Gallery early, around 6:00, then head up to the CCC around 6:45 for the lecture. With a late dinner to boot, it could shape up to be a wonderful night on the town in our very small, but very cultured, little town.

The National Weather Service is predicting some interesting weather in Southern Utah this weekend, including:

• Record-breaking warm temperatures on Saturday
• Strong winds, with 40 – 65 MPH wind gusts Saturday afternoon/evening
• A drastic (25 – 40 degrees F) drop in temperature overnight, with valley rain and mountain snow on Sunday

If you are thinking, “Oh no… Looks like a horrible weekend in Zion,” think again! Zion is often at it’s best during turbulent weather, and this weekend looks like a fantastic opportunity to see Zion in full splendor. Interesting weather is great for photography, especially if Zion Canyons gets iced with snow on Sunday morning, which dramatically accents all the cliffs and crags. And Saturday looks like it will be BEAUTIFUL, full-on shorts-and-tshirts weather. So come up or down or however YOU get to Zion, and we’ll be happy to greet you for the natural festivities, whatever they are!

The Zion Narrows closed last weekend for the first time in 2012; the hike is open again now, but will certainly close a few more times throughout spring. Since we are pretty big Narrows Nerds here at ZAC, I thought it might be fun to provide some “big picture” background info for those  eager to know if The Narrows and other technical canyons will be closed during YOUR visit.

Like all things in The Nature, a wide variety of factors influence Spring flooding. But for the most part, spring water volume is determined by three primary factors:

Snowpack – The snowpack on the Markagunt Plateau (elevation 8000 ft.) north of Zion feeds the Virgin River as it melts, contributing significant water volume to the North Fork watershed each spring. One year ago today, the snowpack was 112″, while today, the snowpack is only 54″. That’s a big difference. Drive up to Cedar Breaks along Highway 14, and you can see the snowpack for yourself.

Daily High Temperatures – When temperatures are really warm, you can almost SEE the snow pack shriveling on the Plateau. Moderate temperatures, however, melt snow slowly, causing a slower, more gradual melt. If you watch the USGS river gauge chart, you’ll see water that melts every afternoon (hottest part of the day) takes about 8 – 10 hours to reach the Virgin River gauge, which peaks every day around midnight. At night, temperatures cool down again and snow stops melting… 8 – 10 hours later (morning), river levels are much lower. Since the National Park Service uses the 24-hour high mark to decide Narrows closures, there are many days when the river is actually under 150 CFS, but closed due to exceeding this boundary the previous evening.

Precipitation – Obviously, if colder weather brings snow to the Markagunt Plateau, that means the snow pack grows and high water levels will last longer. If warmer weather causes RAIN instead of snow, however, the rain will drastically reduce the snow pack, quickening the spring melt.

Each year, we find ourselves watching the USGS river level data during spring runoff, scrutinizing the USGS water flow charts to predict if/when The Narrows will close and open. 2007 and 2011 are great examples of the wide runoff dichotomy that The Narrows can display. In 2007 (the green line on the chart), the winter snowpack was quite low; the river barely surpassed 150 CFS, and The Narrows was only closed for a few days. In 2011 (the magenta line on the chart), however, the snow pack was roughly double that of 2007, and The Narrows was closed well into July. So what will 2012 be like?

As you can see from the snowpack charts, 2012 is very similar to 2007. In fact, until the snowstorm on March 18/19 increased the snow depth by 50% (!), the snowpacks were nearly identical. Based on this data, the running hypothesis around here is The Narrows might be closed off-and-on for a few weeks to a month, but we are generally expecting a great spring, with The Narrows open for most of March, April, and May.

Dr. Steve Kugath, a professor in the Outdoor Recreation Department at BYU-Idaho, recently announced a “accident info for gear” opportunity worth checking out. I haven’t heard about this project before, but ostensibly it will help gather and aggregate information about who, how, when, why canyoneers get into trouble out there. For each entry you submit (one entry per accident/incident), you are thrown into the hopper for a chance to win one of the prizes (see below). The survey says it takes 15-20 minutes to fill out, but a thorough job would probably take more like 30 – 60 minutes. Not sure how they will prevent folks from entering sparse submission just to rack up their odds of winning prizes, but hopefully the spirit of the effort will prevail and they’ll get lots of good data.

Here’s Steve’s announcement:

Sliding scale answer forms... Cool.

