Part 2?! What happened to Part 1? Isn’t this Still Life? What’s the big idea? And why does it say Zion twice in the title?
Stop badgering me, and I’ll tell you!
Last question first, I want to point out that Zion is the only N.P. whose four-letter designation ZION is its actual name. Ok, then, to the rest.
We had originally planned to come through southern Utah in April, and those plans would have had us at Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Parks. Zion wasn’t on the list for 2020 because we had visited it in 2009 (with TBG’s whole family) and while it’s certainly a park that’s worthy of a return visit, we had wanted to spend time at a couple new-to-us parks.
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| Scenes from Zion Part 1: TBG and nephew navigate the chains on Angels Landing, a view of Kolob Arch, Lovebirds on Observation Point, Taylor Creek hike |
When we first arrived in Hurricane, which is about a half-hour drive to Zion’s main (southern) entrance, the park was still open, but barely, and the reports of overcrowding were sufficient to keep us away. Once the shutdown was complete, we were resigned to the possibility that we’d not be able to re-visit this year at all. We counted ourselves lucky to have hit so many of the iconic spots in ’09.
On May 13, the park re-opened on a limited basis, and we made the potentially regrettable decision to head in. We hoped that, being a Wednesday with no shuttles running or visitor centers open and several of the signature trails closed for various reasons (C19, maintenance, rock slides) it wouldn’t be too bad. We braced ourselves to be trapped in an endless line of cars with the possibility of peeing our pants.
We needn’t have worried. The gates were wide open and deserted since no fees were being collected for the time being. There were plenty of spaces in our chosen lot and masked park workers were at the ready to assist and direct visitors. The restrooms were also open, so no pants were peed.
West Rim, Bottom Up
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| Déjà view |
We had to repeat a section of trail we’d done in ’09 in order to get to a part we’d not. The sign says Angels Landing, and this is the way there, but it is actually the West Rim Trail. The first mile is a moderate climb through Refrigerator Canyon, then the next mile climbs up a series of 21 short, steep switchbacks called Walter’s Wiggles.
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| TBwiggler |
A total of 1000’+ later, the Wiggles dump you out at Scout Lookout, a good place for a breather, a restroom break (facilities provided) and excellent views into Zion Canyon. From here, you have three choices. You can take the treacherous half-mile trail out to the tip of Angels Landing (currently closed), call it a day and head back down, or continue out the West Rim Trail, which is what we did.
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| Making these signs is hard. |
One of the “problems” with monumental hikes that offer jaw-dropping
views at every turn is that you end up with an overwhelming number of
photos to sort through and choose from. I helped mitigate that problem
by dropping my camera lens-first onto the trail where it literally bit
the dust. TBG takes better scenery photos anyhow, and I will just let
some of the best ones do the talking, but they might be out of order. If
you’re not familiar with this hike, you won’t know the difference. I did the hike, and I can barely tell the difference, so we’re even.
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| Looking across Telephone Canyon. |
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| Heading into lush and cool Little Siberia. |
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| Climbing out of Little Siberia. |
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| Telephone Canyon beyond Little Siberia’s greenery. |
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| Perspective. |
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| TLwiggler |
At the bottom of the V made by the sky in the above photo is the point from which the Perspective photo was shot.
Gifford Canyon & East Rim
Our next adventure involved traversing the park on the twisting, turning, wiggling Highway 9 and through the mile-long Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel to get to a place just east of the passage. The two small parking lots were cordoned off, but further up the road we found a pullout that wasn’t ringed with No Parking signs. We hiked back down the road, and by the time we got to the ranger hut at the tunnel’s east entrance, the ranger was there. She confirmed our parking choice and wished us happy hiking.
From what would normally be the trailhead parking lot, you have to drop straight down a short section of rocky wall. Then you cross over the wash to climb up a short section of slightly less rocky wall.
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| TBG made a handy-dandy little guide. |
It’s a pretty canyon once you do, though.
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| Trying to stay on the rocky parts which look like water in this photo. |
Avoiding actual water wasn’t a problem in the bottom, but the sand could be tricky because sometimes where it looked perfectly dry, it was really boot-sucking quicksand. We didn’t see anyone else along the way, but that doesn’t mean we weren’t seen.
