Zion- Emerald Pools & Rock Slides

Our first full day at Zion National Park was both awe inspiring and exhausting!  We all slept in and got a late start.  In the summer, a shuttle bus system is used to move people up and down the canyon.  So we walked down to the visitor center to catch the next shuttle and hopped off at Zion Lodge.  We hiked to the Lower Emerald Pools.

Water cascaded down the face of the sandstone cliffs into pools below.  We were misted along the trail and graced with the beauty of Columbines and other flora growing in the moist conditions.

We were energized and continued on to the Upper Emerald Pool.  That was until we realized that “upper” meant we had to keep ascending up sandstone steps in the heat of the sun.  It warmed up to the upper 80’s today and our faces were crimson like the Penstemon growing in the cliff face.

Well at least Caleb and I were hot, Chris was just fine and ready to hit another connecting trail.  As we descended, the mist of the lower emerald pools was  wonderfully refreshing!

Following our hike, we boarded the shuttle and rode it up to the top of the canyon at the Temple of Sinawava before riding back down to the visitor center.  We took it easy this afternoon in preparation for our guided ranger tour this evening.  We met our ranger and boarded an interpretive bus, this time for an in depth look at the canyon.  Our first stop explored the Sentinel slide area, which has dammed the river and taken out the road…more than once!

We stopped along the canyon to learn how the park service is managing it’s goal of preserving the environment as well as providing recreation opportunities to the public.  Cottonwood trees, which we are familiar with, play an important role in the canyon.

Our next stop was the Great White Throne.  Highlighted in the evening, this sandstone cliff towers over the roaring Virgin river below.  This area combines the past, present and future of Zion.  Ancient Puebloan graineries are visible as well as Cable Mountain, which was used to lower harvested Ponderosa Pine to the valley floor.  The sandstone rock faces are open to rock climbing for those technically skilled and the top of the Angel’s Landing trail can be viewed, with hikers appearing to be the size of ants.  Peregrine Falcons and California Condors call this area home in the summer months.  Then a distant rumble was heard over the rushing of the Virgin river.  Not many noticed, but Chris and I looked at each other and said, “Did you hear that?”.  We loaded the bus to head to our final stop the Temple of Sinawava.  The air filled with a white cloud of dust and the bus came to a halt.  There’s been a rockslide, and it may still be active, and it’s blocking the road.

The thick cloud of dust obscured the massive cliffs.  Limbs from Cottonwood trees floated down the river beside us.  The main fall was around the bend, just out of sight, but another driver reported sharp boulders up to his knees in the road.

After waiting for direction and hearing reports that a front end loader was necessary to clear the road, we were all ready to walk down to the closest shuttle stop to go back down the canyon.  But the shuttle driver took over the driving of our interpretive bus and started backing down the canyon to a turn around location.  Yikes!  We were close to the river's edge of the road, then almost in the ditch near the cliff face, and seeing that backing was not this driver’s forte, Chris started helping him out from the back of the bus.  We got safely turned around and then they unloaded us onto a shuttle to go the rest of the way. An unexpected turn of events on the interpretive tour is a perfect example of the changing face of Zion National Park.

Pipe Spring National Monument (AZ) to Zion National Park (UT)

We seem to be playing see-saw.  First in Arizona.  Then in Utah.  Back to Arizona.  To get to Utah!  We traveled from Kanab, Utah south on Hwy 89 in order to pick up Hwy 389 to go around the tunnel to get into Zion National Park.  Along the route, we stopped at Pipe Spring National Monument, which is in Arizona.

This was a Mormon settlement built in 1871 to serve as the tithing ranch.  Fear of Indian attack prompted “Winsor Castle” to be built as a fort.  Caleb completed his first Junior Ranger program for the summer.

We strolled through The Fort on a ranger led tour and learned the fascinating history of the area.  The Fort was built over Pipe Spring to protect the water from potential attacks, although their safety was never threatened.

Today, they still have a garden, orchard, vineyard, long horn cattle and a horse on the property.

You can meander  amongst the wagons and explore the old Cowboy bunkhouse.

We enjoyed our visit and continued up the road.  We quickly crossed back into Utah and entered Zion National Park!  We set up in the Watchman Campground with a million dollar view from our front porch, shaded by Cottonwood trees.

We walked up to the visitor center to pick up the next Junior Ranger booklet and climbed up the Archeology Trail.  We lost track of the trail and didn’t see many prehistoric building outlines but we had a great view!

Life Elevated- Utah

We enjoyed camping with friends near Flagstaff, Arizona but it was time to head north to Utah!  After enjoying a leisurely start to the day, filled with French Toast and homemade syrup, we packed up and hit the road.  The route?  I-17 north to Hwy 89 with a healthy dose of wind on the side!

We traveled through the Navajo reservation and over the hill towards Page.  We got caught in a dust storm or two, but they were short lived. 

We made a quick stop  and then crossed over the dam that created Lake Powell from the Colorado River.

It was an unbelievable temperature- 70 degrees!  Between the low temps and the wind, perhaps that’s why so many vehicles with boats were heading home today.   Very soon, we crossed into Utah.

Continuing into Kanab, we stopped for fuel and pulled into the BLM Field Office for the night.

We put on our jackets, because it is a balmy 54 degrees!  I’m glad I packed my wool socks, we’re headed to Zion National Park’s Watchman Campground!  It’s been many years since Chris and I have been there and this will be a National Park first for Caleb.  We look forward to 5 wonderful nights filled with ranger programs and hikes.