Conquering Orderville Canyon

~12 miles, starting at Zion Ponderosa Ranch and winding through to the Virgin River in Zion National Park, Utah. Took ~7 hours including breaks and lunch.

Hiked Orderville Canyon trail with Jay, Cindy, Janet, and a guy named Daniel, who saved our hides. We started out on ranch property, hiked a steep switchback trail down to the canyon, and hiked a dry riverbed for about five or six miles. A trickle of water appeared eventually (spring-fed I think?) and turned into a small river about half the width of Mill Creek. We hiked the remaining six or seven miles through sixty-degree (read: cold) water, sometimes an inch or two deep, sometimes over our heads (!). It was very difficult to navigate over some of the steep boulders, particularly a couple of chokestones which have created dropoffs measuring about fifteen feet. There were a few areas where we had to use webbing to navigate our way down. Our first exporsure to "technical" hiking! It was a bit scary but pretty exhilarating.

In three or four spots we needed to climb or slide down huge boulders into deep water and swim across the deep parts until we could regain our footing. One time I plunged all the way under, after jumping from the two boulders between which I was (very daintily) wedged. We all got thoroughly soaked, as did our packs. Thanks to Daniel's swimming skills, Jay's camera actually survived with only a scrape or two -- no water damage. We were all amazed about that.

Daniel is part of the family who owns Zion Ponderosa. He had hiked this trail nine times already, so he pretty much knew what we were in for around every turn. At the hard parts (like areas that required submersion in water!) he went first so we could see the best way to negotiate the terrain. He also caught us a couple times when the climb down a boulder was especially hard. Without him it would've been, at worst, impossible, and at best, emotionally draining and nerve-rattling, to complete this hike.

Next time I would wear boots intead of my New Balance trail shoes.

High points: Seeing Cindy conquer some of her fear of deep water. Admiring God's artistry and immenseness in the huge rock sculptures, slot canyons, and boulders.

Low point: Slipping on a submerged rock and hammering my right knee pretty hard, at about mile 10. I was getting tired and sloppy.