I would only use a kit made by the top climbing manufacturers like Petzl, Black Diamond, etc. Zion is in a desert environment. Loved it both times. Today, while waiting for a table for dinner, after exploring Zion, we saw a young couple come in with a baby on a backpack. Your email address will not be published. Jamie, this is an excellent article on Angels Landing hike. After resting I descended at a great speed often going backwards down the steep parts. I kid you not, there was a guy who passed me on the trail who had a baby in a backpack. At times, the trail will only be a few feet wide, and youll have to hug the side of the mountain and hold onto the metal chains, which may be the only thing keeping you from falling. He fell February 19, 2021! It made it more difficult but I loved the camaraderie. I shall look for the book. Definitely give it a read if you plan to visit Angels Landing! My friend, who was behind him, was sitting on the rock with her hands over her eyes; she didnt want to watch him fall. Use it. Ive done it twice myself, and Id happily do it again. One of the most fun hikes Ive ever done (especially on a hot day in July!). There were never more than 6 people at the top and in 1982 there were only three. I could have easily fallen. Love your writing style. Thanks for the suggestion, Jan. Just had to cling to the chain and use a lot of upper body strength. We have some tips to help reduce the risks you take and ensure you have an enjoyable hike. Even if you plan well and bring the right equipment, you might still have problems. The well-signed trail begins across the street, and follows the West Rim Trail for the first leg of the hike.Drive up the main canyon to The Grotto when buses are not in operation.ROUTE: well maintained, crowded trail, signed junctionsGUIDEBOOK: Favorite Hikes in & around Zion. Great time! This is a very straightforward hike, but heres a topo map that shows the Angels Landing Trail, marked in green. he was also keeping count of the mysterious deaths, five so far. First, you are willing to leave your baby with complete strangers in order to do a hike. If you or someone in your group has a fear of heights, consider splitting up here and regrouping at a specified time and place. Seriously, just look at a satellite image, its the exact same ridge just going the opposite direction. Anytime I tackled the whole trail, I held on to the chains and watched my footing, went slow, trying not to look down. Dont forget to check out my other Utah hiking guides before you go! That was dangerous. Take the hike slow. The Angels Landing deaths list in this article is the most complete list of its kind available on the internet at the time of writing (2023), although some details are still missing. Hi Ashlyn thanks for the kind words. You will have no crowds. They wandered around town for days and never went into the park. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The news reports in this list confirm that there have been at least 16 falling deaths from Angels Landing as of 2023. We almost had the entire hike to ourselves. Maybe if Im in shape and by myself Ill hit AL someday to challenge my fear, but I dont want to be worrying about other people if I decide to work through that process that would make it impossible. Most of these jobs in the National Parks are in the hospitality industry, so theres little barrier to entry. Its a too accessible to too many people. Youll be able to see the rest of the intimidating route from here easily enough. Angels Landing is one of the most popular destinations in Zion National Park. Required fields are marked *. I hiked Angels Landing yesterday, and also found that non chained section the scariest. We will issue permits at 4 p.m. MT on Monday. So many pull up around noon and are just getting started. [10], Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Angels Landing. From The Grotto Picnic Area youll cross the road, and cross the bridge over the Virgin River. When you consider the hundreds and thousands of people that go up there every year, the overall statistics are more favorable than plenty of other activities. The $6 application fee is not refundable. Very sad situation for your family, sorry for your loss. There are also several other mysterious deaths surrounding the Wichita, Kansas, compound where Perez held court, according to " Deadly Cults " on Oxygen . Good advice too. Be sure to check the shuttle schedule, but in most cases the buses run well after sunset. In total, there were six reported accidental deaths over seven years at Angel's Landing. In winter, the metal chains are very cold. After a series of steep switchbacks, the trail goes through the area between Angels Landing and the Zion Canyon that is a gradual ascent. I cannot find anywhere where it tells the date that the first chains were installed on the trail does anyone know? As we squatted to maneuver down a steeper rock, he walked it and started to slide. I lay down next to the tree for 20 min. If you manage to work out your transportation, its doable for confident hikers to go entirely at night, too. Pay attention to your surroundings, stay off of closed trails, and, if unsure, keep away from cliffs. Its sad and distressing. You do not need a permit for many other popular activities in Zion Canyon. I thought it would be even scarier going down, but actually it wasnt. Most hikers start from Shuttle Stop 6, the Grotto. Investigators were suspicious of the mysterious deaths happening there. Do not throw anything over the edge of the trail. Do you think a via ferrata harness kit would be useful on the chain section? The first trip I was on a cycling trip and chose to do the Narrows instead. Ill show you our local secret hikes if you keep them secret. Find the date you plan to be in Zion and use recreation.gov to apply for a permit during your application window. The hike is strenuous, and your safety is your responsibility. Time your hike so youll reach the top 30 minutes prior to sunset. The thing is, people have established this as must-do hike. I hiked Angels Landing back in May of 2018. Along this 5.4 mile round-trip hike, you will gain 1,488 feet in elevation. I made it up to Scouts Lookout, already had chicken legs, from there I saw the crowd (at 8am) forming at the chains and decided not to go. I heard others on the trail during my hike say the same thing. With limited time on a group trip from the South Rim, I made the most of it by hiking Angels Landing and The Narrows. This is especially important when youre passing other hikers going the opposite direction, because youll be tempted to let go of the chain to get around them. I dont know why people do this. Learn how to apply for a permit on recreation.gov to hike at Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Angels & Demons, Part 2. But the vistas DID leave me stunned; so much so that in the ensuing five years I did the hike three more times. Ive visited at least once a year every