Zion NP (ACA Rendezvous 2006) Pictures
Robert and Courtney Schafer
October 6-8, 2006
Click here to return to the main page

For the second year in a row, we attended the American Canyoneering Association's "Fall Rendezvous" in Zion National Park. Just like the year before, we had a great time! We had to stay out of the canyons on the first day (Friday) despite having a permit for Echo, thanks to the threatening weather forecast and high flash flood danger. Instead we hiked the East Rim trail up to Hidden Canyon, and when the powerful thunderstorms hit, we had a front row view of all the hanging canyons flashing and waterfalls streaming down everywhere. Saturday and Sunday both had fair weather, and so we did Echo Canyon on Friday, and the famous Subway route on Sunday. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my waterproof camera case for Echo, so we only have a few pics from that canyon although it was very beautiful and fun! I remembered the case for Subway so we have lots more pictures from that trip.

Click on pictures to see larger versions.

oct060112_r1 oct060119_r1 oct060120 oct060121_r1 oct060123
Flooding wash in eastern Zion NP Robert on the trail to Hidden Canyon Canyon colors in Hidden Canyon Courtney in an arch in Hidden Canyon Multiple waterfalls pour over the East Rim trail during a massive thunderstorm
oct060126_r1 oct060127_r1 oct060129_r1 oct060130_r1 oct060131
Flash flood pouring out of Hidden Canyon Another powerful waterfall during Friday's storm Fall colors along the way to Echo Canyon Robert prepares the initial rappel into Echo Canyon Looking upward from the bottom of Echo
oct060132_r1 oct060136_r1 oct060138_r1 oct060140_r1 oct060141_r1
Courtney in a rare dry spot in Echo Narrows in Echo Robert in Echo Robert at the end of Echo, where the canyon meets the East Rim trail Towering canyon walls surround Echo
oct060142_r1 oct060143_r1 oct060144 oct060145 oct060146
Courtney at the end of Echo End of the middle Echo narrows Sunset at Zion Getting ready to start Subway: Bob, Michelle, Brian, Robert Descending the slickrock toward Subway
oct060147_r1 oct060148 oct060149 oct060151_r1 oct060152
Courtney and Robert on the way to Subway Swirling slickrock Michelle and Brian hiking on the slickrock Bob at a viewpoint just before the final descent into the canyon Calm pool at the base of the canyon
oct060153_r1 oct060154_r1 oct060155_r1 oct060156_r1 oct060158_r1
Brian and Michelle surrounded by fall colors Brian prepares to handline down a drop as Robert watches Bob enjoys the beautiful fall colors in Subway Courtney peers over a drop as the group watches Bob in a swimming section
oct060159_r1 oct060162_r1 oct060163_r1 oct060165_r1 oct060167_r1
Ooo, that water is cold! Robert swims through a narrow section Robert squeezes through a tight spot One of the group makes their way under the chockstone Robert and Courtney in Subway
oct060169_r1 oct060172_r1 oct060175 oct060178_r1 oct060179
Keyhole Falls Entering the Subway The famous Subway log Another view of the Subway log Michelle handlines down a drop as Brian watches
oct060180_r1 oct060181 oct060183 oct060184 oct060185
Rock walls in the Subway Robert and Courtney playing in the pools (drysuits are poofy!) Robert walks through the Subway Michelle, Brian, and Robert in the Subway This pool looks like a giant animal footprint
oct060186_r1 oct060187 oct060189 oct060191 oct060192_r1
Exiting the Subway Classic view of the Subway Michelle prepares for a ride down the waterslide Bob shows off his watersliding skills Michelle and Brian walk down some pretty terraces
oct060195 oct060196 oct060198 oct060199 oct060200
Dinosaur footprints in the rock Colorful canyon walls The exit climb back up to the plateau "We have to go up what??" Looking back up the canyon
oct060201        
More beautiful rock walls