Day 48 - Saturday, March 20

Man! It was 24 this morning! But the sky was clear and as soon as the sun came up over the mountain top it got hot - in the sun.  Still cool, if not cold, in the shade.  But with all the blue sky it was easy to stay warm outside.

We went on a yet a different hike today - Angel's Landing.  Rated as "strenuous" with narrow trails and likely to have snow and ice.  We were not sure if we should attempt it, but what the hell!  Off we went.  Turned out to be mostly paved (would be too muddy and slippery if not) and snow and ice had melted.  It was still a test and the most exhausting hike of our trip.  We did not do the last 1/2 mile - a two hour round trip - to the peak of the mountain.  Very narrow.  Very crowded. Very steep. Very dangerous and the only way up and down was by pulling yourself along with chains that had been anchored into the mountain. We could have made it given our own pace, but just too many people going up and down a "one lane" path when we were on a time constraint to get back to the dogs within 4 hours.

It was very satisfying to get as far as we did.  Great workout!

Zion is getting very busy now.  All campgrounds open and full.  In fact, as I mentioned yesterday, we are on a first come basis at our current campsite until Wednesday when all sites are reservable.  So if we want to stay through Wednesday we can because we are "first come" as long as we are occupying the site.  But starting Thursday, the reservation system becomes active and all spaces have already been reserved for the season.  We might just stay until we have to leave!  Weather is perfect and still one or two more hikes to take to "bag" them all here.

Pictures, Pictures, and more Pictures ------------

That peak is the end of the trail (hike).  At this point Ellen is wondering "We"re going up there?"

Just a view in the opposite direction

Ellen says - "Let's do it"

Off we go!

Unless you can really expand this picture, you can't see the trail that climbs right up the sheer rock.  From our point of view we can see maybe 50 people climbing the trail in front of us. 

Looking back on the trail at just the beginning

A little higher up

Higher still

The Hiking "Dude"

Contributing to the erosion of the valley - what a view!

Canyon gettng narrow

Views from the end of our hike

Looking at the last 1/2 mile of the trail - two hour round trip from here to "go the distance"  Very dangerous and crowded.  We started but decided to turn back.  Warning at the start of this last 1/2 mile says most deaths in Zion occur along this part of the trail.

We're happy to be heading down

This one's for you Chincia

Day 47 - Friday, March 19

Today we are not doing anything of interest - that is, nothing that we have planned anyway.

So here are pictures of our little trip yesterday out of the park through the tunnel at the East end and continuing on to Mt. Carmel Junction.  Thought it would be a scenic drive and perhaps find a nice restaurant for lunch.  The drive to the end of the park was very beautiful but the scenery once outside the park just seemed to be so boring.  Guess that's why Zion is a Nationa Park.  Mt. Carmel was a gas station and convenience store and several "broken down" motels.

At the end of the tunnel on the way out we did park to walk a 1 mile scenic overlook.  Not much of a work out but very pretty.

East end of tunnel.  RV's and trucks are not allowed through this unless a $15.00 "escort" pass is purchased.  It's too low and narrow for two way traffic when an RV goes through so they have to stop traffic until the RV gets through.  The escorted vehicles must drive right down the center of the road through the 1.1 mile tunnel.

Looking down at the dogs in our car (far lower right) from the start of the overlook trail

The trail is very narrow in spots and handrails have been installed to prevent Ellen from falling over the cliff

Is that real rock?

Truck'in on up the trail

The trail goes right under the rock - the handrail and boardwalk can be seen here

Top of the canyon overlook

Don't we look happy?

Picture taken from opening in the tunnel as we drove through.  Can't stop though - too bad!  Great view.  No one was behind us so I stopped anyway

Heading back down into the park and our campground

Day 46 - Thursday, March 18

We were going to move "on down the road" this morning as our 13th day in Zion was over.  Lot's of options floating around as to what and where next.  Bottom line - can't get a reservation or drive-up site here in Zion after this week.  The park is basically full for the season starting Monday.  So we decided why not stay as long as we can now that we are here and the weather is to "die for".  We are lucky to be here!  So I paid for four more nights - through Sunday.  Had to pack up and move again - 6th time during our stay - but small problem as we had to empty our holding tanks and refill with water anyway.

