Weather is still good this Valentine’s weekend, but our typical fare of slot canyons would be a brutal ice fest, and even the popular trails are icy. But the summits are clean and in the sun, and the daytime temps are pleasant, so long slickrock rambles become not only possible, but ideal in February. Ryan hears how much fun we’re having so drives down the previous evening to join; this is helpful; instead of Jared waiting for me all the time, he can wait for his best friend as well.
The area of Zion NP south of the tunnel and east of the highway is largely unknown, untravelled, and un-all sorts of things. It’s summits see fewer visits than some peaks in the Andes or Himalayas. We park at the tunnel entrance, and start jogging up Gifford Canyon. The trickle of water is frozen into a white ribbon of ice, the ripples in the wet sand are frozen so footprints leave no mark, and the seaps have grown into bulbous currents of frozen water. Then we’re onto the slickrock, hit the sun, and we’re in shorts and t-shirts the rest of the day. Winter in Zion is great!
Adventure Running 