The day after tackling The Subway was a rest day. This particular rest day started with an really early start with me driving Joyce to the Zion National Park visitor centre at 03:00 in the morning. This was so we could make sure we actually had back country passes for Mystery Canyon which was the following day’s hike and has a limit of 12 canyoneerers per day.
We arrived at the centre and Joyce ran off to find the place to queue. I must have dropped straight off to sleep because the next thing I knew was I was being woken up at 05:20 ish by Joyce knocking on the car window. Sarah and Zoë were there and queuing so Joyce drove us back to the Hotel and I went back to bed. We won the permits.
We all got together again later in the day and after looking around the town drove over to Tom Jones’ place. Tom was fantastic to us. He’d already lent ropes and now he was lending us all full length wetsuits. We all had our own shorty suits but apparently a couple of the canyons had very cold water and the last thing you want is hyperthermia half way down a canyon. So I’m going to plug some of Tom’s wares on his behalf.
Tom has written the bible on canyoneering in Zion. Zion: Canyoneering – Tom Jones is a great book which describes and advises on all on-train and off-trail hikes, and technical canyons in and around Zion National Park. He is the expert on activities in the area. He used to work as a designer for Black Diamond but now he runs his own company designing and selling canyoneering equipment some of which is specifically designed for Zion. So if you’re a canyoneer and need equipment please visit Imlay Canyon Gear.
On the way back to Springdale we stopped off to look at the entrance to Pine Creek. This was to be Monday’s canyon. The rest of the day was spend in the hot tub, swimming in the pool, and having dinner.
