We're going to hiking the narrows mid June, this will be my wife's first packing trip and my first in many years. What gear will be must haves and what is nice to have. I have a nice bag for me, tent, and stove. What shoes should I be considering? I've seen the La Sportiva Xplorers recommended. We'll both need packs, which ones would you experienced guys recommend? We've got a couple other over night (maybe two night) hikes planned so I'd like to get some nice gear. Suggestions?
Hiking the narrows...advice
- Thread starter Caleb
- Start date
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Are you doing it top to bottom? Spending the night, or one day?
Take boots with GREAT ankle support, but boots that you don't mind destroying. The rocks are mossy and you damn near roll your ankle many times. Being in water so long your boots will probably fall apart eventually. I had good boots and the Narrows killed them.
Take boots with GREAT ankle support, but boots that you don't mind destroying. The rocks are mossy and you damn near roll your ankle many times. Being in water so long your boots will probably fall apart eventually. I had good boots and the Narrows killed them.
capt scotty
Active Member
- Location
- Riverton, Utah
take a leatherman!!! don't stick your hands under any rocks!
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
When I did it, we hiked it top to bottom in a day and it was pretty brutal. Long day and just after Noon we realized we weren't 1/2 way thru and really had to pick up the pace. One guy in our group ended up twisting his ankle jumping off a 5' rock and just had to grin & bear it the rest of the way out. I do remember seeing some of the campgrounds in there and they looked neat.
It would be hard hauling a loaded back pack with a bag, pad, etc... you're best off going light as possible. A good dry bag, roll top backpack would be best and it'll float in the parts where you'll be swimming. Bring an extra pair of clothes that you can change into to and dry out and warm up at the end of the day.
A couple hiking poles would be a good idea to help stabilize yourselves with a backpack on the slippery rocks. I had a Camelback HAWG that I stuffed a dry bag in for food, camera, etc and for a day trip it was the perfect size.
I had a digital camera, but also took a waterproof disposable and used that the most to take pics. The quality wasn't perfect, but at least I didn't have to worry about ruining it.
It would be hard hauling a loaded back pack with a bag, pad, etc... you're best off going light as possible. A good dry bag, roll top backpack would be best and it'll float in the parts where you'll be swimming. Bring an extra pair of clothes that you can change into to and dry out and warm up at the end of the day.
A couple hiking poles would be a good idea to help stabilize yourselves with a backpack on the slippery rocks. I had a Camelback HAWG that I stuffed a dry bag in for food, camera, etc and for a day trip it was the perfect size.
I had a digital camera, but also took a waterproof disposable and used that the most to take pics. The quality wasn't perfect, but at least I didn't have to worry about ruining it.
capt scotty
Active Member
- Location
- Riverton, Utah
Caleb, rent the movie 127 hours. True story about a guy hiking the Narrows!
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
But that wasn't 'The Narrows' in Zions... 
The Zion Narrows are much larger.
The Zion Narrows are much larger.
- Location
- SPANISH FORK, UTAH
That was Blue John.
I Like hiking the Narrows or similar routes with a shoe that will drain water, I have a pair of trial runners that have awesome traction, are very light and have a lot of mesh. I find that the traction helps with stability that would otherwise cause ankle injury. I would recommend going as light as possible, as ultra light as you can. Be prepared to swim, store anything that cant get wet in dry bags, those canyons change every year and I have come down when there were extended lengths where I couldn't touch the bottom of the river and others where it never passed my calf.
I Like hiking the Narrows or similar routes with a shoe that will drain water, I have a pair of trial runners that have awesome traction, are very light and have a lot of mesh. I find that the traction helps with stability that would otherwise cause ankle injury. I would recommend going as light as possible, as ultra light as you can. Be prepared to swim, store anything that cant get wet in dry bags, those canyons change every year and I have come down when there were extended lengths where I couldn't touch the bottom of the river and others where it never passed my calf.
Thanks guys. After I thought about it, I was guessing the hand under a rock comment was in reference to 127 Hours BUT I didn't think that was the Narrows. Noted, carry tools to cut off my arm
Equipment: Since I love getting gear, I'm using this as a good excuse to get some new stuff. So far, I'm looking at the Osprey Exos 48 for a pack. This pack is 2929 cubic inches. Is that large enough, too big? I'm buying double of everything since my wife also needs gear, would the same size suffice for her or should I look at a smaller pack for her? (Osprey Exos 38). I've read multiple things that say the same thing about the shoes, no GoreTex and wear something that drains well. How do you pack using dry bags? Do you carry them packed inside your bag or do you get a larger one that can be used to put your entire pack in when needed? The dry bags while hiking is a new thing to me (obviously) I'm trying to go as light as possible on gear, putting everything in smaller dry bags seems like it would add a lot of weight. How about trekking poles? Are the Carbon Fiber poles worth the extra? My wife came across a set at Costco (of all places ) that were collapsible carbon fiber for $30 a set. The weight on them is lighter than even nice aluminum ones. The reviews we've found are also all positive. For $30, worth trying?
