Zion National Park

The last two days have been at Zion National Park in Springdale,Utah. It is one of the busiest national parks and we can see why. It is a large canyon with narrow slot canyons carved by the Virgin River through red and tan Navajo Sandstone. It is surrounded by mountains, monoliths, and buttes and home to mountain sheep , turkeys, and lots of lizards creating a unique environment. It also creates an environment hostile to wi- fi or any cellular sevice which explains why I haven't been able to post anything. Hopefully the service will get better at Bryce Canyon which is our next stop.

We camped along the Virgin river and this is a view from our campsite.

And our site along the river

Our first day at Zion we hiked the most challenging trail in the park called Observation Point. It is 4 miles to the top and very steep. Very steep!! It starts out for the first mile with a series of switchbacks that leaves you wondering how you will manage to make it to the top. 

After that it flattens out in to a slot canyon called The Refrigerator because it is much cooler and shaded. It's colorful and filled with interesting shapes and crevices 

It a a short break because the next 1 3/4 miles are another series of thigh burning, lung collapsing, sanity questioning switchbacks. With every turn you hope the switchbacks are ending and your hopes are quickly dashed. It's not a popular trail for this reason and even the those in the best shape ( that's Cassie and def not me) need to take a break every 10 minutes or so. What keeps you moving on is beauty of the trail, filled with magnificent views and interesting vegetation.

The last 3/4 mile is a flat trail along the top ridge to an amazing lookout at the highest point in the park. 

This is what we both felt like. Exhausted and happy.

The hike back down 4 miles was slightly better but tough on the knees but we made it and felt so proud of ourselves. So proud that we treated ourselves to dinner and beverages at the Zion Canyon Brewery

We both took Advil and fell asleep by 8:30 so happy and sore and satisfied with our day.

We woke up feeling good if slightly stiff in the legs and headed back to the park to do the most popular hike in the park and possibly in the entire national park system. It's called the Narrows and It gets its name because it is where the Virgin River slices it's way through Zion Canyon. It starts with a 1 mile walk along the river. As you stand in the edge of the river you look up and you are surrounded on both sides of the canyon walls over 1000 feet high. Then the trail ends or begins depending on if you feel like getting wet. The trail continues up the Virgin River and the brave wade waist deep or chest deep if you are short like Cassie in 50 degree water. 

The water was freezing, you couldn't feel your feet and the current was so strong you had to slowly take every step or else you and your backpack would be easily pushed under water. But everyone hiking had the same huge smile. It was so much fun. Unlike Observation Point which was a tough slog up the mountain with a great sense of accomplishment, The Narrows was a thril , full of laughing and having a great time with each other and the other hikers. And other hikers there were. We were in the river by 8:00 and as we were ending the hike, the entrance was mobbed like it was the newest ride at Disney. We researched it well though and got an early start which led to an amazing experience. 

We left Zion elated and ready for more experiences to come. We traveled to Bryce Canyon and tonight we will be going to their annual Astronomy Festival and will look at the stars, planets and constellations through telescopes they set up at the Visitor Center from 10:30- midnight. Hope I can stay up that late.