Zion National Park

This is my favorite hike of all times.  After hiking just about everything in Zion and nearby and doing this one several times using different ways in and out, I can say without a doubt that Parunuweap is my favorite hike!

After having done the entire river from near Mineral Gulch all the
way to Springdale in about 1991 with a group of young Boy Scouts, and
then hiking to Labrynth Falls yesterday, I would recommend this hike
to anyone who is fit!

I remember that the whole 25 mile day done in 1991 was a rush job and
yesterday being very casual, was much more enabling. Had we had rope
we would have ventured “underneath” Labrynth, but it becomes a bit
dicey beyond the top of Labrynth..

I do recall several archaelogical sites that we briefly encountered
below the falls in 1991, and due to timing didn’t have much time to
really absorb their magnitude.

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend the hike from Checkerboard Mesa to
Labrynth Falls! Even if I say that the “Parunuweap Narrows” are
better than the VRG Narrows in Zion, it wouldn’t matter because one
has to work hard to view them. The remote feeling, the beauty and the
rarely visited area is the best by far, in and around Zion. Not that
I’ve seen them all, but I’ve seen a fair portion, and maybe I’m
biased, but yesterday, a holiday weekend, we saw not a nary person
except some sunflower seed hulls the entire day. To me….thats what
makes a day……One million visitors….not in the East Fork!

 – Bo

 I decided to “Do It” yesterday on sort of an impulse
and knowing that the weather would be too hot after May 12th.
I started headlamping at 3:05AM from Lee Pass with the intention of
jogging at least 10-15 miles of the hike. Immediately my left knee
said that jogging would be very limited. I wanted to do the entire
Zion Crossing unsupported (no food, water, clothing drops) and carry
everything on my back . I did it sort of! I took on 1.5 quarts of
water at the grotto at mile 37 and I also had my best hiking partner
Tanya pick me up at the East Entrance to give me a ride back to my
Pathfinder at Lee Pass. I also was shooting to get the entire hike
done in 14 hours or less……almost made it!

I made good time thru La Verkin Creek and up into Hop Valley, but got
my feet wet in Hop Valley which I wanted to avoid. I headlamped until
6AM. Nonetheless I made it to the Hop Valley TH at 7:07AM. Not
bothering to change socks or even stop at all, I continued on to
Wildcat Canyon Trail and passed West Rim TH at 9:35 AM and decided
that my first stop would be at 7 hours of hiking. I made it down the
West Rim a couple miles before taking a break at 10:05 AM. Should
have seen the faces of the hikers I passed that saw me with cold
weather attire (temps up past 80 by this time) and a headlamp on!
They must have thought I was totally screwed up! (many think I am
anyway!) Took 15 minutes to change socks, ingest some nutrients, shed
a layer or two and back on the trail at 10:20AM. Made it to West Rim
Spring at Noon and made my way down to The Grotto. Got there just as
Tanya and Chris Hansen pulled up in a shuttle to meet me at 1:25 PM.
Took a moment to change socks, add 1.5 quarts of water to my bladder
and Chris asked if he could hike the last 11 miles with me?
Absolutely! I was hammered and needed the moral support. My feet were
screaming bloody murder, Tanya said “Bo take care of that quarter
size blister on your left heel”. I didn’t even know it existed. The
bottoms of my feet were on fire. 90+ degree temps were brutal. 11
miles to go. I mustered what I had left in reserves (and powergels)
and slogged every painful inch up. When I got to Stave Spring the
adrenaline took over. I was almost done and my pace got back to
normal knowing I would complete my 3rd “FFF”. I made it to the smile
and encouragement of Tanya waiting in the Rover at 5:30 PM, just 25
minutes short of my goal of 14 hours or less. Oh well! Another day.

The heat was brutal! Hope you other FFF’ers can find some cool
weather as it really makes a difference! Good luck and have fun!

Bo