not to derail this thread, but we only did about 1/2 mile section in from the terminus (the "riverside walk" trail in the park). i am looking to do the whole thing when we go back there next year.
if the overnight camping trip and 2 days of hiking in a river don't sound appealing to your buddies, you can walk a good ways up past the "do not walk any further" signs to the lower narrows, which are astounding. loads of people do it. just bring a change of shoes/socks/shorts, as all of them will be very wet. and don't try it in sandles. i'll attatch a pic i took of the lower narrows below, as it was taken in late autumn and is absurdly colorful.
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where is that picture from?