Hey Canyoneers!

We’re developing a Canyoneering Accident/Near Miss/Epic Database. Information collected will be made available to the public for free. Our goal of the project is to educate and encourage safe canyoneering practice. The data base will include synopses and analysis of accidents/near misses/epics; group member’s names will not be included so don’t be shy about reporting your mishaps. In addition all the reports will be combed to identify key elements or themes that are precursors to accidents/near misses/epics.

Thanks to the many canyoneers who have provided excellent input the last few months in developing the survey…though certainly not perfect we hope it will be a great start. The survey will take some time depending on the details of your incident…perhaps 20 minutes. Feel free to submit information on as many incidents as you’ve experienced. The survey is located here…at least check it out.

To encourage your participation we have collected some awesome prizes (thanks again to all who contributed): Here is the list of gear to give away so far (anyone else wishing to give away some gear/services to help with this project please contact me at kugaths at byui dot edu):

Rock Exotica Pirate Carabiner

An Imlay Canyon Kolob Pack
4 Rock Exotica Pirate Locking Carabiners
a one year subscription to ClimbUtah.com
A stealth black Totem device
An Imlay Canyon 9.2 mm x 200 foot Canyonero rope
A copy of Dave Black’s Canyoneering: A guide to Techniques for Wet and Dry Canyons Book
2 outdoor sticker packs with stickers from 5.10. Marmot, Outdoor Research, Mammut, PMI, Go Lite, Sierra Designs, Rock Exotica, Blue Water, NRS, La Sportiva, Kavu, Princeton Tec, Black Diamond, Scarpa, Sterling Rope, Osprey, Edelrid, Big Agnes, Omega Pacific, Dakine and Petzl

So check out the survey and submit your information…Deadline is July 1st 2012!

Canyoneering gear giveaway rules:
1. Canyoneers may complete as many Accident/Near Miss/Epic questionnaires as they like…please only submit incidents you witnessed or were involved in.
2. Surveys must be completed to be considered an entry.
3. Deadline for Survey completion is 11:59 PM July 1st 2012.
4. A random list of winners will be drawn from all entries. The first person selected will have their choice of any of the prizes. Second person selected will have their choice of any of the remaining prizes and so on til all prizes are awarded.
5. Only one prize per person.
6. Your chances of winning increase with the number of surveys completed.
7. Names will remain confidential…they will not be included in the Accident/Near Miss/Epic database

Thanks for helping to build this data base and for providing insights into canyoneering accidents!

Zion Milkvetch in bloom. Photo: Tom Jones

Went up Angels Landing twice this last week, so I thought I’d report on how spring is coming along in Zion Canyon.

From a bloom point of view, things are getting ready to start. A few plants are currently flowering, but not too many. On the lower switchbacks, I saw a few flowers including:

• Zion Milkvetch (purple pea-type flowers, low to the ground, most prominent flower at the moment)

• Western Wallflower (cluster of yellow, four-petaled flowers, mostly isolated individuals, some in clumps, second-most prominent at the moment)

• Slickrock Paintbrush (red paintbrush, close to the ground. A few here and there)

• Yellow sweet clover (I think. Spreading leaves, small yellow flowers pea-like)

Driving, on the side of the road near the Museum, there was:

• Cliffrose (flowering bush, LOTs of white blooms. Very strong “rose” smell).

Then it snowed on Sunday evening, so…

Tom

Ah, the Zion shuttle. It’s there when we need it, it goes away when we don’t. Some things in life are just right.

This time of year is always a good showcase for why the Zion Shuttle System exists. With warmer weather and lots of families traveling over Spring Break season, the parking lots that sit largely empty all winter are filling up quickly and the drive up and down Zion Canyon is becoming more congested. Want to ride your bike up canyon? On a busy Spring Break week, it’s really not too fun because all the traffic makes me nervous. But when the shuttle returns for the season… Voila! Zion Canyon is peaceful again, with nobody fighting for parking spaces and lots of smiling pedalers on the roads. Enjoy!

A shuttle bus below The Watchman

Shuttle System Resumes Operation in Zion

Date: March 20, 2012
Contact: David Eaker, 435-772-7811

The Zion National Park Transportation System will begin shuttle operations on Sunday, April 1, 2012 and provide daily service through Sunday, October 28, 2012. This marks the thirteenth year of operation for the shuttle system in Zion National Park and Springdale, Utah. The shuttle system is supported by park entrance fees and all shuttles are fare-free. Parks Transportation, Inc., a subsidiary of McDonald Transit of Fort Worth, Texas, operates the shuttle service.

