6 Things I Learned Hiking the Narrows – the Second Time

Hiking the Narrows

The Narrows in Zion National Park is one of my favorite places in the world. It’s just a gorgeous, awesome, fanciful, wild place. Walls 2000 feet high, and only 20-30 feet apart in some places. Hiking the Narrows means tramping through the waters of the Virgin River, an altogether different experience from hiking on trails.

This was the second time I’ve hiked part of it. Someday I’d love to do the whole thing. I learned (or re-learned) a few things this time:

It’s never the same twice. Last time we did it in October. There was a lot more water. This time there were many more exposed rocks to pick your way through. Life’s trials are like that. Even if you go through the same circumstances twice, your experience is never exactly the same. Your reactions, what you learn, how you react—that’s always different.
Be prepared. Obviously, you need water and food (depending on how long you plan to hike). There are many rental companies who will supply you with water socks, shoes, dry bags, wet suits, sticks, etc. But those who have hiked it before say all you need are good hiking boots and non-cotton socks. You can spend a lot of money, or pay only for what you really need. Usually it’s better to listen to those with experience rather than those who want to make money off of you.
What you really need will be supplied. The sticks I mentioned above can be rented, fancy polished engraved ones. Or, if you get there before about 11 am, there will be a couple dozen leaned up against the wall at the entrance to the canyon. These are just natural ones, limbs from trees, worn smooth from use. People use them and then leave them, day after day. That’s what we did both times. After all, you can’t take it home on the plane, can you? If you’ve prepared the best you can, God will take care of you.
Hiking with Johnny

Find a buddy. John and Dara, with their long legs, invariably ended up ahead of us, no matter how many times they waited for us. Johnny and I lagged behind. As with almost anything, hiking’s always better with a friend.
It’s different with kids. No further explanation needed.
Dara in the Narrows

You get used to the cold. Though it was well over 90 outside the canyon, the walls kept it cool below, and I had a sweatshirt on most of the morning. The water is cold when you first step into it, even in August, but it warms up soon enough. Some of the best things in life are shocking at first. Give it a minute.