Zion National Park - 10.18.2020

The sun is blindingly brilliant in this part of world. The absence of measurable humidity combined with the bright sun creates an environment in which colors are magnified to a stunning degree. The greens are the greenist green against a backdrop of red and brown sandstone. Trees just beginning to bring forth their yellow and magenta fall colors are a stark contrast to the sparkling green waters of the winding Virgin River flowing at the base of the canyon. And then there are the mountaunous canyon walls standing against the pure, rarified blue sky.

A variety of textures add character and strength to the scene, huge granite cubes long ago fallen from a greater stone wall high above litter the canyon walls and floors. Enormous boulders of combed lava rock look like stacks of hundreds of gigantic crepes. Minerals seeping in cracked smooth tall canyon faces stripped the red and brown walls with white snd green.

Stan and I discussed this. We can't say this is beautiful. It is majestic. It is treacherous and menacing. Still it is wonderful. And it's God's creation. Man had nothing to do with this. It is not a city; it is not a bridge; it is not art. It is earth at its finest presentation.

If you have never visited and hiked the trails of Zion, go before you get another day older or begun to lose strength and stamina. Even the trails labeled Moderate are hard! Most include long stretches of uphill trekking, and quite often the trails consist of sand covered boulders over which you have to step up, over or down-its quite a workout! But as fellow hikers say as we meet them on their return trip, it's worth it. The million-dollar views from cliffs high above the canyon floor are one of a kind and spectacular.

In Zion National Park there only two trails that can be accessed from the visitor center: the uphill and rugged 2 mile Watchman trail and the paved trail that follows the Virgin River, called the Pa'rus. There is another hike, the Canyon Overlook trail, just outside the long tunnel going into the park from the east side. Otherwise all hikes can only be accessed by park shuttle, reserved ticket only. All other traffic except bikes and walkers is not allowed. This restriction preserves environment and overcrowding. Now a days because of Covid 19, access to the shuttle is limited to only 33 people. In the past each shuttle would be filled to capacity sitting and standing. Now to obtain the $1 tickets, you must either purchase weeks in advance or as we had to do, take a chance on buying them last minute online — which is much like buying tickets through ticketmaster for onetime performance by Lady Gaga. We were lucky!

Speaking of the pandemic, everyone we have seen or met is diligent about wearing their masks. This makes us feel a bit more secure. And as a courtesy even on wider paths most people step aside to let fellow hikers pass with safe distance.

We hiked the Watchman Trail yesterday. So today after waiting probably 30 minutes to find a place to park, we arrive just in time to get in line for our reserved ticket, noon to 1 PM, to ride the shuttle to take us up scenic route to more adventurous hikes. If for some reason we happened to miss our noon to 1 PM slot, we could have had no more hikes.

We opted for the middle Emerald Pool Trail, the upper Emerald Pool Trail and then the West Rim Trail. These trails took us up to three separate pools fed by slow running waterfalls this time of year. While the pools weren't that magnificent the views along the way were absolutely astounding. Hikng these trails are somewhat of a challenge. They were up and down, over and under rocks and sometimes the climb was slippery and a little scary. The weather was hot! Lots of water was required. I can only imagine what the challenging-rated trails might be like! Because the summer has been so dry, the earth has become sand and rock. Hikers' legs all look the same .. chalky with a bluish cast and everyone's hiking shoes look the same too, dusty dirty. When we stamp our feet, smoke appears. Serious dirt!!

We finished off the day with a drive back through the tunnel toward the park's east entrance just see the canyon from the opposite perspective from that we saw coming into the park yesterday. We also wanted to find the Canyon Overlook Trail. We found a roadside parking spot and just did it. Like some of Watchman this trail Was rugged, strenuous and dangerous especially for people our age. There were handrails when necessary. And when I say necessary I mean they were absolutely necessary; without them a hiker could easily fall hundreds of feet to the bottom of the canyon. Then there were areas where handrails should've been but were not! Good grief, the path was only a narrow, dusty ledge. One slip and we could be gone. We walked and walked and climbed and climbed. Continuing on along narrow ledges along the cliffsides, we exercised hikers' courtesy, stepping aside every now and then to let other hikers coming from the opposite direction pass us. The trek was dangerous for sure but very fulfilling. When we reached the top, the views were ungodly for sure but the most important point was that we made it and again, as we hikers say to each other time and time again, it was worth it.