We’d been looking forward with some trepidation to this hike. Last time we were here in April 2008, it wasn’t possible because the currents were too strong and water levels too high. The Narrows at Zion National Park is not a hike in the traditional sense because it involves wading in the Virgin River virtually the entire length (save for a few sandbars here and there), in spots chest-deep. Most people do The Narrows in summertime when it’s a lot warmer. The intense Southwest heat gets considerably tempered by the water and high canyon walls that don’t admit as much sunshine.
Today, we finally got to hike The Narrows. First, we rented equipment from a local outfitter in Springdale, which included wooden hiking poles, waterproof boots and neoprene socks. The day didn’t start off so promisingly. A light drizzle was beginning to fall. Sucking it up, we decided to go ahead. The first step into the river took some adjustment, getting our feet entirely wet since the shoes and socks would do little to keep water out. The next mental and physical adjustment was getting used to walking on smooth, slippery rocks, most bigger than your feet, which meant that often we were struggling to keep our ankles straight. Hiking poles helped. I was certain that even the light precipitation overhead was accumulating in the river with thin sheets of water cascading down the canyon walls to raise the water level and boost the power of the current.
After we hiked a short distance upriver, we confronted our first test. A large depression in the river, like a bowl, made the water a lot deeper so that we had to wade chest-deep to get to the other side. At this point, you have to lift your belongings up in the air to keep them above water level, all the while maneuvering against the current. Oh, to be a little taller.
Most people hike to an area called Wall Street which is the deepest slot canyon in the world. Our attempt to reach Wall Street was thwarted by constant heavy drizzle which chilled us to the bone, almost to the point of hypothermia. We would have gone on if not for my wife’s sore ankle and my sore knee. Our lack of conditioning took its toll. We decided to turn back and had to retrace our steps in mild pain. The hike was definitely an experience.
The weather was much better on the following day (sunny with few clouds) so we thought it might have been better to have taken the hike then. But, we learned from a cashier in the Zion Lodge gift shop that, because of yesterday’s rains, the water level was higher and the flow rate stronger. Bottom line: you can never predict hiking conditions just by looking at the weather.
Word to the wise. Keep your electronics in a waterproof bag. I rented one from the outfitter. Dutifully, I took it out as needed when snapping photographs and put it back in when done. As you can imagine, this removes photographic spontaneity. At one point, I decided to chance it by hooking the camera strap over my neck and under one arm and proceeded to wade across the river. Bad idea. I slipped backward and the camera got submerged, though briefly. I yanked it out and hoped for the best. I wound up having to send the camera in for repairs. Human error like this is not covered under warranty. I repeat, keep electronics in a waterproof bag.
Check out this YouTube video of the Narrows hike (photographed by Amazing Places on Our Planet) taken only three weeks after ours. The water appears to be a lot calmer than when we went. Makes me envious.
zoomeboshi 
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