Hi Karl, perhaps you’re reading this before getting to The Subway. For good light you should start very early (around 4 am at Springdale). I met a German hiker on his way back to the North Fork trailhead around 11 am! He reached The Subway at 8 am and told me the light was good until 9 am. Another option is to leave late. In both cases – don’t forget your headlight. These picture were taken around 4:45 pm. I forgot my headlight in the car so I couldn’t stay longer.

I asked one of the groups which were coming down from the top to use their rope and take the short track to North Pole:

Anyway .. have a nice hike, Volker