Zion to Bryce Canyon
Rise and shine, it’s a fabulous day in Zion! We got up early and made some breakfast, packed a lunch, and headed off to catch the shuttle that would take us to Angel’s Landing trail head. This hike has been on my bucket list for ages, we were beyond excited to embrace the day and all that Zion has to offer. The trail starts out crossing the Virgin River then wandering along its shore with views of the mountains that surround the valley. A bit further along we began to hike upwards with long lazy switch backs following a sandy path that turns to solid cement; along the way shrubs, cacti and wildflowers were smiling and happy to see us. Once at the top of this section, we entered into a wonderland of green leafy trees reaching up to the sun through the thin crack between the canyon rock faces, it was straight out of Land Before Time. The trail through this red canyon flattens out allowing you to gaze up at the staggering rock faces, the trees hanging off the side of the cliffs, and to listen to the bird calls echoing off the walls. Around the corner from the canyon you begin to climb again but this time it is practically straight up a path coined Walter’s Wiggles, a 24 level sharp switch back zipper. The wiggles were definitely a highlight, built of brick rocks back in the thirties. At the top there is a resting place called Scout’s Lookout, providing a beautifully clear view of the valley and steep drop offs below. But this is just getting started. Across the rock face the trail leads along a knifes edge before summiting to Angel’s Landing, which earned its name because it was believed only angles could land on such a place. We hiked along the trail that became rocks/boulders for stairs and a chain bolted into the ground and on the cliff’s face for a hand hold. Along the knifes edge there are shear cliffs on either side of a rock trail about three feet wide. Scrambling along the rocks and side of the cliff was exhilarating but the anticipation of the viewpoint ahead was beyond words. As we pulled ourselves up the last stretch of rocks and chain we walked out across the landing, jaws dropped and socks knocked off. This peak jets out between the rest with a stunning 360 view of Zion Valley. At the edge of the peak, the valley in full view, we reclined along the sun warmed rock and ate some lunch. I have never felt a place so full of light and clarity. Hiking back down proved just as much a task as climbing up, but it was just as fun! We were on pure adrenaline after that, joyous with the knowledge and memories of this mystical place. Left Zion on the same beautiful red highway we came. Wound our way to a campground in Bryce Canyon. Prepared dinner but when I turned the burner on, no propane. Panicked for a bit as reality set in, cold cereal for dinner! Until Mitch remembered he brought his hiking camp stove! He always has a back up plan. Mitch built a fire to eat next to since the low for the night would be 20 degrees. One of our neighbor campers joined us for a moment, it was she and her husband’s last night camping and they still had a few groceries they wouldn’t need anymore, pork chops, green beans, and tomatoes, she offered them to us. Gladly we accepted and in the conversation that followed we discovered her husband is a popular black and white film photographer down in Florida, he is famous for his photos of the swamps because he gets waist deep in them to get the perfect shot! Here is the link to his website, www.clydebutcher.com, pretty cool, check it out. After we parted ways, Mitch got creative about how to keep the van warm without propane. Usually, the fridge runs on it and pumps out the heat to keep it cool and us warm, but tonight with record lows for this trip, no such luck. Hot rocks! That was the solution. I watched as Mitch heated stones in the camp fire, chopsticked them out of the fire and onto a metal plate, with makeshift oven-mitts he carried a plate full of hot rocks into the van. You may be skeptical, but it actually worked pretty good! We slept in our winter wear and puffy jackets that night, only to wake in the morning to discover, I had forgotten to open the main propane valve the night before, we had propane the whole time!!
