Oh my Zions!

All the mountains surrounding Zion are RED. That's the first hint that you are not in Nevada anymore. Red mountains everywhere. There are actually three layers to Zion; the highest and northernmost is Bryce National Park, about 75 miles north. Then there's Zion National Park, and incredible canyon of wonder. Last, Zion National Park is the upper edge of the Grand Canyon.

Zion makes me breathless. I have never seen such canyons. The canyon is relatively narrow, especially compared to the Grand Canyon, which is up to five miles across and one mile deep. Zion's walls seem like cathedral walls. The names of some of the formations reflect their grandeur, like Temple of Sinawava, the Grotto, the Sentinal, the court of the patriarchs, the great white throne.

As soon as we checked in with Ranger Helen, photo'd above, we took the shuttle bus to the top of the canyon for sunset photos. Oh what a grand evening. Although the canyon is in the 90's in the daytime, it cools to a delicious 60 at night.

Dinner was really late, after dark, and we made plans to get up realy early before the heat. Sure enough, there we were, on the bus again in the early morning light and cool. We were able to take three hikes before it got hot. We hiked to the Emerald Pools, named because of the green algae that colors them. They are fed by waterfalls year round, and in the spring, the waterfalls roar off the canyon walls. You can walk behind them on the trail.

Then we hiked along the river above the Temple into the narrows. We were short of time and river shoes, so we did not hike all the way in.

The last hike was from Big Bend down to Weeping Wall, named because of the water that leaks out the crevices and hosts a natural hanging garden of ferns.

By then it was almost noon and checkout time. We asked the ranger if we were lucky enough to get a spot for another night, and she said we just might be, but we'd have to move next to the river. Oh well, I guess someone has to. While we were relocating, Daisy and Balto and I and Mom watched a rental RV leaving its site. First thing they did wrong was try to go in the out door. In doing so, they took down the metal pole marking the site. The passenger got out to survey the damages, then the driver. They backed in and started over, this time going out the out door, which worked much better. While they were angling out of their place, the rental Rv next door decided it was time to leave, and they too wanted to go out the out door. It was a funny scene. We just waited our turn. Mom says a year ago that would have been her too.

We took long naps in the afternoon in the air conditioning of the RV. What a luxury. Then we went to the river and sat in the cool cool water, took baths in the river and under a faucet, cooked out on the grill, and had a leisurely twilight walk. We met Ranger Adrienne taking down the flag and helped her fold it. She said even purple bears can be junior rangers. At night we sat under the stars till the Milky WaY sat right on top of our faces as we leaned back, counting shooting stars and Satellites. Goodnight world, see you tomorrow.