The shuttle system services nine shuttle stops in the town of Springdale and nine shuttle stops inside the park. The Zion Canyon Shuttle provides improved access to points of interest, trailheads, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, and facilities such as the Zion Lodge and Zion Human History Museum. While the shuttle system is in operation, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles. Confirmed guests at the Zion Lodge may drive to the lodge, but cannot travel past the lodge or make any stops along the way. All other roads in the park are open to private vehicles, including the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway which connects to State Route 9 at the south and east entrances of the park.

This spring, daily shuttle operations begin with a shuttle departing from the Majestic View Shuttle Stop in Springdale at 6:40 am. Shuttle service in Zion Canyon starts at 7:00 am from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Shuttle Stop. The last shuttle traveling up canyon from the visitor center will depart at 8:45 pm and the last shuttle traveling into town will depart from the Zion Canyon Theatre Shuttle Stop at 8:45 pm. Hours of operation will expand starting Sunday, May 20, 2012. Shuttles depart from designated stops every seven to ten minutes during the middle of the day and approximately every 15 to 30 minutes in the early morning and late evening.

Visitors are encouraged to park in designated parking areas in Springdale and ride the Springdale Shuttle to the park’s Pedestrian Entrance. Visitors can board the Zion Canyon Shuttle at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Shuttle Stop. Open daily, the Zion Canyon Visitor Center offers park information, backcountry permits, reservations for the Zion Lodge, and a bookstore which sells maps, books, and other items that may enhance a visit to the park.

For additional information, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/zion or call 435-772-3256.

Coming to Zion? You’ll need food. Don’t want to eat out all the time? You’ll need groceries. But sometimes groceries can be hard to find, so we’re here to help with the Ultimate Grocery Guide for Zion Goers. It’s not the sexiest topic, but it looks better the hungrier you get!

SPRINGDALE
Let’s start local. If you don’t want to bother stopping on the way to Zion, the local Sol Foods Market has you covered. Sol Foods has TWO locations in Springdale, the Downtown Supermarket and the Park Market and Restaurant near the Park entrance.The Downtown Supermarket is a full-service grocery store, complete with produce, deli, frozen foods, beer, and even DVD rentals. The Park Market caters more to hikers and campground residents; it has less conventional grocery selection, and more in the way of snacks, to-go beverages, and camping supplies. Park Market also features a self-serve restaurant (here’s the menu) with beautiful patio seating.

The Sol Foods Downtown Market produce department in Springdale

Though Sol Foods has the local grocery market cornered, they are not your typical small-town lazy grocer. Sol Foods is really great about accommodating modern, health-aware diets with organic, gourmet, gluten-free, and other healthy options. In fact, Sol Foods has better health food options than some (but not all) of the big grocery stores in Hurricane and St. George.

Expect to pay higher prices at Sol Foods than the big box stores elsewhere however, as high rents, seasonal traffic, and increased delivery rates raise overhead for any small-town grocer. You might feel like you’re being gouged as a tourist without choices, but consider the convenience of saving a 30+ minute drive… the fuel cost alone makes up the difference, let alone the time and hassle.

The outdoor patio behind Sol Foods Park Market in Springdale

LA VERKIN
The next-closest grocer is the Farmer’s Market, “down the hill” in La Verkin. The Farmer’s Market has most  products you expect from a conventional grocery store, but carries limited organic and free trade items and is somewhat expensive. Farmer’s Market has the closest pharmacy and RedBox (automated video rental) to Springdale/Zion. Of note, Famer’s Market is CLOSED on Sunday. They usually have some weekly coupons to check out.

HURRICANE
8 more driving minutes from Farmer’s Market is Lin’s Market in Hurricane. Lin’s is a good bet for getting everything you need without spending too much money. It is 30 minutes from Zion, offers good sales and discounts, and offers great selection, including local and organic goods. Lin’s posts all their weekly coupons online.

Dixie Nutrition, also in Hurricane, carries all sorts of natural products, like soaps, oils, medicines, and specialty foods (i.e. gluten-free, raw, organic, bulk, etc.). If you are looking for a specialty health grocer, Dixie is the place.