year since 2013 and I love this hikeall the way up until the actual Angels Landing section with the chains. I enjoyed your article, Jamie, and I wish I could do what you do, but I know my limits and will not attempt AL. We drove a half mile back and parked on a pullout just before the lodge. A guy the day before apparently did the whole thing in sandals. If you value your life, please stay off of those trails! Did it again in October of 2021, with photographic evidence this time. The tally includes two Utah men who have died in the last. I still have a desire to do it again though I just turned 74 yesterday and my only real fear is that some jackass in a hurry trying to get a selfie will say Out of the way Gramps, I got to take me a pitcher of ME up here! , nudge me with an elbow, and as I am not an angel I will not be able to fly down the 1500 ft. Aaiieeee.. Also wanted to give you a nod for the use of industrial tourism which Im pretty sure was invented by my hero, Ed Abbey. Early December is best.Just be mindful of snow and ice. My daughter is now a widow!!! You cannot change your permit. Again, the reason Im sharing this information is to motivate you to be as safe as possible at Angels Landing, and also so you can make an informed decision about whether its the right hike for you. Angels Landing usually takes at least a half day to hike. Yes, the squirrels and chipmunks at the summit of Angels Landing are very cute animals. Since 2017 theres an average of almost one death per year from falling! What happened? The views from places like Observation Point and farther up the West Rim Trail are much better. namby pamby fear stricken wilting flowers LOL Im glad you enjoyed your hike! 9:00 pm. 84767. May peace replace grief in your family. I know my boundaries and strengths, but if someone lesser experienced panics, you are putting yourself at risk if they start grabbing at the first thing they can get too (esp when you have to let go of that chain to get around someone because of all the foot traffic). I'm the guy behind DownTheTrail.com. The hike is rated as a class 3 difficulty based on the Yosemite Decimal System. Second and third times I was with my wife and one of my daughters (sequentially) and chose the Narrows because neither of them deals with the heat that well. Dateline NBC NBC May 1, 2015 9:00pm-11:01pm EDT. The West Rim was fun and had beautiful views too, but Angels Landing was exhilarating! A few of my children had a hard time with the heat. If, on the day of the hike, you doubt your ability to practice the qualities Ive listed above, then please choose a different hike, or resign yourself to hanging around at the Scout Overlook while the rest of your party tags the top. Completed the hike, but had shattering nightmares for a few weeks after and my fear of heights is definitely worse now. Just made it. The last half-mile of the route, called the chains section, is dramatic and narrow. Check the seasonal shuttle schedule before you leave to make sure you do not miss the last shuttle. I did not hang my feet over the edge at the top, and I didnt go stand and look straight down. Go to recreation.gov to learn more about the new system and apply for a permit. The crowds were much less. This confirmation email serves as your permit. Example:If you have a permit to hike on a Friday, June 24, you can cancel it or reduce the number of people on ituntil 11:59 p.m. MT on the Wednesday, June 22. Unfortunately many things in life are not 100% safe. You dont want a passing hiker to trip you, bump you, or fall into you when youre not holding the chain. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I have a healthy respect for heights. Here we can definitively see that at least 14 people fell since 1987, in sync with NPS statements that begin in 2004. A must read for everybody who is thinking of this hike. On the other hand, now that permits are required for the Angels Landing trail since 2022, that has reduced the crowds a bit and the overall safety of this hike is better than ever. If you do not have cell and/or data service (most people cannot connect to a mobile network in Zion Canyon), find a park ranger or park volunteer on the trail or at a trailhead. She felt an innate bond with him. Im just so grateful I got to experience this before the age of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Still, if you have some fitness you can hike well past the average joe up to the most beautiful views. Honestly, I wasnt impressed by the view. Have fun! Most news outlets are reporting 2 recent deaths at Angels Landing in early 2021 Corbin McMillen (late February) and Jason Hartwell (early March). Follow these ranger tips to get ready for your hike. he trish had drowned in the swing pool. As we descended, a gentleman got in between us, with me in front. The couple was inquiring about babysitting services. I hiked AL six years ago with a friend. I dont know if thats the case, but it does seem like at least a few of them were. The Angels Landing deaths list above doesnt really tell the whole story. Do kids need under 18 needs parental approval for the permit? The wiggles are named after Walter Ruesch, who was the first superintendent for Zion National Park and constructed the switchbacks in 1926. We found the hike exhilarating, amazing, beautiful and everyone was courteous and friendly. Did not bring quite enough water but my friend left earlier and gave me his extra on his way down. I almost made it to the summit in back 1985. All hikes present potential for injury or death. This Angels Landing deaths list is the most complete list of its kind available on the internet at the time of writing (2023), although some details are still missing. Visitors using the park shuttle do not need a permit or reservation. . He fell 1200 feet while hiking in Zion National Park. Very inclusive book and Author (Randy Minetor) Written in 2018. First summit I ever did back in 2007, and I would do it again tomorrow if I could! One of the main reasons is that the route has been overcrowded in recent years. [3] It begins at the Grotto drop off point on the park's shuttle system, which operates from early spring through late fall. Now I keep thinking about it, and my heartbeat still has not come down to normal, I think My husband, 17 year old son and I hiked together. I went through about 2 liters of water on the hike up to the summit of Angels Landing, and then back down to the canyon floor. It has lots of tips, info, and photos for the hike. The classic approach to Observation Point is currently CLOSED because of massive rockslide that obliterated the trail. Many deaths are from rail climbing for better pics. Listen to Jamie and decide if this hike is for you. Later in 2008 my brother Steve came to visit, and I talked him into doing Angels landing with me on November 7th. And doing it in the ice, with sections of no chains, and no crampons was slightly terrifying. 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