We have been talking about hiking The Narrows for the last few weeks. Today was the day we had planned to go. I was unawares of a Beehive Conference that was scheduled for this morning until last night so we pushed back our departure time so Natty could attend. She did so and had a great time. While she was there I took care of some much needed haircuts for the boys and gave myself a trim as well. Not so sure mine is going to stay. The back is always a challenge to do yourself unless of course your are buzzing the entire head. Natty told me it was okay so we will roll with it for now. Anyhow, we pushed out of here a little after 1 and got to Zion around 3. There was some relay race going on and it slowed the entire road down heading in. Oh well, we made it eventually.
We got on the shuttle, the kids were excited about that, and we took it to the last stop at The Temple of Sinawave. There we got off and started our hike back into The Narrows. Everyone did well and Andy managed to make it without complaint. I was so impressed. We also pushed the pace a bit and that was good. I do have to say that a trail filled with people can be an interesting thing. This trail happens to be paved and there are a lot of squirrels on it. These squirrels are used to humans and have no problem just walking down the trail with you. That was pretty interesting. Actually the first one we saw was right when we got off the shuttle, it was hanging out in on the garbage can and eventually jumped in for some food. The boys thought it was pretty great. I was surprised by the number of people that were completely captivated by squirrels. Here we were in this amazing setting and people would stop in the middle of the trail to stage a great photo of a squirrel. It's a squirrel. Almost like a glorified rat. To each their own I guess.
The kids were very excited when we got to the end of the paved portion of the trail and made our way into the Virgin River. The first thing they wanted to do was get in the water and they did. This became a lesson for me. I never again will let them get completely soaked this early in a hike again. We were able to hike back a ways, probably a half a mile or so, perhaps a little longer. Anyway, Natty and Jack did what I love to do, they found all the deep water and got in it. They had a blast. We got up to an area where the canyon makes a 90 degree left turn. This particular turn had a slow moving current and some deeper areas. These were not the super deep areas I had hoped to get the kids to but they had fun playing around a bit. Completely soaked Jack quickly got the chills and he was ready to head back so he could get home and get in a nice warm bath. Ever since he was a three year old boy and we put in our swimming pool in Florida he has known when he was done swimming, he was a little cold and he would head for a bath or shower to warm back up. So this became the end of our trail for today. It was fine. We headed back. Natty was disappointed and I think I will have to do a daddy/daughter hike with her so she can go as far back as she wants. The other thing I will do is keep the kids as dry as possible on the hike in and up the Narrows with the idea of hitting all the swimming spots on our way back down.
What a wonderful adventure. I have pictures but they are on the camera and I am not uploading them to the computer tonight. I will get them on in the next couple of days. We all had a great time. Jack is already planning his return trip to The Narrows. It will be with his own kids he says. Hopefully we will get him back in there before then.
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