One step from

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Today we have a dilemma… we don’t have enough days to be able to hike in both Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and then be able to hike in the Grand Canyon. Maria has been to all three locations and Carl to the Grand Canyon - both decided that they wanted to hike in the Grand Canyon that would mean having to miss one of the other two… The day dawned cold and clear looking like it would shape up into a beautiful day once the sun came out!

Statistics

Starting Destination: Ruby’s Inn, Utah
Ending Destination: Mt. Carmel Junction, Utah
Ending Destination GPS: N: 37° 13.391’ W: 112° 40.959’ Elev: 5204’
Miles Driven: 130.3
Distance Hiked: 7.5 Miles (12 Km)
Vertical Elevation Change Hiked: 1643 Feet (501 meters)

Who does Hoodoo’s?

We decided we wouldn’t attempt the dawn view of the Canyon - too chilly! We also decided to forego hiking in Bryce Canyon in favor of hiking in Zion… So we drove directly to the park and then to Sunrise Point, arriving at about 8am - after sunrise, but definitely chilly enough to be able to see your breath and to need coat, hat and gloves! We had the whole place to ourselves and the view was spectacular… Carl was second guessing the decision not to hike. So we did the next best thing - walked a ways down into the Canyon… you certainly get a different perspective, being able to almost touch the Hoodoos in some cases. The early morning light accentuated the colors - many different shades of orange and cream, including all the shades in between and the green of the trees provided just the right degree of contrast. It was also almost eerily quiet; we could have been alone in the world. The canyon is noted for its acoustics; supposedly they rival the best concert halls. But not for long… the quiet was broken by a family with three kids who were being kids - shouting and running and throwing stones into the canyon!
Our next stop was the visitors’ center - we took a quick stroll through the displays and Carl looked at postcards… trying to identify some photo ‘techniques’ that he could borrow. We stopped last at Fairyland Point - you can’t see into the main canyon, but there was still plenty of Hoodoos to view… it was kind of fun to stand on the rim and use your imagination… is it a tree, no a bird, no…

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The Grand Staircase - First Steps

Driving out of the Park we turned West, past the Grey Cliffs - the first step in the Grand Staircase. Then followed the road through Red Canyon where the rock isn’t exactly red… more like a dark orange; there are some rock formations that remind you of the Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon but with more erosion and trees. Oh, and a very nice bike path that follows the road through the canyon - we will need to add that to the list of things to do “next time!” Turning south we follow the road to Zion National Park and more rock formations…
Before reaching the park entrance we stop to view the Checkerboard Mesa, where perpendicular cracks in the rocks the form the edges of the Mesa look like the squares on a checkerboard. We follow the road as it winds through Pine Creek Canyon, two tunnels and then down a set of serious switchbacks before reaching the floor of Zion Canyon. Unlike most of the other National Parks, at Zion you view the canyon from the floor not the rim.
Our plan was to hike the trail to Angel’s Landing - this promised to be a challenge, and it didn’t disappoint! We stopped briefly at the visitors’ center to confirm the details - unlike in the summer; we could drive to the trail head… which was good and bad, good in that we could park close, but bad in that we had to be creative in finding a parking place! We parked the truck, ate lunch, packed the day packs and set off. The first part of the trail was pretty flat as it followed the Virgin River, but this soon changed as we started up the first set of switchbacks into a slot canyon, up Walter’s Wiggles (a series of very steep switchbacks that were created by the original Park Warden in the 1920’s) to Scout Lookout - so far the trail has been steep, but a typical trail. However, this is getting ready to change… the last half mile of the trail follows a narrow ridge - with the help of chains you can walk/climb out to the end of the ridge for a spectacular view both up and down Zion Canyon. As the Park Ranger in the Grand Canyon commented - it is not exactly climbing but it not exactly hiking either. Carl thought the most challenging part was that segment of the trail - about 2 to 3 feet wide - where you can look to the right 1200 feet down and then look to the left 1200 feet down… after this segment of the trail; hiking will never be the same! We didn’t linger long at the “Angels Landing,” as there was plenty more to of the park to see.
The Weeping Rock: where water seeps out of cracks in the rocks and drops forming a ‘curtain’ of water that you can walk behind and look out through the curtain. The Great White Throne: a rock formation on the rim of the canyon that looks like a throne. The Temple of Sinawava: well we didn’t actually see at this rock formation, we were too focused on hiking along the Riverside Walk to the beginning of the canyon which forms The Narrows - a slot canyon. When Maria was last at Zion she decided that next time she would hike The Narrows; unfortunately with the time restrictions it will need to be the “next” time. However, she couldn’t help envying those people who were completing the hike. By this stage we were competing with the sun… light was fading and it was time to find somewhere to stay the night. We had thought about staying at the lodge in the Park… but we decided instead to re-trace our steps out of the Park and find a hotel for the night.

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Carl’s Travel Trivia

Yesterday’s Answer: A Hoodoo is a pillar of rock, usually of fantastic shape, left by erosion.
Today’s Question: Mt. Carmel Junction is located in Kane County, what percentage of Kane County is owned by the government?

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Comments

[Marv Bush]

Tumbleweeds answer
Thought of it yesterday as I was going out to the pasture. A group of tumbleweeds is called a pile of tumbleweeds. A pile here, a pile there. I saw a fence line of John Krupp about 4' high that was just solid with them. MB