Zion subway bottom up

<p>Hi, <br>

I am getting married in Zion NP in late May and have been trying to find photos of the descent into the subway from the bottom. I have heard it is steep but would like to see(hopefully not too steep to be able to convince my bride to be to go with) how bad it really is. Any other comments or suggestions on Zion/Bryce would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>It's steep but a nice trail with a lot of switchbacks. If you and your bride put on a pair of tennis shoes or lightweight hikers, you will be fine (assume you both do some hiking?)..<br>

I think it is about 400-600 feet of vertical.</p>

<p>The only part of the hike that's at all steep is getting down into the canyon from the rim right at the start. Here's a <a href="http://www.philarmitage.net/zion/zion107x.html">photo looking upstream</a> . It's not at all exposed or troublesome.<br>

Once you reach the creek the informal trail is overgrown and a bit of a scramble in places but not difficult. Once you reach the Subway the rock is pretty slick though.<br>

Remember you need a permit even for a day hike to the bottom.</p>

<p>Thanks to both Paul and Phil for the information, looks like we will be doing the subway, can't wait. Any recommendations on film and filters. I have a D70 and a Mamiya 645, although I don't know if the Mamiya will make its way into the subway. I think I will save that for some shorter hikes. We plan on doing quite a bit of sunrise/sunset photography. I have never shot anything like zion and just wondering( I would assume mostly ND filters) what would be best, I do have a cokin p system so either screw on or cokin will work for me. Thanks again for the info!</p>

<p>Hi Darin,<br>

Highly recommend you take the D70 only on the Subway hike, it's a complicated and somewhat tough hike. <br>

Highly recommend the NDs, especially if you shoot the classics in the morning or evening. My personal preference is the cokin p system.<br>

Be sure to see Michael Fatali's gallery in Zion as well.</p>

<p>Hi Paul,<br>

Thanks for the advice, I have checked out Micheal's gallery on line, pretty amazing, he certainly gets a lot of saturation in his photographs. We will definitely check out his gallery in person when we are there. I agree with the cokin system especially for grad filters, it gives you a lot more freedom to move it to where you really need it.</p>

 

<p>I recommend using hiking poles. They are a great help on the steep downhill, as well as many of the creek crossings with slippery rocks. I was carrying 50-60 pounds of large format gear, and the poles made the traveling much easier.<br>

enjoy,<br>

Jon</p>

<p>Thanks Jon, we do have hiking poles, and shoes that are suppose to be great for slippery situations. Nice to get affirmation though. We have done quite a bit of research and should be prepared without so prepared that we will need a sherpa to carry all of our gear for us, lol. Amazing how much stuff is out there and needs to be weeded through, but I definitely think you are correct on the poles. The decent/accent hike just seems to be this mystical thing that everyone talks about but there are very few photos of it on the net(something I plan on correcting). Thanks again for the advice. </p>

<p>Thanks Jon, we do have hiking poles, and shoes that are suppose to be great for slippery situations. Nice to get affirmation though. We have done quite a bit of research and should be prepared without so prepared that we will need a sherpa to carry all of our gear for us, lol. Amazing how much stuff is out there and needs to be weeded through, but I definitely think you are correct on the poles. The decent/accent hike just seems to be this mystical thing that everyone talks about but there are very few photos of it on the net(something I plan on correcting). Thanks again for the advice. </p>

<p>Darin, getting "a lot of saturation" is trivially easy, unless you are shooting black and white. Fatali has other techniques, too, but I won't go there. Please post some photos from the Subway when you get back.<br>

Gary</p>

<p>Hey Gary, I will be happy to post some of the subway as well as the rest of zion when we get back. As far as techniques and the like, I am still relatively inexperienced so I tend to take everything in like a sponge and then take what I think is useful from it and discard what I don't think is useful, if that makes sense.</p>

<p>That absolutely does make sense. I meant no disrespect to you.<br>

Gary</p>

<p>Oh, no worries, none taken</p>

<p>Can't tell you about the trail, but wanted to make sure you are talking about graduated ND filters, not just ND filters. The graduated ND is what you'll want.</p>