Noted, carry tools to cut off my arm Equipment: Since I love getting gear, I'm using this as a good excuse to get some new stuff. So far, I'm looking at the Osprey Exos 48 for a pack. This pack is 2929 cubic inches. Is that large enough, too big? I'm buying double of everything since my wife also needs gear, would the same size suffice for her or should I look at a smaller pack for her? (Osprey Exos 38). I've read multiple things that say the same thing about the shoes, no GoreTex and wear something that drains well. How do you pack using dry bags? Do you carry them packed inside your bag or do you get a larger one that can be used to put your entire pack in when needed? The dry bags while hiking is a new thing to me (obviously)
I'm trying to go as light as possible on gear, putting everything in smaller dry bags seems like it would add a lot of weight. How about trekking poles? Are the Carbon Fiber poles worth the extra? My wife came across a set at Costco (of all places ) that were collapsible carbon fiber for $30 a set. The weight on them is lighter than even nice aluminum ones. The reviews we've found are also all positive. For $30, worth trying?
I have the Osprey Atmos 65 that I use for work on the RR. I live out of this backpack literally half of my life, and I couldn't be happier with the way it has held up. I usually have it packed to about 60 lbs, and I've been using it for nearly 2 years now, and it's still like new.
- Location
- SPANISH FORK, UTAH
I usually get a hard case that seals for phone and gps, neither one works in the canyons much but you never know. I get a small dry bag for inside my pack for meds and such, other then that I use a trash compactor bag inside my pack and tie it off (thats from the guide to ultra light backpacking) it works well, just don't count on it for prolonged submersion's. I go to every discount site that sells old gear, not used but old models I find all my stuff for less and its just as good but it looks like the gear Steve had last year.
WayneXJ
grocery getter driver
- Location
- So. Jordan
I recommend doing it in one day so you don't have to carry a heavy pack. And I second the comfortable shoes and 2 hiking poles.
And I second the comfortable shoes and 2 hiking poles.
Tonkaman
Well-Known Member
- Location
- West Jordan
How many hours would you expect this to take?
I'm going as a "guest" on someone else's permit. I'll also have my wife with me so the top to bottom in a day won't work However, I've got everything but my clothes, sleeping pad, and food for a day and my pack is currently just a smidgen over 14lbs (224.6 oz). That includes a full on two person tent (not just a "shelter") and a chair (Helinox Ground Chair ). I expect (and this may be too optimistic) that adding those last few items I'll still be under 20lbs. I've got the following items accounted for so far (all weights are in ounces and are actual as weighed on my postal scale):
Backpack (Osprey Exos 48) 42
Chair (Helinox Ground Chair) 23.3
Mess kit (Snow Peak Titanium Cookware) 7.2
Bowl (Sea to Summit X Bowl) 2.9
Utensils (Sea To Summit Alpha Light Utensils) 1.3
Stove (Vargo Titanium) 3.8
Fuel (Jetboil) 12.8
Blanket (Therm-A-Rest Large Tech Blanket) 29.4
Tent (MSR Skinny Too) 71.9
Trekking Poles (Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber poles) 16.3
Filter (Katadyn Hiker Pro) 13.7
Tell me if I'm overlooking something (I'm sure I am).
However, I've got everything but my clothes, sleeping pad, and food for a day and my pack is currently just a smidgen over 14lbs (224.6 oz). That includes a full on two person tent (not just a "shelter") and a chair (Helinox Ground Chair ). I expect (and this may be too optimistic) that adding those last few items I'll still be under 20lbs. I've got the following items accounted for so far (all weights are in ounces and are actual as weighed on my postal scale):Backpack (Osprey Exos 48) 42
Chair (Helinox Ground Chair) 23.3
Mess kit (Snow Peak Titanium Cookware) 7.2
Bowl (Sea to Summit X Bowl) 2.9
Utensils (Sea To Summit Alpha Light Utensils) 1.3
Stove (Vargo Titanium) 3.8
Fuel (Jetboil) 12.8
Blanket (Therm-A-Rest Large Tech Blanket) 29.4
Tent (MSR Skinny Too) 71.9
Trekking Poles (Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber poles) 16.3
Filter (Katadyn Hiker Pro) 13.7
Tell me if I'm overlooking something (I'm sure I am
).
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Camera?
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
I've also heard the la sportivas are the best shoes for that hike. Did you already buy the katadyn? If not, check out the sawyer mini water filter. It's only 2 oz. That saves you 3/4 lb. Do you have neoprene socks yet? If not, I'd highly recommend them.
I really want to do that hike from top to bottom, I'm more than a little jealous.
I really want to do that hike from top to bottom, I'm more than a little jealous.
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