ZION NATIONAL PARK	NOV. 10-12' 1978	BY C. RANSCHAU
Our objectives were North and South Guardian Angels and we suspected it would take three days, so Greg Vernon, Wendell Delanc, and I left on a Thursday nite for Z.N.P. We arrived at 2:00 am and zzzonked out in a campground near the headquarters. Next morning we looked through the displays and viewed the slide presentation--excellent. We told our plan to the Ranger and were given our permit in spite of assurances that the rains would fall in the impending storm. We drove north and took the turn off toward the Kolob Reservoir. went some seven miles and parked at the obvious turn off. The sky was overcast, as it had been through the night, but our instant decision was to go-for-it. We headed for the cliffs to the east and dropped down to the Left Branch of the North Fork of the Virgin River. I had been here five years earlier and knew the route. We whacked our way upstream to the campsite which we reached at 12:30. In the pm we went up to take a look at the 'tuff' spots. The first obstacle can be ascended with etriers. We also checked to see that the log was in place at the entrance to the narrows--which it was-- and we retreated to camp. It rained some at about 6:00 pm and after about 1/2 hour delay a thunderous waterfall eminated from high on the cliffs above directly across the stream from our camp, giving warning to what perils might develop from streams that can become swollen in very brief time?? In the am things looked 'normal' with heavy clouds and we set off up stream. Greg and Wendell kept their pants dry by removing same, but I overestimated the shallowness of the stream and came up wet. The squat ledge was still there and then it was up out of the canyon. After attaining the plateau above, I had only a vague recollection of the route from '73, but it was fun route finding and working our way up. About half way up the final ascent it began to drizzle and I kept hoping it wouldn't lightning--which it didn't. We touched in on top and left immediately via the same route. When we returned to the river bed it was obvious the river had risen somewhat and fear began to invade my mind, wondering how severely the narrows had been effected. As we charged down stream an unwelcome sight presented itself-- a new, voluminous waterfall was adding large quantities of what-we-didn't-need more-of. The roar at the narrows was deafening and we had to yell into each others ears to be heard. We roped up and I went first. Fifteen feet apart, voice communications were impossible--it had to be done with sign language. In our haste it was important not to make a dumb, fatal mistake. Greg lowered me over the edge into a pool and I couldn't touch bottom. A few swimming strokes and I was on a side ledge, Wendell was next and he did a hand-over-had on a streached rope and Greg was able to do a similar technique. Then it was "stay-on-the-ledge boys, it's-too deep-in-the-middle". At the end the log had been displaced by the rising waters. I swam the few feet and held the log in place for the others. Below the rapel the current was shallow but very swift and we were swept off our feet. The last part Greg belayed us and Wendell and I hung onto each other and then we were there!!!! The pm was spent drying out. In the early am hours a dead tree came crashing down and the morning light revealed the cause--wet snow all around. The way down the canyon was no cake walk with slipperyness everywhere. The scene was all difo now with snow and clouds and when a trail presented itself we took it gradually up out of the canyon. The sign at the top read "North Creek Trail". We knew our road lay to the north and after a long trek we reached it. We got a ride five miles south to our truck and then it was din-din in Las Vegas, and home. Anyone in DPS land for N.G.A. in the Springtime??

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