On Thursday I was able to go to Zion National Park with a friend I went to school with, one of her friends, her sister, and her sister's boyfriend. My friend talked me into hiking Angel's Landing, something that I had been avoiding for a long time ever since I first went to Zion. Well, first we did a "warm up" on Weeping Rock per my request. Weeping Rock is my favorite hike for a few reasons. One is because it's such an easy hike, and it only takes about 15 minutes or so to get up there. It's also so gorgeous up there that you can spend a long time just looking at the mountains and the colorful plants that surround this wonder. It's a great photography opportunity as well, between the sunlight hitting the water, animals that are almost always around, and the luscious plants. This is from the website, exactly word for word:
Where does the "weeping" come from? Continuous water "weeps" out of the alcove, keeping lush hanging gardens moisture. The weeping is from above where Echo Canyon, a slot canyon is located. Sections of Echo Canyon can be seen along the Observation Point and East Rim trails. There are other seepage areas resulting from the "spring line" between the two rock strata, kayenta and Navajo sandstone, but Weeping Rock is an impressive one. An impermeable shale makes up the floor of the slot canyon that prevents water from absorbing into the ground and forces it to find a place it can penetrate, such as at Weeping Rock. This is not a quick process. The water has been in the rocks for a very long time."
Right after that we headed to Angel's Landing.
The Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes in the national park system. Zion's pride and joy runs along a narrow rock fin with dizzying drop-offs on both sides. The trail culminates at a lofty perch, boasting magnificent views in every direction. Rarely is such an intimidating path so frequented by hikers. One would think that this narrow ridge with deep chasms on each of its flanks would allure only the most intrepid of hikers. Climbers scale its big wall; hikers pull themselves up by chains and sightseers stand in awe at its stunning nobility. The towering monolith is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Southwest.
The part in that paragraph above that mentions the chains and narrow ridge, that is the last .50 mile of the hike. I did not go that far. But, it ended up being 4 miles round trip, which is a hike all right ;-). It was so much fun, though, and it was a gorgeous day, almost sweltering. The leaves are just starting to change, but they were beautiful.
I never get bored of just staring at Zion's beauty. I feel like, given the chance, I could just become a hermit and live in a little log house in there somewhere and stare the day away. But...that wouldn't be good.
I hope I have the opportunity to go again, probably in the Spring. I always feel so sad when I leave Zion, as though I am leaving paradise.
Hopefully, though, I'll have something a little better than a phone camera ;-). And, I'm planning on being in a little bit more in shape hehehe.
~*Liz*~
