Zion Part 2
Trip Start
Aug 2007
1
9
26
Trip End
Aug 2007
Springdale, Utah, United States
Friday, August 10, 2007
Well, I am so glad we rested yesterday, as today was a killer on the old legs! We went back to Zion, as it proved to be everyones favourite place. In fact, you could say I'm in love, and I don't just mean with the Wendy burgers! I think Zion could even just beat Acadia National Park in Maine, as being my most favourite place in the whole world! It's just so absolutely unbelievably beautiful. Every view you take in is just breathtaking.
Anyway, we got back to Zion at about 12pm. We headed into Springdale to get kitted out with the walking sticks we need to go back up the Narrows. We had to pay $5 per stick, but it was money well spent as we couldn't rely on getting sticks at the trail end, like we did the first time. We also had to have an orientation brief from the guides as to what to do in the event of a flash flood. Luckily I'd read up on it all, and was able to answer the questions, so we were deemed safe to go
Motherv and Daughter Bonding!
. We checked the canyon maps, and our aim was to make it to where the Orderville River/canyon meets the Virgin river; quite a way up from where we'd gone the first time. We parked near the Shuttle buses, had a bite to eat from our trusty cooler box, got all kitted out with our suncream, hats and aquapacks, and got in the first shuttle bus. These buses are brilliant; there are no cars allowed in the Park in the summer, so there are free shuttle buses available every 6 minutes. They run on propane, so they are environmentally friendly, and take about 35 minutes to get to the end point of the park; the Temple of Sinwava, where the Riverside trail/canyon walk starts. What's even better is that the drivers give a commentary all the way up. These have been brilliant. The one we had today was all about the geology of the Park, and apparently what we have been calling mountains are not mountains at all, but high plateaus that have eroded. The sandstone that they are made out of blew over from the Appalachian mountains on the East coast of America millions of years ago, when the world was just one continent. He also showed us Bright Angel which is a trail I could never ever ever ever contemplate doing. It's a trail that heads up a "mountain", up a load of switchbacks, to the top of the plateau. You then have to walk along a 3 foot walk way, along a ledge, holding onto a chain, with a sheer 1500 foot drop either side. No way! Ever! We could see the people up there walking this ledge like little ants. I've no doubt the view would be to die for, but that's just what some of them do every year, when they fall off!Anyway, we got to the end of the road, and got off the bus to start the mile long walk to the river in the 90 degree heat! The kids were so excited. "It's showtime!!" said Cian. Just as well we'd hired the sticks, as there were none left when we got to the river.
Wow!
It was lovely to get into the cool of the river, from the heat of the trail. We quickly got to where we'd got to the previous time, and then stopped to have a little snack stop, and then carried on going. The scenery was absolutely stunning, as we got deeper and deeper into the canyon, the cliff walls got higher and higher, ranging in colours from red to orange, greens and greys and blues, with all different stripes of different rock stratas going through them at all angles. You could see ledges in the cayon walls about 6-10 feet up, that were full of smaller rocks and boulders, that had ended up there when the river is in full flood. The walking in the river was quite difficult, as the water was quite cloudy, due to the heavy rains they'd had last week. You couldn't see whether there were rocks or boulders or sand under your feet, you definitely needed a stick to help you feel your way. The water also got deeper, at points I was up to the top of my thighs. Cian had to be dragged by Lyn. The water was also quite fast flowing; at one point I had to do an emergency rescue on Tegs' stick as it floated past me! Tegs and I were glad to find some deep pools so we could have a wee! There was absolutely nowhere we could go, other than wee through our knickers and shorts in the water! Nice!! It warmed the water up a bit though!We were in and out of sunlight as we hiked, as when the canyon walls got really high it blocked out the sun completely.
Luce and Tegs Wee Stop!
Eventually we made it to the Orderville Canyon. We all felt a huge sense of achievement. We should have turned back at that point, but couldn't resist climbing up a little waterfall to explore the Orderville canyon further. This is where The Narrows really begin, and what we had really wanted to see. It's like another world. At this point, we were all soaked, apart from Lyn with his long legs! The canyons were a lot quieter at this point, as not so many people hike so far. You can hike 16 miles up, but you have to camp out over night, and have all the right gear. You even have to take special bags to poo in! Can't see me ever doing that. (Hiking the full 2 days 16 miles I mean, not just pooing in a bag!)We had to turn back then, and start the trek back down canyon. I found it quite hard going as I was so knackered. I found it hard to pick my feet up, and nearly fell head first into the river several times. Good job I had Ioan looking out for me! It was a relief to get back on the Riverside trail, back into the sunshine to dry off. We're all aching, and our feet are knackered from the rocks/water/shoes. Back onto the Shuttle bus, and back to the Visitor centre, to get our National Park Passport stamped, and I picked up a book on Zion, so I can relive our visit through photos!
We took the sticks back, and got some food. We were all starving, and got some food in the Sol Café we'd been to earlier in the week. A burger and fries had never tasted so good! Ioan was so knackered he put sugar on his chips, instead of salt! It was well earned, we'd hiked in difficult circumstances for 5 and a half hours! We'll be aching tomorrow.
We made a quick stop off on the way out of the park for Tegs to have a wee, (which she did on the rocks!), and we had a quick clamber round. We have to come back here.
Back to Ricky's then, to pack the house up for an early departure tomorrow. Another huge day tomorrow; 340 miles to Moab and our next house, calling in again at Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Goblin Valley State Park on the way.
