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Zion - river predictions?

Original Post
Andy Laakmann · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,990

After a fun time on Moonlight last fall with my wife, we're headed back to Zion for two weeks in April with the plan to tick both free and aid routes.

Considering the wet southern flow this year, I'm guessing the Virgin River is going to rage in April, yes? How long is the hike up river to the Organism, Prodigal Sun, and Moonlight Buttress area?

Bobby Hanson · · Spokane, WA · Joined Oct 2001 · Points: 1,230

Probably. This was March last year:

Crossing the cold cold Virgin River.

It was pretty swift then. If you approach from the bridge, I think it is a couple of miles.

You should check with the visitors' center about possible route closures. If I remember correctly, I heard that Organism and Prodigal Sun are closed (pretty much everything on Angel's Landing), and Moonlight Buttress is open.

Caleb Padgett · · Rockville, utah · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 85

Yes the mighty Dirty Virgin will run high this year. We are close to 200% snowpack and they are predicting it flowing above 600 cfs for a while. The river crossing is pretty reasonable til 300 cfs. Check the flows before you go, here is the link to the town gauge wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapCl…

The hike around is not that bad. A little bushwacking at parts, especially the section when you cut off the west rim trail and start to parralell the river. It take about an hour or so of flat hiking. have fun

Andy Laakmann · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,990

Gee, my wife didn't like it at 70 cfs... no way in HELL I'm getting her across that at 300 cfs :)

An hour isn't bad.... is that to Moonlight?...... anyone have opinions of Sheer Lunacy or Lunar X?

John McNamee · · Littleton, CO · Joined Jul 2002 · Points: 1,690

Andy,

The walk from the bridge is a real pain in the neck if you haven't done it before. Try to scout it the day before to sort the route out or you will end up going up and down following animal trails and wasting a lot of energy.

If you get on the right route it is pretty straightforward and will take about 40 to get to the track that goes up to PS and an hour to ML. There are lots of fresh trails below PS due to the accident last year so make sure you are on the right track. The track is marked by a Post and the trails goes towards moonlight to get over a rock band and then traverses back to PS.

The river in mid to late April can be problematic to cross. If you cross it where the river is braided it will be easier. However, crossing with a haul bag is quite different. I'd done multiple trips across the river instead of carrying a heavy load. I've also seem several parties swimming in the river with their loads in spring time.

Use this link to check the actual water flows.

waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/…

Mid to late April often its like a switch turning and overnight it goes from 100 to 300. I'm okay up to 200 but after that I take the long way around. Its a pain if you fixing but really no big deal. People often cross when it is 300 or so but its tough with gear.

Let me know if you need any rack info.

Cheers

John

Andy Laakmann · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,990

Thanks John.

Um, swim across? My wife tiptoed across when it was a trickle.... swimming is most certainly out of the question.

She did - in all seriousness - ask about a kmart raft yesterday. I just shook my head. I can see the headlines already.....

Anyone have suggestions for another route besides Spaceshot or Touchstone... ideally we'd want to avoid the crowds, hence the goal. We plan to do this new Smoot route: Cracking the Emerald which looks mellow and fun.

We'll be doing alot of the free classics - but are still looking for at least one overnight wall.

Mike Anderson · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Nov 2004 · Points: 3,265

Another Smoot route, Crack in the Cosmic Egg is supposedly stellar. Desert Shield is also an option but has some mandatory free climbing I believe. Tricks of the Trade is awesome, but it's probably closed now.

Piton Ron · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 0

Uh,.... I haven't seen anyone mention that the river flow not only fluctuates seasonally as well as responding to precipitation, but that it also responds to,.....sun!

Many a failed Moonlighter (and in the old days Prodigal Sunners) have returned to the river at the end of the day only to find it MUCH higher!!

We have another El Nino heavy snowpack this year. A warm spring day can have unforseen ramifications,...

Andy Laakmann · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,990
Mike Anderson wrote:Another Smoot route, Crack in the Cosmic Egg is supposedly stellar.
Crack in the Cosmic Egg looks great, but what's up with the spicy C2+ move on P1... chance of a ground fall?
Lydia · · Austin · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 10
Andy Laakmann wrote: Crack in the Cosmic Egg looks great, but what's up with the spicy C2+ move on P1... chance of a ground fall?
Yeah, it's spicy -- you have a chance of ground fall. My partner drew the lead on that pitch and I can't say I fought him for it.
Andy Laakmann · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,990
Lydia wrote: Yeah, it's spicy -- you have a chance of ground fall. My partner drew the lead on that pitch and I can't say I fought him for it.
I'm too old for groundfalls :) Bummer though, the rest of the route looks perfect.
Lydia · · Austin · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 10
Andy Laakmann wrote: I'm too old for groundfalls :) Bummer though, the rest of the route looks perfect.
Interesting route, for sure. I think there were moves that were equally as hard as the opening ones further up the route, but there you don't have the ground fall issue...
John McNamee · · Littleton, CO · Joined Jul 2002 · Points: 1,690

Use a red alien for the insecure move.

Andy Laakmann · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,990
Lydia wrote: Interesting route, for sure. I think there were moves that were equally as hard as the opening ones further up the route, but there you don't have the ground fall issue...
I don't mind hard moves... I just mind hard moves that hit the ground :)
Lydia · · Austin · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 10
Andy Laakmann wrote: I don't mind hard moves... I just mind hard moves that hit the ground :)
Hahaha -- yeah, like I said, I wasn't sad that I drew the "even" pitches on that route to lead. But it's a cool route, relatively straightforward approach (no river crossing), and a cool view of the park.

If you decide you want more info about the route, I can send along some photos, pitches descriptions, etc. Have a fun trip!
Anonymous Spraying Account · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 0

RE: K-mart raft...

I've thought about getting a packraft for the occasional wet approach.

Well, really just another toy, actually. :) So I've held off for now.

But they are awesome: light, fit in a backpack, and can carry you + backpack down/across a river with minimal fuss.

alpackaraft.com/

Edit to add this link to an awesome TR:

electricant.net/grundyman/n…

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 21,711
Anonymous Spraying Account wrote:RE: K-mart raft... I've thought about getting a packraft for the occasional wet approach.
From the Zion NPS website:

"Watercraft use in the park requires a backcountry permit. Permits are issued when the river is flowing in excess of 140 cubic feet per second."

Note that innertubes are prohibited. If you kiddie raft looks like an innertube...well...

Cheers.
Tea · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 223

Check closures...I think Cosmic Egg all the way through Angels Landing are closed right now for Zion chicken nesting?? A friend was bullhorned off Angel's last week, unaware of the closure.

Andy Laakmann · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,990

Well, if this is accurate:

nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/…

CCE is open? Just the main face of Angel's Landing appears closed.

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 21,711

Yep. No closure on Mt. Moroni.

They're pretty good about re-opening cliffs, too. When the nesting pairs settle in, then they open up terrain. Seem to pay fairly close attention to it.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern Utah Deserts
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