Today's route: Mount Carmel Junction, UT to Zion NP to Cedar Breaks NM to Tropic, UT
So after an in-room breakfast of oatmeal and a banana, and with no Internet to steal my time, I’m on my way by 8 a.m. for a full day of hiking, scenery, and more driving and some change. I even have time to stop at Checkerboard Mesa again to snap more pictures, and still make the Visitor’s Center by 8:30. There are plenty of open spaces at this time. I park and wander over to the shuttle boarding area – other than the UT-9 route through the south and east ends of the park, there is no auto traffic allowed in Zion. (This is a different shuttle from the Springdale one.)
Zion Canyon is a large expanse of trails and scenery bounded by massive stone walls that have been carved away by the Virgin River over millions of years. The stone towers stand sentry over the visitors as the park shuttle motors between scenic stops set along a 10 mile drive along the canyon floor.
The idea is to get on and off of the shuttle, and explore the park through the various trails that run from the shuttle stops. Some visitors are adventurous enough to hike down the river between narrow canyons (appropriately named “The Narrows”), or climb to the top of a stone fortress called Angel’s Landing, so they are only on the shuttle to get to the trailhead. With the time constraints I had imposed on myself, I won’t be going more than a couple of miles round-trip on any one trail.Although the canyon floor is a manageable 4000 feet, the temperature at 8:30 a.m. is already 90°.
The shuttle stops at six or so points along the way, up to the last drop-off at the Temple of Sinawava (don’t ask me what the temple looks like or why it was named as such!). My first stop is Emerald Pools. I take the 1/2 mile-long trail out to the lower pool snapping pictures along the way. When I start the hike back up the trail, I stop to turn off the ‘beep’ that occurs every time I press the camera shutter. But, no! I’ve misread the menu in the glare of the morning sun, and reformatted the memory card, wiping out a couple of dozen photos! Checkerboard Mesa is gone!
I lumber back down to the pool and recover at least some of the scenic pics. I’m just glad this was the first stop! I’ll just have to beep for now. Here’s the second attempt at the waterfall above Lower Emerald Pool.
I hoof it back to the shuttle stop, taking pictures as I go, hoping I’ve recovered most of the lost ones and zeroes. I stop at Weeping Rock, and find the overhang where 4500 year old water is seeping out of the stone. It’s about a twenty minute trip. Plenty of morning left.
After a few more quick stops for photos of rock formations with names like The Three Patriarchs and The Great White Throne, I am dropped off at the Temple of Sinawava depot. Here I find a paved, mile-long walkway along the Virgin River. I trek through forest glens and under craggy overlooks, spotting squirrels and mule deer along the way. It’s nice to be in the shade and out of the heat.
After a few more quick stops for photos of rock formations with names like The Three Patriarchs and The Great White Throne, I am dropped off at the Temple of Sinawava depot. Here I find a paved, mile-long walkway along the Virgin River. I trek through forest glens and under craggy overlooks, spotting squirrels and mule deer along the way. It’s nice to be in the shade and out of the heat.
It’s time for me to get moving. For this trip, I am only here for a half-day. I hike back to the shuttle stop, which takes me back to the Visitor’s Center. There I take the time to fish the camera manual out of the trunk (I bring everything!) and figure out how to eliminate the annoying shutter beep. I’ve been at Zion for four hours, yet I have more stops to make today. On to Cedar Breaks National Monument.Here is a link to more Zion NP photos:
Cedar Breaks is a small scale preview of what I expect to encounter tomorrow. It’s a miniature version of Bryce Canyon, boasting an amphitheatre-like canyon that sprouts hoodoos of all shapes and sizes. There is not much in the way of hikes here, and as opposed to Zion, you view the canyon from above while driving around the perimeter. I find lots of turnouts with nice views, but I’m in and out of the park in 45 minutes. Still, the scenery is refreshing, and the temp has cooled down to 68° - of course, it is around 10,350 feet altitude.
Here is a link to more Cedar Breaks NM photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/560825025jjlGWu
"If you come to a fork in the road take it." ~ Yogi Berra
And so far I’ve managed to take the right one, too. There is a great surprise along UT Hwy 12 on the way to Bryce Canyon NP and Torrey, UT. As you enter the Dixie National Forest a few miles west of Bryce, you encounter some amazing red stone formations in Red Canyon. (photo below; follow this link to more: http://community.webshots.com/album/560857774rMyAbN).
In fact, UT-12 is one of the most scenic – and forgotten – highways ever. More discussion and a few pics of scenery along UT-12 in the next post. But for now, it’s time to check in. My motel is new and inexpensive. The extension section where I’m staying reminds me of a modified version of some of the portable trailers used for add-on school rooms. But it’s clean!Today’s drive:
Mount Carmel Junction, UT to Tropic, UT, via Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks NM
160 miles, around 3 1/2 hours (excludes in-park time)
Tomorrow:
Bryce Canyon National Park and Capital Reef National Park
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