Hiking Angels Landing in Zion NP 04Oct18

With the team done or beat up I decided to climb the iconic and strenuous Angels Landing solo. This was a straight vert climb up numerous switchbacks to a fin with two cabled and very narrow ridgelines even higher to the summit. Up ~4Kft over 2.5 miles. It was a blast but very hard. Check the selfie taken at the top with a 2500 ft cliff to the valley floor. The ridgeline fin climbs are shown #1 behind me (brim forward) and #2 behind me (brim backward). Whew. Kala got me the sticker and t-shirt for finishing this one alive.

Hiking Zion NP Day 2 - Riverwalk To Narrows & The Weeping Wall 04Oct18

It rained all night again, which made for a great sleep in the canyon cabin, and it was a cool morning, and each challenged our trail selection. We had planned to hike the venerable Narrows of the Virgin River but could not so do as it was closed due to high flows (Kala points to probability of flash flooding)... instead we just hiked out the Riverwalk Trail to where the Narrows begins. There was watercress growing along the trail!

After Riverwalk we chose to hike to the Weeping Wall. Here the recent rains proved excellent as rarely does anyone get to see the waterfalls actually falling in this arid area but it was very cool.

Hiking Zion NP Day 1 & The Lodge 03Oct18

We rolled into Zion Canyon in the AM and found a big back-up before the tunnel - we spied the issue after awaiting our turn for one lane travel into the canyon; a charger had a broken wheel and was blocking one full lane in a very high traffic area of a 2 lane road. We ultimately got to the visitor center to get a briefing - we parked in a huge lot among 2K other cars (luckily) as this is the only parking allowed in the canyon. The entire NP is served strictly by shuttle buses now. The shuttles were very effective and really relieved pressure in this gorgeous spot, except for the visitor center of course, which was right at the park entrance.

After getting the lay of the land from rangers at the VC we used our rare parking spot to launch a hike on Watchman Trail. Zion Canyon is gorgeous and here was a route taking us above the floor with views of the 3 Watchmen and much more. I even made a weird panorama with me in it 3 times to match the 3 Watchmen.

After the hike we checked in to our cabin next to the keen Zion lodge... what a spot. There's a huge tree in front of the lodge; there are wild turkeys in the AM and deer in the PM on the huge "lawn;" there are prickly pear margs and great food in the restaurant.

Visiting The Foggy Rim Spots In Bryce NP 02Oct18

Storm Rosa caught up with the team last night as it rained all evening and left eerie fog over Bryce Canyon NP this day. We chose to drive to key features and still had awe-inspiring sights.

After lunch we headed out to hike the Tropic Ditch area, a hand dug trench diverting water to the Mormon town of Tropic from long ago. We saw Mossy Cave and the Waterfall on a brief hike.

Hiking Bryce Canyon NP - Navaho Loop & Bryce Canyon Rim 01Oct18

The drive to Bryce Canyon NP from Capitol Reef NP was very nice over ~9Kft Lion Mountain. It was ablaze with turning aspen (just as when we left Colorado). We arrived at Bryce and Storm Rosa had not brought the forecast rain, yet. We took a strong hike down into Bryce Canyon via Navaho Loop and Kala & I went along the rim past Inspiration Pt to Bryce Pt and back to the lodge - 7.2mi & 1500ft. We were fortunate to be staying in the Bryce Canyon lodge (1929) and dined in the restaurant as well. Bryce is other worldly too with great fins, bridges, spires all in magnificent colors. With the weather holding we could see the entire canyon and further for 100s of miles. Gr8 hike, gr8 colors, gr8 park... Kala's fav thus far. The lodge and food were OK but it was great being right at the rim.