Trans Zion Trek in January
We arrived at the visitor center and left one vehicle at our ending point, and drove in the other vehicle to Lee's Pass Trailhead and started our hike to our first campsite in the Kolob Canyon. There was some snow around, but the only hindrance affecting us was the muddy conditions of the trail on our initial descent.
After packing up camp we took a look at a arch up a side trail by our campsite that morning. We then made our way up a drainage and then followed a river that crossed back and forth a floodplain. After passing the headwaters of the flowing water we continued on and started to encounter snow as we made our way to Wildcat Canyon.
Leaving Wildcat Canyon the weather continued to be clear although there were some dark clouds in the distance. We set off through increasingly deep snow. Usually the snow was shin height, but occasionally it reached our knees. We made serious miles along the West Rim from sunrise until just before sunset. Towards the end of the day we stopped at a stream for water. Then we pushed on over a couple ridges to our campsite. This third campsite was definitely the coldest outside, but inside our sleeping bags we were warm and dry.
At 3am I woke up to the sound of snow hitting the tent. We had breakfast in the tent, then headed out for our final day on the trail. We passed down through some switchbacks with a lot of exposure to the canyon walls reaching up above us. As we descended a clump of rocks and snow feel on to the path behind us. Our final ascent of the trip was up Angels Landing. We then descended to the valley floor along a series of switchbacks and arrived at the vehicle to stashed at the trail head we ended at.
The snow we encountered turned what would have been a series of easy half day hikes for us into increasingly grueling trail as we rose in altitude to the West Rim. Teaming up with my friend Morgane and sharing the highs and lows as we made our way across Zion is what made the experience a success.
We arrived at the visitor center and left one vehicle at our ending point, and drove in the other vehicle to Lee's Pass Trailhead and started our hike to our first campsite in the Kolob Canyon. There was some snow around, but the only hindrance affecting us was the muddy conditions of the trail on our initial descent.After packing up camp we took a look at a arch up a side trail by our campsite that morning. We then made our way up a drainage and then followed a river that crossed back and forth a floodplain. After passing the headwaters of the flowing water we continued on and started to encounter snow as we made our way to Wildcat Canyon.
At 3am I woke up to the sound of snow hitting the tent. We had breakfast in the tent, then headed out for our final day on the trail. We passed down through some switchbacks with a lot of exposure to the canyon walls reaching up above us. As we descended a clump of rocks and snow feel on to the path behind us. Our final ascent of the trip was up Angels Landing. We then descended to the valley floor along a series of switchbacks and arrived at the vehicle to stashed at the trail head we ended at.
The snow we encountered turned what would have been a series of easy half day hikes for us into increasingly grueling trail as we rose in altitude to the West Rim. Teaming up with my friend Morgane and sharing the highs and lows as we made our way across Zion is what made the experience a success.
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