Jan 26-28, 2011 Zion National Park



Virgin River Valley, Zion National Park


We've continued the Loaf Tour through Utah, the land of 3% beer (Mormon country and yes, even Heineken abides to the laws set forth by the LDS) and through some very beautiful countryside on the Colorado Plateau.  We spent two and a half days in Zion National Park gazing in wonder at the colorful canyon walls and mostly dormant vegetation.  We've developed a system getting to know our national parks.  The first day is usually spent driving around, getting our bearings, stopping in the visitor’s center and educating ourselves on the hows and whys of the park.

That night, we set up camp and establish a game plan for the next day's adventure--which usually includes some form of activity/exercise.  Zion seemed like a fairly small park, especially since half the road system was closed for the winter.  The main canyon was still amazing. This place must see gaggles of tourists in the summer, so we were happy to be here now--with just a few other crazies like us.  ZNP is located on the Southwest portion of the Colorado Plateau. It was formed by a large uplift in the continental crust-old sea bed, lake bed, sand dune, and lava then deposited in layers on top of each other, kind of like a cake.  Now all the exposed layers are vulnerable to erosional forces, mainly water and wind.  The Virgin River flows year round through the main valley floor while most other drainages run dry during the summer months. Despite what one would think about the River in a valley of red rocks...the water is a milky green color. We were surprised by that!!  It’s a truly magnificent place.

We camped for 2 nights at Watchman CG (the only one open-easy choice) and we were fortunate to have electrical hookups to run our heater-yeah! Nights were clear and cold, with millions of stars.  We had spectacular sunset colors on The Watchman and Crawford Arch—which is the skinniest arch on the entire Colorado Plateau—a mere sliver.

The camp host was a nice gentleman from Portland, OR and gave us some good insider info. You all know how much, we like to hunt and gather…well we gathered pecans from the non-native trees in the CG that were planted by the Mormons, who tried to settle in this valley in the 1880s.  Jason climbed up the tree like a monkey and shook the branches…we gathered up those nuts and enjoyed the sweetness in each morsel. A good activity for the day’s last light.
We were fortunate the weather was clear and sunny--offering great views.



Angel's Landing

 The highlight of Zion NP was our hike to Angel's Landing.  It's one of the most popular strenuous hikes in the park and even more perilous in the winter with snow and ice on the shady parts of the trail. The beginning of the trail is paved switchbacks up a rock face (a turbo Mom was pushing a stroller up it).  Then, the trail wanders through a slot canyon that infrequently sees the sun and is appropriately called Refrigerator Canyon. The trail then goes up another rock face through a section called Walter's Wiggles--which are a series of short switchbacks (normally not a problem, but with ice and snow...proceed with caution). Finally, you get up to the Scout’s Lookout and the views begin to open up.  Then (now it’s getting good), you hike along a knife ridge (apprx 1 mile long).  Steep, unforgiving drop-offs of a couple thousand feet on either side.....proceed with utmost watchfulness. Then, you get to the really best part....(for some people) where you have to hold onto chain rails to reach the summit. Imagine walking up steep stairs of uneven heights, with an occasional inconvenient icy patch disguised under some red-tinted sand and a handrail on one side that's a heavy duty chain...that's kind of what it was like--IT WAS AWESOME, FUN, CHALLENGING AND VERY REWARDING. The prize is the incredible view of Zion Canyon, The White Throne and Virgin River in the valley...some 2,000+ ft below. We enjoyed our well-deserved lunch on the top and let the other hikers come and go—and took in the solitude on top of Angel's Landing. A great hike--highly recommend it to those who are not afraid of heights and are up for an grand adventure. It’s well worth it. 

Thanks Dave and Glen for the hike info.