RUNNER-UP: Canyoneering in Zion National Park Presenting the final round of our Action Photography Contest, judged by National Geographic photographer Bill Hatcher.
If you've chased a lofty adventure goal, send us your photos and four lessons learned (see example >>). They could be published in the magazine or online.
This photograph was taken in the summer of 2006 when a friend took me down to Zion National Park's Pine Creek Canyon. As we made our way down the narrow canyons, it was amazing to see how flowing water had carved the rock walls. These particular slot canyons require rappelling down cliffs up to 90 feet [27 meters]. It also required swimming through chilly pools that could cause hypothermia, even though it was sweltering above the surface. Though the slot canyon we went down was technical, there are many others that don't require all the gear or know how. —Cody Olsen, 26 Information Technologies Salt Lake City, Utah
Judge's Remarks: This is a good shot taken in very low light conditions. The photo could be improved if we could see more of the reflective wall to the left and below the person and less shadowed area in the photo. —Bill Hatcher, photographer and author of the National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Action & Adventure
DIY:Zion's National Park is located 483 miles (777 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. Visit the park's Web site(www.nps.gov/archive/zion/ZionNarrows.htm) to find information on the different slot canyons (known as the Narrows). More information about going into the slot canyons can be found at Zion Adventure Company (www.zionadventures.com/canyoneering.html).
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