Just outside Hurricane is a SUPER Walmart, which has all the things you expect to find at Walmarts across the country, plus sweatshirts with the word “Zions” printed across the front. What more could you want in a shopping experience?

Interactive Google map of Zion-Area Grocery Stores, from Las Vegas to Springdale

ST. GEORGE
For groceries, St. George has it all. Of the conventional supermarkets, I recommend Harmon’s, a really nice store with consistently reliable produce and a superior deli department. You can find another Dixie Nutrition in St. George, as well as Natural Grocer, and the grocery behemoth, CostCo.

Driving to St. George from Zion takes 50 – 60 minutes, and a trip to “the George” tends to be most worthwhile when combined with a visit to the Snow Canyon State Park, the Deseret Industries thrift store, Ah’sya Vietnamese restaurant, the skate park, the movie theatre, or whatever else you can find for entertainment. Anyone coming up to Zion from Vegas will pass through St. George, so it is a convenient place to stock up if you zipped out of Vegas.

CEDAR CITY
Cedar City offers up a number of large-scale grocers, including Albertson’s, Smiths, Walmart, and Lin’s. Personally, I like Lin’s best, although I find their Hurricane location more appealing. If going into downtown Cedar City (which is very nice) is too far off the highway for you, you might find Albertson’s easier to reach.

LAS VEGAS
It’s not too difficult to find a grocery store in the enormous metropolis of Las Vegas, but for those wishing to stock up on specialty foods or ingredients, Las Vegas might be the last chance until the return flight home. If you are one of those folks looking for specialty or health food items, you might check out Trader Joe’s (fairly close to the airport, just north of Sahara & Decatur), Whole Foods (really close to the airport, just south of the main Strip), or the interesting and original International Market (just south of Tropicana and Decatur). International Market is worth a visit, if only to browse the huge variety of foods they carry from around the world.

RECOMMENDATIONS?
If YOU have a favorite place to do your grocery shopping en route to Zion, or if you have a particularly striking experience at one of the above stores, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment!

Tom Jones announced earlier this year that he is beginning work on the second edition of Zion: Canyoneering, his guidebook to Zion’s most popular hikes and technical canyons. As winter’s snow comes (like this last weekend) and goes (it is generally disappearing quickly), most canyoneers will be dusting off their operating gear AND their canyoneering guidebooks and getting back into the slots. So I wanted to remind you when you read something in the guidebook that doesn’t seem to match reality, you have a fabulous opportunity to DO something about it. Write the author! Here’s Tom’s invitation:

I’m starting work on a second edition of the Zion: Canyoneering book, and would appreciate comments, corrections and suggestions. Please be as specific as possible, when talking about something specific, but comments in general are also appreciated.

Expected release is Feb 2013, so there is a bit of time. I will be soliciting photos around Sept 1st, if’n you want to get your best shots lined up for submission.

You can email me directly or post here in the comments. Thanks!

Tom

Still from Dan Ransom's documentary film, "Last of the Great Unknown"

Last week, I posted the trailer for Dan Ransom’s new documentary film, “Last of the Great Unknown,” and promised to post when the premiere was announced. Ransom has decided to premiere the film April 24th in Phoenix, AZ, in honor of the late Ioana Elise Hociota. Hociaota died tragically in an accident deep in the Grand Canyon in February, and proceeds from the premiere will fund a ASU scholarship endowment in her name. You can find all the details at the film website. If you can make it, get out to support the film, the scholarship fund, and the memory of a spirited adventurer… it promises to be a memorable event and an impressive film.

The book from Sagebrush Press

Z-Arts!, Zion Canyon’s very own arts and humanities council, is hosting an author event and book signing next week on one of our favorite scenic roads, U.S. Highway 89. Here the Z-Arts! press release:

U.S. Highway 89: The Scenic Route to Seven Western National Parks documents seven of America’s favorite national parks, hometown events and quirky roadside attractions linked by U.S. 89. Scenic Highway 89 traces the stories of legendary trappers, missionaries and homesteaders. Widened in the Roaring Twenties to satisfy America’s motoring enthusiasts, but bypassed by modern interstates, the 1,600 mile route from Canada to Mexico retains its back-roads charm. From Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, beauty queens to working cowboys, the real character of the American west, however, rests in its people who are redefining the western mystique into lifestyles that meld traditional heritage with 21st century realities.

