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Published: April 8th 2010
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Tuesday 6th April 2010 We are outta there! We packed up the beast and with the bright lights of Las Vegas behind us we hit the open road (Interstate 15 for the spotters) towards Zion National Park. We crossed the deserts of Nevada and Arizona and as we entered Utah the landscape changed from flat open spaces with tumbleweed to towering red sandstone cliffs (some of which are the highest in the world). By late afternoon we'd arrived in Zion National Park and happily gave up the full faciltites of the Las Vegas campground for the bare minimum at the Watchman Campsite within the Park. Especially when you consider the incredible pitch assigned to us, beside the river, catching the morning and evening sun and surrounded by the towering Zion Canyon. We wasted no time setting up camp (read into that "miller time"), purchasing firewood from the local dealer (read into that the local corner shop) and enjoying a meal al fresco by the fireside (read into that pasta and garlic bread cooled by the evening air). When it became too cold to sit outside, we moved on in and the red wine was opened and our plans for the next
day established, until Jonathan fell asleep wine glass (ie pint of) in hand!
Quoting our old friend Frommers,"It is one of the most spectacular places on earth. It's beauty and grandeur are overpowering. You cannot visit Zion without being inspired and awestruck by the immensity of the towering sandstone cliffs and deep narrow canyons."
Wednesday 7th April 2010 Today we made an early start, not intentionally, but when your toddler is up and chatting away at 6am there's little else you can do but get up and get going. We did have a few false starts however, firstly there was a return to the beast for the compass, then clothing, then the wallet and finally sunglasses! We eventually jumped aboard one of the propane powered shuttle buses (all vehicles are restricted from entering Zion Canyon) and rode the propane wave all the way up the canyon to the Temple of Sinawava. This is as far as vehicles can go due to the canyon narrowing. Onward from here, it's hikers only for a mile or so then it's wetsuits and poles for those few who want to go any further into the depths of the canyon and the Virgin
river. Rest assured, there was no wetsuit small enough for the little man so we turned around and took another trail back to the Zion lodge in the centre of the canyon where we stopped for a picnic lunch and a leg stretch. From here we headed up into the sandstone cliffs above the canyon for an afternoon trek along the Emerald Pools trail. We were lucky enough to have a clear blue sky and could enjoy the great panoramic views of the National Park - it really is true what they say in the guidebooks.
It was an early night to bed for Jack, Jonathan and I won't be long behind him as we've an early start tomorrow. We're heading to the local 'caff' for breakfast and a bit of Wi-Fi to post this blog before driving to Bryce Canyon National Park. To get there we have to go through the mile long Zion - Mt. Carmel tunnel which, due to there not being much difference between the dimensions of the beast and the tunnel walls will involve a Park Ranger stopping traffic and escorting us through. Keep your fingers crossed as we have a three figure excess
for damage to the vehicle!
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