We got up early at 4 a.m. and traveled from St. George to Zion’s National Park to catch a shuttle (6 a.m.). It took us through the park and tunnels, and over a winding dirt road into the back country and dropped us off at Chamberlain Ranch (7:30 a.m). We began our hike here.
The first 2-3 miles was walking down a 4x4 trail, similar to what we have hiked before near Morgan. It was mostly a gradual downhill. Then we entered the Virgin River bed, and descended into the canyons. We didn’t hike in the water all the time, mainly crossing from side to side to stay out of it when possible. The hike for me, was great for the 1st half. The scenery was beautiful, and the canyons spectacular. I wasn’t tired or sore, and it was quite the adventure. On the map, it kept referring to “The First Narrows”, and as we got into “narrow” canyons, we thought this was it!! Except as we went further, they kept getting narrower and steeper, and so we didn’t know for sure where “The First Narrows” were exactly.
There was evidence of previous flash flooding, with huge boulders and trees strewn everywhere. We were taking pictures right and left. When we finally came to the “waterfall” we could then know for sure where we were on the “map”. We had gone approximately 7 miles and were into our hike about 4-5 hours. It was really spectacular, and in some parts, eerie, solemn, and almost oppressive. There were parts here in “The First Narrows” that no “high” ground could be found, but the sky was bright and sunny, and there were no worries.
About 1 mile after the waterfall, we came to a place where “Deep Creek” joined with the Virgin River. It joined from the north, and about doubled the size of the water that we were walking through. (It was just up to mid calf) From this point on, the hiking became more difficult for me. The bottom of the river and the sides between the river and the canyon walls were covered with bowling ball sized rocks, with NO space or flat ground in between. You basically stepped from rock to rock, and in the river it was very slippery. The walking sticks we brought were life savers, literally.
We started passing over-night campground spots for those who would be making it a 2-day hike, and then it started raining. To me, the rain was coming down quite a bit, and all I could picture in my mind, was mesas and canyons for miles around behind us, draining off the rain water, and filling up the canyons, joining together, until they made a mass of boiling flash flood waters which would come down behind us, and devour us in the Real Narrows up ahead. By the time we reached “Big Springs”, just before entering the “Real Narrows” I had myself worked up into quite a panic, which I kept inside of me, except for sharing my concerns with a few of the other hikers, which were not concerned at all.
I guess it was my Grandma Dickson coming out in me, but unfortunately, this panic, and feeling of dread and worry completely consumed me, and basically ruined the rest of the trip down the Narrows for me. I was sure we were about to be caught and bashed against the rocks and drowned by flash flood waters. I took off at a fast pace (for me) for a little while, just praying that we would get through the canyons before it over took us. After awhile I was quite exhausted, and resigned myself to dying. I thought a lot about my family, and how they would feel without me, and how sorry I was that I had ever come on this stupid trip.
The canyon walls were 1000’s of feet high on either side, but I had to keep my eyes directly in front of me, looking to where I would put my feet next, so I didn’t look up very much. There were a couple of places where we had to wade through pools that were waist and chest high, and these were actually enjoyable because the bottoms were sandy, and gave our feet a rest from those miserable “bowling ball” rocks. We finally made it out of the canyons, which seemed to go on forever and ever. It had to be at least 20 miles of hiking in all. My feet and legs were killing me, and it was the most physically challenging, exhausting thing I have ever put my body through. When we finally made it to the last corner, there was a rock wall built into the side of the canyon, and I just about cried in relief.
We sat for a few minutes, and then walked very gingerly down a beautiful cement walkway that was flat and smooth, and just made you want to kneel down and kiss it. We walked another mile to the shuttle, and then collapsed into the shuttle chair. All in all it took us about 12 or 12 ½ hours. It was at this point in talking with other passengers on the shuttle, that we heard for the first time, of the horrible “Attack on America”.
We were shocked, and horrified at what we heard – Two planes striking the twin towers of the World Trade Center, another hitting the Pentagon, and another crashing into a field in Pennsylvania. At that time, they were estimating 50,000 were killed.After we got back to our cars, we drove to the condo, ordered pizza, and watched the television coverage of this horrible event. It was hard to believe that the horrible pain and suffering and death had occurred to so many people, while we were enjoying?? ourselves in the Narrows of Zion Canyon. It made my worry and fear in the canyons seem like next to nothing. More than anything I just wanted to get home to my family in Morgan.
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