This book bridges across well-established audiences for travelogues, travel photography, road-trip mystique and western lore and automotive history. This book will also interest aficionados of a particular region, like Greater Yellowstone, anchoring their favorite destinations in a larger transect of the American West.

Salt Lake City writer and photographer Ann Torrence drove over 15,000 miles to research and photograph U.S. Highway 89. Her documentary style explores the interplay of the human element and landscape; transformations of culture–what is kept, lost, and reinvented; and the iconography of the American West. U.S. Highway 89 is her first book.

Shelley called the Park this morning and confirmed a rumor that the Bottom-Up Hiking limit for the Zion Narrows has been raised to 150 CFS. Woohoo! That’s a big deal! But what does that mean, exactly?

Until the early 2000s, The Narrows was ALWAYS open, making it a do-at-your-own-risk activity: You looked at the river, maybe you got some advice from the rangers, and then you decided to hike or not. About ten years ago, however, the Park’s lawyers decided the liability of this policy was too great, and ZNP should take measures to protect unwitting Narrows hikers. The Park implemented a system that uses Virgin River water volume (measured in cubic feet per second (CFS)) to determine whether the Zion Narrows is open to hiking or not. The Park set the Top-Down limit at 120 CFS, and the Bottom-Down limit at 140 CFS; if the current CFS is ABOVE the limit any time in the last 24 hours, the hikes are closed accordingly.

Lovely green water in The Narrows

The upside of this closure system is very few people enter The Narrows when it is unsafe. The downside, however, is The Narrows is closed at levels where athletic hikers could have a lot of fun enjoying more challenging water levels. Also, when The Narrows is closed, it means all technical canyons flowing into The Narrows – Mystery, Imlay, Englestead, and Orderville – are also effectively closed to canyoneering descents.

Although most people can probably agree The Narrows should probably be closed at some level, there has been much debate and disagreement over years regarding whether 140 CFS is the *right* level. It’s great to see the Park display some flexibility here, raising the CFS bar to 150 after many years without high-water-related Narrows hiking incidents. Could the limit go up another 10 CFS in ten years, if incidents remain as low? Maybe, but for now we’ll just be thankful for the recent change. It literally means 100 – 5,000 people each year (depending on conditions) get to see The Narrows, which is a beautiful thing.

Virgin River volume sits at 107 CFS at this moment, but last night it spiked to around 140 CFS, and the river is on the rise as snow melts off the Markagunt Plateau, flowing into the Virgin River. If temperatures stay warm, snowmelt will likely close Narrows hiking this weekend, and the River will remain closed until snowmelt dissipates later this spring. Sometimes The Narrows is only closed for a few weeks, while other years it’s closed for months. It looks like a GOOD year this year, however, so watch the CFS levels and plan your Narrows hike accordingly this spring.

ZAC Staff Visiting the Narrows!

New Team Members Rob W. and Vanessa B. on a Canyon Training Day

On March 1st, thirteen fantastic NEW staff members descended upon the Zion Adventure Company loft to begin their lives here in Zion as new ZAC team members. Over the past two weeks, these individuals have morphed into an amazingly cohesive team as they have explored Zion National Park and their roles here at ZAC. Our new team members come from an impressive variety of backgrounds and locations, from New York and Washington State to the Czech Republic!

If you’re in town anytime soon, stop into the shop and meet some of the new staff. Ask them lots of questions about the Park, the Zion Narrows, or our guided trips… you might be surprised at how much they already know. If you are a long-time Zion visitor, feel free to share any hints and secrets you might have learned from our staff in the past. We give them everything we’ve got, but our clients are always our best teachers!

Though Zion National Park staff is still at low-season numbers, the Park has put together a series of programs specifically tailored to kids for Spring Break. If you’re in Zion this week with your kids, check out any (or all) of the three special programs.

A ZNP ranger teaches kids along the Riverside Walk

Canvas of Cliffs
Monday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 14
9:30 – 11:30 AM
Meet at Big Bend Shuttle Stop
Search for peregrine falcons, condors, and climbers and discover their stories

Pool Pondering
Tuesday, March 13, Thursday, March 15, and Friday, March 16
9:30 -11:30 AM
Meet at Emerald Pools Trailhead
Uncover unique plant and animal secrets.

Stellar Storytellers
Monday, March 12 and Thursday, March 15
3:00 – 3:30 PM
Meet at the Zion Human History Museum
Listen to fun and adventurous stories.