Day 1: Ode to Orderville!

      Fluted rocks swirl far above in this, another narrows section of Orderville, a canyon with perhaps more diversity than the popular neighboring canyons. Corkscrewing waterfalls and downclimbs below The Guillotine and other difficult obstacles punctuate this grand hike and slog, swim, and scramble.
      Ejected by the early morning shuttle to the top of Orderville, Zig, Brett, Craig, Blake B., and I start our waltz just after 7 a.m. We walk down the old 4x4 track until it disappears into the canyon. Clay and other gooey gumbo adorns our water shoes before long. Short sections of narrows entice - this continues throughout the remainder of the 12-mile, 9-hour hike, clamber, and swim.
      Some of the down climbs abut short swims - cold water in this land of rare sun. The first obstacle is near the park boundary and there is a bolt with webbing tied into the wall. A short distance downstream I spot Zig's Handle Arch (AKA Zig's Outhouse Arch).
      The Guillotine - not an arch but performs like one. Here Bret lowers us, in turn, on a makeshift belay. Next, Corkscrew Falls, which we chimney again - this time into a short pool.
      More, slightly less tricky obstacles await. We're alone and the canyon is dark and quiet, enunciated by occasional sunshine, welcome to we lizards.
      Yikes! Post-traumatic stress overwhelms us from the stress of the thrashing throng at the "closed to upcanyon travel" sign bolted to the sandstone. We creep down the moqui steps into the din of day-hikers clogging the lower part of The Zion Narrows, from here to the asphalt path.
      Beer and chips and cheese and salsa help us enjoy the remnant bodily hum of a hard day.

      Day 2: Surrealistic Subway!
      The swim is unexpected, yet crystal clear and cold. We're just down from Keyhole Falls, which we rappeled with the assistance of Canyoneer Bret. It's so much better than the boy scout method, jumping (and inviting disaster). More swims today because recent floods have rearranged the sand, blowing out much of it from the deep pockets in the basement rock.
      At the first obstacle we performed a chimney move and went down nicely. Then swims and The Keyhole prior to the canyon elbow called The Subway. Slippery, yet deligthful ruby cascades.
      Tiring some, we cross and re-cross the stream until we find the boulders with dino tracks. Soon, we rest at the clear side stream long enough to ensure that the sun was no longer warming the black basalt of the exit romp. Then, we climb out of the canyon. The shuttle is in full circle as I lounge at the TH, anticipating more lounging at our picnic table and another pleasing group meal.
      On the way back down the road, we note the flood debris from a recent gusher that swept away parts of intrusive structures placed so close to this mostly docile stream. Nature reclaims. Too bad folks like bush and cheney are not reclaimed before they cause so much pain and damage.

Zig and THE Subway (Click the image for the full-size image)

Subway, Hoo! (Click the image for a full-size view)	the usual suspects - Craig (Click the image for a full-size view)	teardrop archlette (Click the image for a full-size view)
the usual suspects - Blake (Click the image for a full-size view)	Subway shadows (Click the image for a full-size view)	Craig on slickrock ramp (Click the image for a full-size view)
a Subway alley (Click the image for a full-size view)	Zig and Keyhole view (Click the image for a full-size view)	Craig raps Keyhole Falls (Click the image for a full-size view)
Keyhole Falls Arch (Click the image for a full-size view)	Bret preps to rap Keyhole (Click the image for a full-size view)	Keyhole Alley (Click the image for a full-size view)
Swirlybowl Archlette (Click the image for a full-size view)	Subway Arch (Click the image for a full-size view)	Gurgles of Subway (Click the image for a full-size view)
Craig the clingon (Click the image for a full-size view)	Shades of lower Subway (Click the image for a full-size view)	Rob & Craig (Click the image for a full-size view)
C & Z ruby cascades (Click the image for a full-size view)	ruby cascades (Click the image for a full-size view)	ruby cascades (Click the image for a full-size view)
Dino track (Click the image for a full-size view)	Dino track boulder (Click the image for a full-size view)	Kolob Terrace flood (Click the image for a full-size view)

Previous report on Subway Synergism

Previous report about The Cathedral of The Narrows

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