Part 10 – Zion National Park

Hi Everyone,
Driving out of Las Vegas was made a little easier as we dreamed of driving higher in elevation to cooler temperatures. We’ll settle for the day time temperature of 93’ here in Zion’s Watchman’s Campground. Right from the “git-go” we were faced with a let-down when we were told the campground is full Labor Day Weekend. It looks like we’re heading for home Friday morning!
We’re not upset, and are actually psyching ourselves up for the drive home. One thing we’re learning about this trip is… we certainly should’ve planned and studied our destinations before we left home. Our first question by the on-duty Ranger was if we plan to take our motor home through “The Tunnel.” We were told about “The Tunnel” and how you must be “guided” through it because it is so narrow. Well, I guess we’re not going to worry about that. We’ll just take the car. Seeing as we’re not planning to head further north, we’ll simply head south from here to Flagstaff, AZ and hit 40 East.
However, now that we’re here, this is our view out the front window of our coach.

There’s only one catch camping here in the National Park, we just have to consider camping amongst the Tarantulas, Scorpions, Mountain Lions and a host of wilderness creatures we “Flatlanders” must learn about.
Thank goodness we have our cell phone service and that we brought a few movies with us. We have three digital TV channels; one all Spanish station, one cartoon station (and they’re not the great old one) and one PBS Station. PBS will put you in a coma! At least we can connect to the “outside world” via our cell service and the internet.
We really kicked back yesterday. The heat and late nights in Vegas finally caught up with us and we crashed. The 73’ morning temperature was a “breath of fresh air.” We opened all the windows and actually got to enjoy a hot coffee in the morning. We packed Gnorm, water and cameras and headed for the Zion shuttles to make our way up into the Canyon. Zion is a hiker’s paradise. Most of the stops offered hiking trails that ranges in difficulty from Easy to Difficult and one or two that will make you “hang on!” The temps rose into the 90’s and took its effect on us “flatlanders.” Hiking Zion is the best way to enjoy Zion. The higher you go or the deeper you hike into the steep cliffs, the better the vista. Zion, unlike the Grand Canyon, is a relatively narrow canyon with sheer rock walls. From time to time the shuttle drivers will ease into the tour a story or two about “rock slides.” In fact, the first shuttle we rode on, the driver notified us that the “Weeping Rock” Trail was closed because at 10:30 this morning a rock slide closed the trail! Great! The “Weeping Rock” Trail was recommended to us for it is very short and easy to hike. OK, so now we have in our minds the words, “Rock Slides.” As we drive the canyon the vertical cliff walls you cannot help but notice the massive time worn fissures that scale the sandstone rock walls. Time and tide waits for no man. Passing beneath these rock behemoths can give you a new perspective on the effects of time on all things… not to mention, make you a wee bit nervous! The return shuttle with all its passengers made it back home just fine. We sought out the cool air of the coach to recharge our batteries, drove to the small town south of the Park and shared a gooey cinnamon bun before we called it a day.
Enjoying a beer outside the coach was an opportunity to watch as the setting sun made like a dark curtain rising upward on our very own rock wall stage backdrop.