zion national park

It's summer and that means another visit from Paul's mom and dad and another trip to a national park.  This year we went to Zion National Park for three nights and then to Las Vegas, a different kind of park but worth seeing just the same.  When we arrived at 6:30PM after driving 13 hours, it was 109F.   I didn't ever check the night temperature, but I don't believe that it got below 85F in our campsite.  Honestly, I don't think it got below 90F.  It was miserable.  The worst part was that we could hear the wind in the tree tops, but not breath of it touched the ground.

Paul and Neville got up at 5:15AM to hike Angel's Landing.  I got up just long enough to move the cot out of the tent.  I got the only real sleep there until about 6:30 when I just couldn't take it any more.  Jenny and I sat in the camp site for an hour or so without saying much.   The heat of the night loomed in our minds. Was it going to be this hot for all three nights?  What  relief we felt when it started to rain at about 8AM.  We both noted that no one changed their actions due to the rain: families continued to sit at the picnic table and eat breakfast, people continued to pack for their planned activities.  Even we just sat and let the rain fall on us.  It was so hot that it almost evaporated before it made it to the ground.  It cooled the place down at least ten degrees, and hope 'sprang eternal.'   Paul and Neville were hiking less than five miles away.  When they came back, they were quite surprised to hear of the rain and pleased to find us in good humor.  

the view from our campsite

it's so nice to find that utah has developed a sense of humor

The virgin river created Zion and ran along the edge of the campsite.  Jenny and the boys and I spent most of our time here

Luke lived in his swimsuit and if he sees it now, insists on putting it on as though he thinks the river will appear if he has it on.

neville on the angel's landing hike

neville at scout's lookout

the trail follows the spine of the ridge

you can just make out paul in his orange shirt about half way up the mountain.  there are chains to assist the climbers, and it is very steep and narrow.

court of the patriarchs

we all walked the mile up the narrows canyon to where the trail ends.  to continue, you must walk in the water.  

we took a spectacular drive to the top of the canyon

We were blessed by the weather gods and had breezes and rain the second and third nights, so the dread that crept onto all of us in the middle of the first night disappeared never to return after the short rain on the following morning.  It's a grand park and well worth the drive.  I recommend the autumn.