ZION NATIONAL PARK 2012

Leaving LHC about 4 weeks ago and venturing  back to Las Vegas, where we have a Thousand Trails RV Park we can stay at, free, our plan was to spend a week  here and then work our way back North to our summer job in West Yellowstone.



Elephant Rock @ Valley of Fire

 Las Vegas holds no real attraction for us until......we found the Valley of Fire State Park.  In the middle of a desert, that goes on forever, is a huge outcropping of  fabulous RED/ORANGE rock formations !  Several days were spent exploring all the old history and sights this landscape provides.  Along the way we would park at a pull-out and take off for a hike to view such sights as Mouse's Trap, a bowl carved in the stone from erosion, that holds water for months.  This was a good hide out for outlaws in the old days and was used by a bad guy nicknamed "Mouse" on a regular basis.  

White Dome was another hike that showcased an area that was used in old Western movies.  This was the most strenuous for me as it was steep going down and the temps were in the low 100's.  (I was foolish in my youth and managed to get sun/heat stroke 3 times before the age of 20.)  Needless to say heat really affects me now.  Lots of water, one of those cooling scarves and frequent rest stops later, Norm dragged me out of there !

White Dome Cliffs

A week came and went....finding more and more to do, we ended up staying 3 weeks !

Our next stop......Willowind RV Park in Hurricane, UT about 20 mi. from Zion Nat'l. Park.  The coach is under shady trees and loves the reprieve from all the sun on it's roof! 

In Zion, they have eliminated cars in the Park, so mandatory, free shuttles take tourists up to the end of the road at the Temple of Sinovawa.  It stops at each point of interest and we can get off or on anywhere along the way.

Riverside Walk is a 2 1/2 mi (roundtrip) hike to the Narrows.  This hike was easy and had shade and weeping walls full of fragrant Columbine and other Spring flowers.  Water seeps out of the rocks from the snow melt above giving these plants a place to grow.  The end is an area to rest and/or change to water shoes for those who want to continue across the Virgin River to "the Narrows".

Looking toward the Narrows across the Virgin River

Arches along Riverside Walk

The river is shallow today and can be waded easily. The end of this walk is a narrow cut through the rocks. You can touch both sides simultaneously. This trail continues on and comes out to another more difficult hike that needs ropes, etc. Not my cup of tea !

We pass Angel's Landing.  It is the epitome of hikes here at Zion !  Running about 4 miles in length, hikers climb up the trail which traverses a very narrow ridge across a rock wall.  It is not for anyone afraid of heights or unable to walk well.  Norm says " Ya want to try that one ?"
"Uuhhmmm.....NO ! " was my response. !!  Maybe when we come here another time ! ( Like the next century !)

Columbine Flowers

Flower Garden on Weeping Wall

Our next hike was Emerald Pools.  The upper pool is created by run-off from snow and creates a large pool at the top of many overhanging rock shelves. It drains down into the middle pool and then to the lower pool.  By the time it got to the lower pool there wasn't much water left.  Looked like a run-off pond at home !  Some guy who overheard my reaction said there hasn't been much snow this year so it looks a little puny. 

We had the lunch which Norm put together this morning,  (He knew I wasn't getting out of bed til the very last second !), under a pergola at Zion Lodge.  We spent some time "people watching" and enjoying our crackers/cheese, icy cold grapes, cookies and drink.  Tough way to spend the day !

This is truely the most wonderful way of life, for us, anyway !  We meet some very interesting people, inspiring many to join us on the road.  Just when we think there isn't much more to know about full-timing, someone comes along and teaches us something new.  We love it !!  

Today is Mother's Day and I can't think of a better way to spend it....enjoying all Mother Nature has to offer ....on this...our Mother Earth !!