Utah Part 3 - (Southern Utah, Zion Park) Days 71 - 73

We packed up our belongings and headed to southern Utah with Vahe and Leisha for more camping adventures.  We went to Zion National Park to enjoy some of God’s most beautiful creations.  I was always intrigued by how different southern Utah’s topography was, so I thrilled when Ryan put this area on our itinerary.    We had to decide whether we were going to do Moab or Zion and in the end I’m happy we picked Zion.

We arrived in the late afternoon and found an empty camp ground a little ways outside the park near a river.  The location was perfect.  We were off on our own so the river felt like our own personal swimming pool.   We set up camp and the boys immediately went out to find fire wood. 

Ryan told me stories about how Vahe is a total mountain man.  He was not even kidding.  These guys carried huge trees back to camp through the river. Vahe cut all the wood using leverage and his bare hands.  I was speechless.  I found out Leisha is also a seasoned camper when she made chicken pot pie and omelets for us using a Dutch oven.  That is what I call a gourmet camp cook. 

The next morning we headed into Zion for some high quality hikes.  We hiked the Narrows.  It was one of the most fascinating things I have ever done.  You literally do the entire hike through a river that is surrounded by two great walls of rock making  a narrow but breathtaking view.   Most of the people around us had special gear like walking sticks and special shoes.  Since we had neither, we were helping each other through deep waters and rocks.  It was definitely memorable.

Later that afternoon we hiked Angels Landing.  To give you a full idea of what Angels landing is all about, I went onto this website http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-angels-landing-trail.htm and copied the description of the hike.  Their words are such much more vivid and accurate than mine would ever be.

“The Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes in the national park system. Zion's pride and joy runs along a narrow rock fin with dizzying drop-offs on both sides. The trail culminates at a lofty perch, boasting magnificent views in every direction. Rarely is such an intimidating path so frequented by hikers. One would think that this narrow ridge with deep chasms on each of its flanks would allure only the most intrepid of hikers. Climbers scale its big wall; hikers pull themselves up by chains and sightseers stand in awe at its stunning nobility. The towering monolith is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Southwest.”

Makes you want to go visit doesn’t it?  Ryan and Vahe made it up to the top and Vahe did the narrow ridge.  If you have a fear of heights stay away.  If not, it’s like a piece of Heaven on earth.  After shooting guns the next morning at a gun range, our fun had come to an end and we packed up camp.

Originally we planned on going to Arizonia, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs before heading home, but our exhaustion of traveling for over 2 ½ months finally caught up to us and we wanted to head back to California.