East Zion: Lower Pine Creek Exploratory

Rating: Up to 3 miles of slow picky hiking along a small creek, 500 feet of up and down. Moderate to strenuous. Altitude is 6000ft. Anything from 3 to 7 hours.

Zion backcountry limit: 12 hikers.

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This hike is in conjunction with Red Rock Hiking, and the available spots are being split between the two groups.

Sorry for the early start, but it gets us into Zion ahead of the crowds.

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If you've ever gone thru the long Zion tunnel you have passed close to Pine Creek, just east of the road switchbacks on the way up to the tunnel. Parking is on the 2nd eastern bend where tourists may often be found taking photos.

The route is rough cross-country along a well-running creek with many boulders, from small to ginormous. You will need a little experience scrambling around on big rocks and crossing shallow creeks.

The canyon walls above are very high and the trees grow large, so shade is plentiful. Along the creek are occasional shallow pools that may be big enough to fit a couple of people. :)

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Prep: Two big bottles of water, sun hat, non-slip footwear. We should not need water shoes for this hike. Leather gloves are very good to have when you have to grip the rock a lot.

Optional swimsuits!

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Meet: 6:30am Saturday at the La Verkin Sinclair Gas Station, then drive to Zion and up to Pine Creek.

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We have explored only a short distance up this creek, but it should be roughly the same al the way up to the wall of the Great Arch, where the canyoneers rappel down from the slot canyon far above. It's said to be quite doable up to that point, so we're gonna go check it out!

Won't you join us? M+J :) :)

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Please Note The Following:
Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being.
By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you.
All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or injury to themselves or their guests.
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