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mikeehartley
May 10, 2005, 8:12 PM
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I'm heading to Zion next week and hope to be on a wall by Tuesday. Anyone know what its like crossing the rio these days? Thanks.
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fernregan
May 10, 2005, 8:43 PM
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I was there last week (5/5 ish). The river is running high and strong. I don't know proper lingo, but I do know numbers. According to the shuttle driver the river usually flows at 300 cubic whatevers. Last week is was at 1400 cubic whatevers. Since October, Zion has received 27 inches of rain... that's 2x more than they usually get in an entire year. It rained the entire time we were there, we even got snowed on. The park service is restricting passage to the Narrows until atleast July.
To sum it up: the river is muddy and swift.
at times like this i wish i was a paddler.
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flhoodoo
May 10, 2005, 9:15 PM
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Ah yes, the mighty Virgin. As of 2:30 today (May 10), the river was flowing at 1340 cubic feet per second (I believe "cubic whatevers" is the scientific term). Usually crossing the river when it is at 30-100 cfs gets your ankles or shins wet. Some folks are getting to routes by hiking the bank of the river after crossing the bridge at the beginning of the Angel's Landing trail. Don't expect the river to calm down anytime soon. The headwaters of the mighty Virgin are still covered by at least 6 feet of snow (expecting 2 inches tonight). In short, crossing the river could be easier.
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mikeehartley
May 11, 2005, 12:40 AM
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Hey thanks for the update. Looks like I'll be packing my inflatable kayak and using it for the "shuttle". I was hoping to leave it behind...
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addiroids
May 11, 2005, 12:55 AM
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We did lunar during april when it was flowing like a mofo. The water was up to our crotch and swift. But we made it and didn't get wet. I would wade that sh!t if it was up to my waist, but over that it might wash you out. Here's a little trick:
You are doing a wall already right? So you have a bunch of heavy sh!t. Why not just take a pair of crappy tennis shoes for the crossing? You could even take a towel (or jacket) and some fresh boxers if it is really bad. Just be careful of the camera or anything else. But our pants got soaked but they dried out by the time we departed from the moonlight cattle train.
Good luck bro. It isn't that bad, just bring some shoes and you will feel way more stable than bare feet.
TRADitionally yours,
Cali Dirtbag
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dangle
Jun 23, 2005, 5:33 AM
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Update:
the days are now getting shorter and the temps are regularly in triple digits. Things may cool enough to make Prodigal comfortable in late August by which time the river crossing should be way casual.
We may have dodged a bullet on floods after getting hit hard a half year ago.
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texplorer
Jun 30, 2005, 6:23 AM
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As of July 27th the virgin was running at about 2x its normal flow. It looked to be crossable but treacherous.
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dangle
Jun 30, 2005, 1:18 PM
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In reply to: As of July 27th the virgin was running at about 2x its normal flow. It looked to be crossable but treacherous.
Probably wise not to rely on reports from somebody who doesn't even know what month it is.
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yetanotherdave
Jun 30, 2005, 1:49 PM
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In reply to: not really relevant with regard to current conditions, but just for kicks, this was the virgin river in the park at the very end of may:
Any chance you have a desktop-sized version of it around?
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texplorer
Jul 1, 2005, 7:47 AM
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In reply to: In reply to: As of July 27th the virgin was running at about 2x its normal flow. It looked to be crossable but treacherous. Probably wise not to rely on reports from somebody who doesn't even know what month it is.
. . . . or that can see into the future. . . beware the ides of July?
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offwidthclimber
Jul 1, 2005, 7:55 AM
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In reply to: In reply to: not really relevant with regard to current conditions, but just for kicks, this was the virgin river in the park at the very end of may: damn, the top image is awesome! Any chance you have a desktop-sized version of it around?
check your PMs.
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dangle
Jul 1, 2005, 5:15 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: In reply to: As of July 27th the virgin was running at about 2x its normal flow. It looked to be crossable but treacherous. Probably wise not to rely on reports from somebody who doesn't even know what month it is. . . . . or that can see into the future. . . beware the ides of July?
While the month IS named for him it's still the wrong month...
I know the Bard too and prefer Macbeth to Julius Ceasar (which is largely based on Thomas North's 1597 translation of Plutarch, sometimes even plagirized).
Be careful of too much faith in predictions.
"A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound an fury,..."
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