Continuing the Adventure!

Last week (last week already?!?!) we returned from our vacation to Zion National Park. It was our last vacation before school started, and the first vacation that we had really gone on in a long time. We drove up on Thursday, secured a campsite (yes, the campground was full) and then set up camp. I cannot tell you how nice it was to finally be camping.

Friday we decided to take it easy on hiking (since we were getting used to the elevation). First we explored the Emerald Pools (Lower, then Middle, then Upper).


View from Lower Emerald Pools looking up at the waterfall

After we explored the Emerald Pools, we decided that 3 miles wasn't enough, so we headed up to do the River Walk along the Virgin River. I thought that this would be a good time to take advantage of a nice and easy walk (which it was) but I had no idea that we would be doing the same hike two days later. We then did another "quick" hike to Weeping Rock. It was an amazingly steep hike, but I'm glad we did it. The water coming out of the rock is estimated 800-1200 years old, amazing!

The next day (after a nice night of sleep in the VERY WINDY campground) we decided that it was time for Angel's Landing. Let me tell you, 2.5 miles, 1,500 feet seemingly straight up, it was a workout! (Not to mention the 2.5 miles and 1,500 feet straight down that we had to do to get back home...


The view partway up!

It was an amazing hike. While resting at the top (before we attempted the last .5 mile of "hiking") we had a California Condor fly right over our heads. The closest we will probably ever be, it was pretty amazing. Then we took off for the "Landing" part of the hike. I think its .5 mile as the condor flies, because it certainly felt like much further of a hike. Yeah, the path is along a cliff, with a 1,200 foot drop on one side and only an 800 ft drop on the other. Needless to say I was so focused on my next step and climbing up and down that I didn't really appreciate how close we were to the edge until we looked at our photos.


The path along the rim

But the view was Amazing!




Misha Hanging On


Alissa Hanging On.

Well, after hiking up (and then down) the mountain, we were pretty much done for the day.We enjoyed a much-earned ice cream at the lodge and then returned at our campsite to rest our sore muscles.

As if that wasn't enough, the next day we decided to tackle The Narrows. The first mile is the River Walk that we did two days previous, but the next several miles are in the water in the canyon in The Virgin River. We wandered about 8 miles total through the canyon and ended up pretty deep in the water. It was an amazing canyon, but we decided not to risk the camera's life with the risk of water. Though I have to say, with the massive hike from the day before, the icy cold water felt great on our sore muscles! We made lots of friends on this hike, as we all sought out the best path (shallowest and most stable) through the rushing water. It was quite an experience and we were lucky to do it, since the hike is shut down regularly if the water is going too quickly or there is threat of a flash flood.


All too soon, our vacation was coming to a close. It was time to head back home to reality. Though a good reality, Misha started nursing school the next week. The next adventure begins!