A Hit and A Miss

Thursday, September 5
Day Off

We did two hikes in Zion today--Shelf Canyon, the 'hit,' and middle Pine Creek, the 'miss.'

The Hit

Shelf Canyon is a pretty little wash just east of the long tunnel on Route 9.  It's possible to travel about half a mile by ascending broad ledges (shelves) before encountering a jumble of large boulders blocking the narrow passage.  It was fun to scramble up, over, around and through the obstacles and to watch the towering sandstone cliffs change color as the morning sunlight struck them.

Although parking can be a problem because all the tourists want to 'do' Canyon Overlook, this trail is virtually unknown.  We had a delightful 45-minute jaunt in a beautiful little canyon all to ourselves.

 

 

 

 

The Miss

 

The Pine Creek trail system is divided into three sections.  Upper Pine Creek is an easy, pleasant southerly wash that turns west at the creek's junction with Route 9, just east of the long tunnel.  Middle Pine Creek is a difficult, technical slot (permit required) which parallels the tunnel and switchbacks.  This portion ends at the third switchback from the west end of the tunnel, where the Lower Pine Creek section begins. 

 

Since we'd previously hiked from the Pine Creek bridge to the waterfall, we decided to tackle the upstream segment to the pools beneath the Great Arch.  To begin, we slip-slid down a precipitous bank from the parking area at the third switchback to the creek then headed north.  We quickly found that there is no trail.  One scans the landscape and tries to discern the best path forward.  Progress involved a great deal of rock-hopping, creek-crossing, boulder-climbing, bush-whacking and did I mention the bentonite clay?  When that stuff gets wet, walking on it is like trying to roller-skate on greased glass!  Adding to the challenges of following the creek, was the heat--Zion was forecast to reach 101*.  At lunch we agreed that neither the surrounding hillsides nor the creek had beauty sufficient to warrant continuing.  Lucky for us we discovered a quicker though steeper path up to the parking lot, turned on the Jeep's A/C full-blast and took off for Kanab.

 

 View of Tunnel Windows from Pine Creek
 

 Great Arch
 



 Rocks and More Rocks

 

After a quick dinner, we hurried into town for DocUtah, a free three-evening documentary film festival.  In a rush to be on time and forgetting that in Kanab any stipulated time is understood to be followed by -ish, we locked both sets of keys in the car.  The extra key was in the RV and both keys to the RV were...locked in the Jeep.  The only bright spot was the car repair shop across the street from the theater was still open.    Twenty minutes and twenty-five dollars later, we strolled inside, keys in hand, and took our seats.