Zion National Park (05-06-12)

   Zion is one of the easiest National Parks to visit.  The RV Park we are staying in is a half mile from the pedestrian entrance to the park, so we can just walk to the park if we want, but the town of Springdale also has a free shuttle service that runs up and down the main street every 10 minutes or so. If we want to go shopping at the cute little shops down the street, we can just hop on the shuttle- which we did, the other day.
   Once in the park, the driving of private vehicles is severely restricted.  Instead, there is another free shuttle system that runs every 5-10 minutes that will drop you off at any one of about a dozen stops.  So much easier than fighting traffic and trying to park.

After our total body workout hiking The Narrows, we tried to take it easy the next day by doing a shorter hike- Hidden Canyon.

Although the trail was short, there was 850 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile, which is pretty steep. 

 

The trail curved along the solid rock, with drops of several hundred feet in several areas.

 

With chain available in appropriate spots, I didn’t have any issues with the heights, and enjoyed the incredible views along the way.

Once we got to the canyon itself, we didn’t walk too far into it. The scenery was on the trail to get there, and we were already tired, so we turned around (we also heard that there was a bevy of Boy Scouts up ahead).

 

Yesterday was our day to tackle Angel’s Landing.  One of us even made it all the way to the end!  It wasn’t me, that’s for sure!

Angels landing is a 5.5 mile long trail, with about 1500 ft of elevation gain.  It is probably one of the best known trails in this area, because of how challenging it is to complete.  The elevation gain isn’t the issue.  The last half mile or so traverses along a ridge that at times is only 4 feet wide, and has 1000 ft drop offs on both sides(um, no thanks!)

This is Angel’s Landing from a distance.  The peak on the left, combined with the saddle, or dip, comprise the last half mile of the trail.

 

I left the door open for the possibility of my completing the entire trail, but I get Vertigo when I am close to a drop off, so I really wasn’t leaning towards attempting it. Luckily there is a flat spot where the wimps can wait.  There was a volunteer at the summit, and I chatted with him about what the last half mile really entailed.

What he told me is that the beginning section, shown in the picture above, is the easy part.  There are chains most of the way, for people to hold on to, but once you get over the small ridge, the trail narrows, curves to the left, and becomes more challenging.

I took this shot with the zoom in most of the way.

You can see the people grabbing the chain as they head up the saddle.

These are two of the pictures Paul  managed to take along the way:

Paul had someone take his picture once he reached the edge of Angel’s Landing.

I asked him if he thought I would have made it, and he said no.  There was one spot where you had hold onto the chain and swing your leg over a steep drop to get to the other side. He’s been wanting to do that trail and I’m glad he got the chance.  I am equally glad I didn’t attempt it and then have to turn around halfway through.