Oct 13, 2012 - Zion, UT

Day forty three: Destination- Zion Soundtrack- Harvey Danger Zion was apparently so full that there was no parking in the park. We had to park in town and catch a shuttle bus into the park. They don't allow driving on the main road of the park. So, we would have had to ride the shuttle all day anyway, but the traffic was a bit annoying. We took the shuttle to the Angel's landing trailhead. It was supposedly a strenuous 5.4 mile, 4 hour hike. We figured we do this hike and then a couple smaller hikes before driving to Bryce. Little did we...

Oct 12, 2012 - Up to Zion

It has been a great week with many experiences and most were pleasant. Monday we spend the day visiting downtown Salt Lake city and you may have your ideas about Mormons but they are hospitable. There are many buildings dedicated to the the Mormon faith and they are all done in great style with no costs spared. We saw the inside of the Conference Centre it seats 22,000 people and is equipped with the most up to date electronics and sound systems and of course a great pipe organ. At the Tabernacle we listened to an organ recital played on...

Oct 12, 2012 - Grand Canyon, AZ to Zion, UT

Day forty two: Destination- Zion Soundtrack- Gorillaz This morning as we left the mountains it started to snow. Snow... in Arizona?... in October? Crazy weather... We spent most of the morning looking for a cool shot glass from Arizona (mostly because I got whiney that it would be the only state we didn't have. Once I start something I like to complete it). So, after quite a bit of searching we found one right at the border. We didn't get into Zion until after 2. We drove around a bit. They have some amazing tunnels through the...

Sep 23, 2012 - A little more Zion

Saturday was the first day of fall but you wouldn't know it here. The temperature topped out at 96 with just a few clouds to be seen and tree leaves are still green, but that's about to change I'm sure. We decided since the weather was so nice we'd spend the day bike riding along the Virgin River and some other trails in the park. The Pa'Rus trail near the campground is paved and extends almost two miles to the Canyon Junction shuttle stop. We stopped a few times to enjoy the views of the sandstone cliffs surrounding us then headed back to...

Sep 21, 2012 - Cedar Break

Today we took a loop tour at the north end of Zion that will take us to the Kolob Canyons section of Zion and Cedar Breaks National Monument then returning on the Zion-Mt Carmel road. The Kolob Canyons are close to 40 miles from our starting point at Zion Visitor Center. For the first time in nearly a month we were driving an Interstate highway, I-15! It's mentally tough to drive at legal 75 mph after all the back roads we've been on. The drive took us nearly an hour, though, due to construction. We arrived at the Visitor Center, picked...

Sep 20, 2012 - Inside Zion

Zion is Hebrew for sanctuary and that's a pretty descriptive word for this valley. Nestled between towering sandstone canyon walls, along the fast flowing Virgin River. A valley filled with cottonwood and yellow sunflowers, protected by the sheer canyon cliffs. Early Mormon settlers chose this oasis thinking it to be Paradise after their journey across the dry Utah desert. The sun rises late and sets early in this deep canyon. We started our day's exploration with a brief walk to the Visitor Center where we jumped aboard one of the free...

Sep 19, 2012 - Road to Zion

We somewhat reluctantly pulled up stakes in Wahweap and headed northwest back into Utah, losing an hour on the clock but certainly not our good memories of this lake area. Rather boring desert view for much of the way, but it did get rather interesting near Kanab. We were on the fringe of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Grand Staircase refers to the multiple layers of rock eroded into a stair case look that stretches for hundreds of miles. Each rock layer was a different color, ranging from white at top to dark rust on the...

Sep 2, 2012 - Zion National Park, Utah

Toured Zion National Park today. It is like no other that we have seen. The mountains are sandstone not granite so they have a very different character. Also the valley is smaller (than Yosemite for sure) and the mountains are closer. We took the shuttle around to all the viewing sites and took a couple of short hikes from the shuttle sites but we didn't venture more than about 1/2 mile on the hikes. It was Labor Day weekend so it was very crowded. The hike to weeping rock was the longest but it was worth it. We are both getting tired....

Sep 1, 2012 - Zion NP 1 September

We split up in groups today to do various hikes. I would have loved to walk up Angles Landing however it was advised to do the walk early in the morning and they were leaving on the 6am shuttle from Springdale. Also the elevation of the hike was 1,500 ft and the walk 5.4 miles. The last part was on the rim with a chain for support. I'm finding I am managing the hikes but the elevations slow me down. Anyway I did the Lower, middle and upper Emerald Lakes with Laura, Laura and Kristoff. After that Laura and I toured the park on the shuttle....

Aug 31, 2012 - Tonopah to Zion NP

Travelled along Highway 375, also known as Extraterestial Highway where 'Area 51', the secret govenment site is located. Our 1st stop was at "Al"e"inn" Bar and Diner at Rachel. I must say it was different. Our next stop was at Ash Hot Springs near Alamo. We had a break from the drive for 30 mins to enjoy the hot springs. I would have preferred the water to be cold! I'm not really into hot springs on a hot day. We arrived at Springdale our stop for the next two nights. Even though it was 5.30pm we left at 6pm to catch the shuttle to the...

Aug 7, 2012 - Zion NP

August 7, 2012 - Attended Zion National Park with our friends, Dan & Ann Flynn from Hillsdale, Michigan who now reside in Mesquite, Nevada about 1 1/2 hrs from Las Vegas. We stayed with them two nights and had a great time catching up and reminiscing.

Jun 29, 2012 - Roadtrip to Zion

Got up and attempted the huge task of fitting our luggage for Cali and the trip into the Lee's car. We were really at a loss as to how that was going to happen, but Katie and I rearranged things into a few suitcases while the boys loaded stuff onto the top of the car (with Sam's help- couldn't have done it without him!). We stuffed everything and everyone into all the crevices of the car and said goodbye to my fan- I miss them already! We drove about 11 hours through the mountains and Utah. On the way, we saw two more forest fires (total of...