Zion National Park

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Zion National Park

After spending the night at a roadside rest area, Zosia Zgolak and I got up well before sunrise on the morning of 16 October 2016 to drive into Utah's Zion National Park and hike up Angels Landing, arguably the most popular hike in the park. I had already climbed Angels Landing in 2007, but I was game for a repeat ascent (a rarity!) with Zosia. We hoped to beat the weekend crowds by catching the very first shuttle bus that runs up Zion Canyon at 7:00 AM, but when we arrived at the parking lot beside the visitor centre, the whole area was already buzzing with activity even though it was still pitch black outside! The first shuttle bus was packed, but we managed to squeeze into the last couple of seats just before the bus left the visitor centre. After disembarking with the majority of the passengers at Zion Lodge, we took our sweet time using the nearby washroom facilities in order to allow the hordes of other hikers to race up the trail. When Zosia and I finally started hiking, we enjoyed much more solitude on the trail at least as far as Scouts Landing. We began running into more people on the connecting ridge between Scouts Landing and Angels Landing, but we never had to wait very long to head up the numerous bottleneck sections. Not surprisingly, the summit was very crowded, but Zosia and I still managed to find a quiet spot to have a snack and enjoy the warmth of the morning sun. When we finally started heading down, we ran into heavy congestion on the connecting ridge as there was now a fairly steady stream of people climbing and descending. Fortunately, everyone was patient and courteous, and those of us descending were usually given the right-of-way.

	Sonny eats a pre-dawn breakfast at Shingle Creek Rest Area. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia hikes up the paved trail to Angels Landing.
	Zosia climbs up the 21 switchbacks known as Walter's Wiggles.
	Chains help guide Zosia up a steep section.
	This is the classic view of Angels Landing from Scouts Landing.
	Zosia carries on along the connecting ridge between Scouts Landing and Angels Landing.
	Sonny walks along one of the narrower sections along the connecting ridge. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia continues to follow more chains up the ridge. In the background is Cathedral Mountain.
	Here is a look back down at the connecting ridge from near the top of Angels Landing. The outhouses at Scouts Landing are visible among the trees at centre.
	Zosia and Sonny celebrate reaching the top of Angels Landing (1762 metres).
	Zosia practices some yoga on top of Angels Landing.
	On descent, Zosia pauses to admire the view of Zion Canyon.
	Zosia is thrilled to find some prickly pear cacti. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

When we got back to the valley bottom, Zosia and I elected to extend our hike and visit the nearby Emerald Pools. This turned out to be a trying experience as we had to contend with huge crowds all along the trails. The pools by themselves would hardly be worthy of the effort to see them, but on this day, the throngs of people congregating around them made it even less appealing to linger.

	Zosia heads to Emerald Pools on a trail above the Virgin River.
	Zosia is less than impressed with Upper Emerald Pool.

After our largely forgettable visit to the Emerald Pools, we caught an outgoing bus at Zion Lodge and returned to the visitor centre. Not quite done with Zion National Park, we hiked the Watchman Trail which climbs up to a ridge overlooking the entire area surrounding the town of Springdale. The hot afternoon sun made the hike feel longer than it really was, but at least we did not have to deal with heavy crowds on the trail.

Please don't eat me!

A lizard basks in sunshine on a rock along the Watchman Trail.

	The West Temple is readily visible across the valley as Zosia hikes up the Watchman Trail.
	Sonny admires Bridge Mountain from the end of the Watchman Trail. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

Upon returning to the visitor centre, we grabbed some food from my car and found a somewhat secluded spot along the Virgin River to soak our tired feet. When we were sufficiently refreshed, we returned to my car and drove out of the park. After spending a full week in Utah, Zosia and I were ready for a slight change in scenery, and we subsequently drove to Las Vegas, Nevada and checked into Circus Circus casino resort for the next two nights.

	Sonny stands in the Virgin River to cool his feet. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	This is the view (north) out of the window of Zosia's and Sonny's hotel room at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak