Dec 7 Virgin River narrows

The Virgin River is responsible for cutting Zion Canyon in Utah. If you follow the river upriver through the gorge it appears the canyon ends in a dead end.

This obviously is not the case, the river continues but the canyon narrows to a little as 20 feet in places. Remember, the sheer rock wall continue to be over a thousand feet vertically.

Narrow canyons like this pose tremendous threats to those who wade up the "slot" canyons. Any rain can raise water levels. Folks have been caught in these situations and perished. There was simply no where to go, no high ground, no outrunning the water, no surviving in the water as it rushes downriver.

I spoke with a local outfitter who rents equipment for walking upriver. This time of year it includes dry suits and waterproof footwear. They provide shuttle service to point upriver so you may walk in the river to the end of the Zion Canyon Road. That walk is about 10-12 hours and not available this time of year anyway due to closed roads.