West Rim Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

The West Rim Trail from Lava Point is the standard approach for Imlay Canyon — 14 miles of ridgeline hiking with 270-degree views over Zion's canyon country before committing to the canyon. Starting before dawn with headlamps to reach the Imlay drop-in by mid-morning. The trail follows the Zion Plateau rim with Horse Pasture Plateau and the Great White Throne visible to the east. The Walter Stech crew assembled at Lava Point the morning of the Imlay push — twelve hours underground ahead of us. October 2015.