I'm looking to get some insight from Zion veterans on a planned trip in mid-May. A group of 10 of us are flying up from Texas & Georgia to do 5 days of hiking. We're flying into Vegas late on a Monday, camping outside of town, then driving up to Zion the next morning. We were planning to be on the trail by 11am the next morning at the latest. We're wanting/hoping to do Misery Canyon, the Barracks, the West Rim, and Angel's Landing over the course of nearly 5 full days of hiking.
I've looked for trip reports over the last 6 months, but have never seen anyone talk about entering the Barracks via Misery Canyon, then hiking out to Mt. Carmel Junction. I know many do a one day Misery Canyon route, coming back out via Checkerboard Mesa. But, is there any reason why we can't - or shouldn't - come in via Misery, then hike through the Barracks, and exit at Mt. Carmel Junction? And, if it is doable, is Misery something we should attempt on day 1 with an 11am start time if we're planning to set up camp in the canyon? Any idea how long it'd take intermediate canyoneers (and experienced hikers) to descend Misery and make it to a spot capable of housing 10 overnight?
Our thought was to take 2.5 - 3 days to do Misery & the Barracks (along with side canyons), then another 1.5 to do the West Rim & Angel's Landing. Our flights leave Vegas at 7pm on Saturday, so we just need to make sure we're in the car by 2pm at the latest. Would we be better starting with Misery or the South Rim with an 11am (possibly earlier) start time? Our plan was to place a car at our intended Mt. Carmel Junction exit, then drive to the Checkerboard Mesa entrance. We'd need to camp at/near the exit for Mt. Carmel Junction on the 3rd night, b/c we'd need to pick up the other car the next morning, then be in Sprindale by 6am to catch a shuttle up to Lava Point to start the West Rim.
I've hiked the narrows in Zion before, but none of the other guys have ever been to Zion. So, we were hoping to do some narrows (figured the Barracks over the narrows due to foot traffic), some canyoneering (though not too advanced), take in some incredible vistas, and climb something (ala Angel's Landing). So, I'm open to ideas if we'd be better served doing something else, or in a different order, or if I have my timing wrong and we can squeeze in another hike (or need to account for everything taking longer than I'd planned).
Thanks!
I've looked for trip reports over the last 6 months, but have never seen anyone talk about entering the Barracks via Misery Canyon, then hiking out to Mt. Carmel Junction. I know many do a one day Misery Canyon route, coming back out via Checkerboard Mesa. But, is there any reason why we can't - or shouldn't - come in via Misery, then hike through the Barracks, and exit at Mt. Carmel Junction? And, if it is doable, is Misery something we should attempt on day 1 with an 11am start time if we're planning to set up camp in the canyon? Any idea how long it'd take intermediate canyoneers (and experienced hikers) to descend Misery and make it to a spot capable of housing 10 overnight?
Our thought was to take 2.5 - 3 days to do Misery & the Barracks (along with side canyons), then another 1.5 to do the West Rim & Angel's Landing. Our flights leave Vegas at 7pm on Saturday, so we just need to make sure we're in the car by 2pm at the latest. Would we be better starting with Misery or the South Rim with an 11am (possibly earlier) start time? Our plan was to place a car at our intended Mt. Carmel Junction exit, then drive to the Checkerboard Mesa entrance. We'd need to camp at/near the exit for Mt. Carmel Junction on the 3rd night, b/c we'd need to pick up the other car the next morning, then be in Sprindale by 6am to catch a shuttle up to Lava Point to start the West Rim.
I've hiked the narrows in Zion before, but none of the other guys have ever been to Zion. So, we were hoping to do some narrows (figured the Barracks over the narrows due to foot traffic), some canyoneering (though not too advanced), take in some incredible vistas, and climb something (ala Angel's Landing). So, I'm open to ideas if we'd be better served doing something else, or in a different order, or if I have my timing wrong and we can squeeze in another hike (or need to account for everything taking longer than I'd planned).
Thanks!
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