If I didn't say it previously, my senior citizen fee to camp here with electrical hook-up is $9.00/night!  That's right, $9.00.  I can't live in my own house for anyway near $9.00/night!  Very few National Parks offer camping with electricity - this is one of them.  We could not find a reason to leave so we stayed.  Not what we planned, but that is what makes traveling by RV so great.  New day, New choices, New places! Nine Dollar-No Holler!

Sister Beth/Brother Bob, Brother Tim/Sister Dea - we have to get you out here!  Life is too uncertain to put it off!

Pictures -

Mexican Dinner night with Margaritas

Issy after "wallering" in the dirt after her swim

Issy after cleaning her up

Gracie searching for the ball

Historical Grafton Utah

Click here if you want more historical information Grafton

Pictures of Tuesdays Sand Bench Hike

Elevated view from Zion Canyon looking back on Springdale

 

The "Three Patriarchs"

Video - Sand Bench hike

Video - Girls Going Wild

Day 45 - Wednesday, March 17

Good Day!

Never posted the pictures as promised yesterday.  Today was to be our last here and we just kind of took it easy and enjoyed the sun.  It just got a little lazy around here.

We did take the dogs down to the Virgin River that flows through the campground and let them swim.  They had a great time and we enjoyed watching them have so much fun.  Stopped by the campground water faucet to rinse them off and then "walked them dry" before returning to the RV.

All pictures will be updated on Thursday's post tomorrow.  We have decided to extend another 4 days - through the weekend - and will have no excuse to not get caught up.

Day 44 - Tuesday, March 16

Today was a repeat of yesterday - total blue sky with cool mountain breezes to take the "bite" out of the high altitude sun.  As planned, we did our 4th hike up into Zion Canyon.

Looks like Elkhart weather has been pretty good lately.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, is our last in Zion.  After 13 days in the area we are moving on.  Still not sure where to yet, but most likely South and or Southeast.  Our original plan was to follow spring north from here, but spring in the mountains does not start until early to mid May.  Most of the National Parks in the northwest are closed for all but easy drives to their visitor centers.  That's just not worth the effort for a limited access to the parks and minimal facilities open.  We will have to try again another year in May or September.

Pictures of todays hike, if not already below, will be posted soon.

Day 43 - Monday, March 15

Well, we got lucky again.  Walked to the ranger station this morning at 8:00 am and a cancellation resulted in a 3 day stay extension for us.  We did have to pack up and move for the fifth time in eleven days, but by now we are getting pretty efficient at changing camp sites.

In bad weather this park nice, but not great.  In  great weather this park is awesome!  We now are having great weather.  We love it!  We are very happy campers right now.

Today was taken up with moving, driving 25 miles to grocery shop, wash the car, and just "chill" out and enjoy the warmth of the sun.  Tomorrow another hike, but a more challenging one.

Pictures below from our Sunday hike -
And three videos at the end:

Once again, "The Watchman"

We drove to Zion Lodge and parked the car to begin the hike of the Emerald Pools. There is a series of 3 pools and waterfalls with the longest at the top

On our way to the upper Emerald Pool. It became a little steeper and the walls of the canyon were straight up and blocking the sun. The trail became a very fine sand between huge rocks and boulders

At the top pool the water was really cascading and it was much cooler. Awesome!

The video really is worth a look

Coming down the trail to the middle and lower pools.

There was a lot of mud on this part of the trail

After our hike we drove around a bit and took pictures out of the open sun roof taking it all in

Back at camp enjoying the pups and the sunshine

Somehow, pictures are out of sync but you get the idea of the beauty of Zion

Major mud on the trail

CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEOS

Upper Emerald Pool 1

Upper Emerald Pool 2

End of Canyon Drive