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| Kitty! |
We didn’t go too far, mostly because it became a hard scramble and partially because worrying about being pounced on by a mountain lion is exhausting.
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| I’d live here, too, if I was a puma. |
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| Peeking into a spur canyon before climbing out. |
This section is not a particularly spectacular trail in Zion-speak, but it’s nicely maintained, and the long switchbacks up to the rim are easily navigated. The whole trail is 11 miles one way, but we weren’t doing that much even on our best day. That just leaves more for another time!
Northgate Peaks
With the temperatures continuing to climb, the limited access to and popularity of the trails in the main canyon, and our desire to see the lesser-visited areas of the park anyhow, we headed up to the Kolob Terrace section for our third Zion foray.
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| “Be like a wildcat!” I said. Hee! |
This hike, as you can see, begins at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead, and I’ll show you that hike in the next post. Meanwhile, the first mile is the same for several different destinations.
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| This world record fatty says, “It’s all the same to me!” |
We enjoyed the pine-scented air and mild temps on the way out, but didn’t take many photos until we got to the end.
I hate it when he climbs out on the rocks, and he hates it when I yell at him for climbing out on the rocks. It’s just one of the ways we maintain a healthy balance!
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| He’ll argue the pictures are worth it. |
We veered off-trail a bit on the return to take in some alternate views.
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| A gopher snake was guarding the cryptobiotic soil. |
I took a nice rest well off the fragile soil while TBG walked out a bit further to check for photo ops.
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| He found this. |
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| This is what befalls those who stomp the delicate ecology! |
The ribcage of these elk remains shone like a beacon not far off the trail, so we had to investigate. There was no head anywhere to be found, which (we guessed) meant either the animal was poached for its rack or the skull was collected by park personnel after its natural demise.
The walk back was as pleasant as the walk out, though critter-free.
Speaking of stressful events, sorry about your camera. That truly sucks. I have to say, one of the best things about relying on my phone to take most pics these days is, with it’s handy dandy protective case, no matter how many times I bounce it off the ground, it keeps working. Very helpful…
On a related note, I am surprised and happy to hear the restrooms at Zion are open. I was worried about that because the Idaho state park we’re headed to next month said their campground bathhouses were all going to be closed. I assumed that was going to be a common thing and given people’s inability to properly handle that stuff out in nature, I was worried. Glad that won’t be the case at the national parks.
Spectacular scenery as always at Zion. What a deal to be so close and able to access it during the lockdown.
I am happy to report that I have a new camera now, and if I can figure out how not to accidentally hit the record button and make every picture a two-second movie, I might get some usable shots. It’s the same camera I had, just a newer model, and it’s like learning it all over again. I don’t want to learn any more new gadgets!! I do need to remember my phone more often, though — good reminder!
I don’t know about the other N.P.s, but it was really nice that the restrooms at Zion were open. Even the ones at the more remote trailheads have been accessible and stocked — even with hand sanitizer!
As you’ll see in the next few posts, we have been so fortunate to be able to still enjoy the park, especially with the limited access, but the crowds are starting to return. I am conflicted about that. 😐
As much as we love seeing wildlife, a mountain lion is not on my list of critters I want to encounter in the wild. Your captions make me laugh out loud, and I really need that right now.
I can never decide if I want to see the maker of the kitty tracks or not. Obviously, NOT up close and personal, but maybe across a canyon? I’m glad I could provide some comic relief for you, my friend. That’s the best I could ever hope for anyone reading here. ❤
Oh, you two young lovebirds 🙂 love that photo with the canyon as the backdrop.
I think both of you are too cute and very professional in your trail pointing. I’m going to miss the craziness on the trail but we have you to entertain us.
Thanks for the shout out, Zion is on the top of our list for best hikes!
I hope you two will keep blogging about whatever you get up to! I don’t know what anyone else thinks, but I like to read about gardening, birdwatching, etc. I will miss your big travels, too, though. You are & were an inspiration to us ❤