The Subway at Zion National Park

One of the “must get” images in Zion is the "Subway"...........but this is much easier said than done! Making the long treacherous trek on the Left Fork Trail, to the "Subway" was the most challenging (mentally and physically) and rewarding adventure that Dan and I have ever been on. As this was our first time here, and not knowing what to expect, we packed up our 50 pound packs and headed down the near vertical narrow rocky gully that led us to the bottom of a large valley and the Virgin River. We quickly realized that we packed way too much gear. The weight of our packs really threw our center of gravity off and made the treacherous hike even more dangerous. Next, we hiked for four hours bouldering and scrambling on an undeveloped trail. We must have crossed the Virgin River on slippery rocks at least 30 times! We climbed up several staircase waterfalls flowing over very slick algae covered rocks. When we finally reached the Subway, Dan and I just looked each other in amazement at God's incredible creation. But we had to hurry, if you don't hike out of the valley before dark, you will never make it out until the next morning. We managed to make our way up into the highest part of the Subway clinging to the rock walls for stability. We quickly discovered that the entire surface under the flowing water was covered with algae and one of the slickest surfaces we had ever walked on. As I walked further into the middle of the rushing river to get to the spot I wanted to set up my gear, I lost my footing, slipped, and the river started sucking me down to the big green pool below the falls. Thanks to Dan's quick reactions, he grabbed my arm just in time to save me from certain serious injury. For that, I will be forever grateful. We only had 18 minutes to setup our gear and shoot because we had get out of the valley and back up to our car before dark. The hike back was even more challenging than the hike in. Our quads were burning from the excess weight we were carrying in our packs, and as the sun was setting, the temperatures dropped significantly. We finally made it to the Left Fork trailhead and quickly realized that the hardest part of the hike was still ahead of us! It was a big challenge climbing down that rocky steep gully, but was brutal climbing back up! We kept telling ourselves one more step, one more step, one more step. When we finally made it to the top of the mountain, it was dark, and I had a bloody broken hand. Boulders are unforgiving when they smash small bones! Yes it was challenging, but we have never felt more alive and such of a sense of accomplishment. So whenever you see a photo of the Subway, just know that a lot more went into getting that shot than just clicking the shutter!
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