So long as it doesn't go into deep freeze mode next week we (2 confirmed)are heading from Durango, CO to run the Virgin River through the Narrows@zion.
This will be a weekend trip for the 4/26/08 to 4/27
Dates and times of departure are up in the air at this point but from what I understand only one vehicle is needed.
2 tentative plans are in place...leave Friday, boat Sat and Sun and cruise home for Sun night. Perhaps
Leave Thursday and go to Laughlin for the motorcycle rally, f'in party till the cops come...get bailed by the DD and go hit up In-n-out for a #2 w/ grilled onions, sleep? then drive Friday to Zion, or party one more night at Laughlin or Vegas..then see schedule above.
post ?'s or PM if you are interested.
-russ
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I live in a van, down by the river!
The trip is confirmed, 5 boaters confirmed (all class 4 or 5 and one certified class 4 swimmer). We are leaving Durango Friday the 25th PM and returning late Sunday or midday Monday. We should run the park Saturday and perhaps Sunday for round 2. There is some class 4 mank just after the Narrows class 3 take out called satans staircase...2 are confirmed for this run Saturday late day.
I will be filing the backcountry trip info tomorrow morning and they need a body count. If you are committing and want in on our party you need to let me know today or tommorrow. There is a limit of 40 people in the narrows, this includes hikers and from what the office says they may fill up this weekend.
PM me or post hereafter if you are in for sure!
Also, if you are planning on driving separate let me know as we will be hauling a trailer for the boats and there is room for a few more!
We could also use some shuttle help to save some green!
latron!
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I live in a van, down by the river!
Alright, people've been asking, so here's our tentative plan. Brian and I and some other suspicious and unconfirmed candidates are heading out to the North Fork of the Virgin this weekend. We are going to run the Narrows, spend the night in the gorge, and then continue through Sinawava the next day. We're not sure whether it will be Sat-Sun or Fri-Sat; it all depends on who can get off and rally. We will probably have a couple people taking out after the Narrows, so it's cool if that's what you want to do. If anyone's interested, let one of us know.
COUNT
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"The world would be a better place if everyone kayaked."-Brad Ludden (Valhalla)
"You only get one chance to run a drop blind."-DD
I am not sure you can camp in the narrows...I saw online at zion.nps.gov that they do not allow camping near the river when flows are over 150cfs.
We all need a backcountry permit as well at 5 bucks per permit w/limit of 10 on each permit...ohh and did I mension there are only 40 persons total allowed in the canyon on a backcountry permit.
We are leaving Friday and camping near Zion...put in Saturday will be around 10AM.
I am pretty sure I would like to do the river twice both Sat and Sun.
Count and b-rian, if by chance we can camp in the canyon I would be up for a mellow Saturday, manky Sunday and I actually have Monday to run round #2.
We are firm on not puttin on till Sat Morning though.
I will try again to get in touch with the backcountry office to find out about this camping thing.
-rg
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I live in a van, down by the river!
ok, upon digging around at the Zion NP website (damn .gov sites....):
there are 12 campsites on the run. There are, according to the map, above the narrows section. "reservations are recommended for weekends" says te site. Although it also recommends that ideal hiking conditions are below 70 cfs. from what it looks like, the last campsite is around 3 (straight) miles above temple of Sinawava. figure 3.5-4 river miles.
i'm bringing my SLR, so i'd love to camp in the gorge, if for no other reason, just awesome pictures
edit:
oh ya, golden to the put in, according to googlemaps is around 10 hours, figure a stop to drop off a car
b-
If you guys are planning on Saturday you need to get in touch as you then only need to drive one (1) car from Golden. The Durangatand crew will handle the shuttle.
Again, we get in Friday night with plans to start in around 10am.
about this camping thing...I am all for it, however, I did read somewhere on the site there is a cfs limit, as well that was reaffirmed with the Zion Rocks people I called about the shuttle ($30 per person)...she said over xCFS there is no camping in the canyon. I will try again tomorrow to get in touch with the backcountry desk, several times I am sure...but I am counting on not being able to camp. I will post here with watever info I get!
-rg
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I live in a van, down by the river!
Here is the beta update...
I talked to Brad at the Backcountry desk and he had this to say...
North fork road is barely passable as he heard of only one person making it on a motorcycle.
There is camping in the Narrows for boaters, in designated areas.
NOAA changed their forcast. This weekend is NOT LOOKING PROMISING for the narrows.
I was told in person at the Zion Backcountry desk last week, that the Narrows must be paddled in a day, no camping permits will be issued. Don't worry about competition for permits, hikers arn't allowed in the narrows when the flow is above 140CFS. A local shuttle driver also told me that the road into Chamberlain Ranch is pretty much impassable at the moment. Looks like things still need to thaw out a bit down there before there will be good paddling. I'm told you are initially paddling on about 1/3 of the river for the first 4-5 miles so subtract 2/3 from the river guage at Springdale.
Creedence,
Confirmed all except for the camping thing...Brad at the backcountry desk said there is an exception for kayakers who want to camp...you have to use one of the upper designated camp sites...like #12
I am rescheduling for a friday with at least 350 cfs...more posts later.
-rg
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I live in a van, down by the river!
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