As we awoke this morning to temps in the mid 30’s, we knew we had come north. After firing our heater and making a nice pot of hot coffee, it wouldn’t be long before we were warm once again.
Being a chilly morning, hot cereal was in order before we started out on our adventure for the day. Because of the cold, Leah won’t walk very good, so we didn’t feel guilty about not taking her for her daily morning walk.
so immediately after breakfast we headed out to the Visitor center where we waited for our “Ride With The Ranger” trip. We had to be there 15 minutes before boarding the bus, or we could loose our spot to someone on the waiting list.
The ride started promptly at 9:00am with a loaded bus and a fantastic guide tour. Our first stop was to a land slide that happened back in 1995 where the Virgin River re-routed itself after days of heavy rain, right in the middle of the road that we were traveling on. Taking out the road completely, and stranding those at the lodge for over 36 hours. A path was finally made to get those people out, but only by foot. Vehicles literally had to be left behind for months, until the road could be rebuilt. Two years after the work was completed, a mainteince worker was traveling on this same stretch, when he heard a loud crash, shaking the vehicle. upon looking back, a portion of the road was completely caved in! No one was hurt, but again, stranding many folks again at the lodge. Then just this past Dec 2010, due to lots a rain, and a raging Virgin River and fearing a horrible flash flood, Zion Park was evacuated, both the lodge and the campgrounds.
The remains of the land slide back in 1995
The rebuilding of the river and roadway-hoping this wall will hold the Virgin River in it’s place.
Next stop was to the Court Of The Patriarchs; the Mormon Settlers is what gave Zion it’s name and naming the peaks of the canyons. We also stopped at the Lodge which was built back in the 1920’s, burned down in 1966 and rebuilt that very same year. The only thing that did survive the fire was the fireplace which still remains in the current lodge.
We stopped a few more times along the way, until we reached the end of the road. The Temple of Sinawava where you got some spectacular view. One stop just before there, gave us the view of the Great White Throne and Angels Landing, where they do many rock climbing.
Angels Landing
The Great White Throne
Temple of Sinawava-end of the road
We got back around 11:00am, grabbed lunch and headed back out on a long hike. Today’s hike was going to consist of the 3 Emerald Pools, the Kayenta Trail and the Grotto Trail.
Heading to the first Emerald pool was loaded with school kids and many other visitors from all over the world, so we had to share the path and some points wait for others to pass us. The first pool called Lower Emerald probably was the most spectacular of all.
Lower Emerald Pool
The middle pool was nice, but not as spectacular as the first one. We had planned on taking the Middle Pool Trail back when we were done, but the trail is closed. Back in Dec, I had mentioned about the heavy rain they received here, it created a mud slide-literally wiping out the Middle Emerald Pool Trail. Yet today, the ground is still unstable, and slides are still happening and workers are unable to get in to start doing the repairs.
Middle Emerald Pool
Middle Emerald Trail-what is left of it
Although part of the trail was closed, we still could get to the Middle Emerald Pool. But the strenuous part of the hike in its' self was heading to the upper Emerald Pool. On the way we had already run into on person who injured their knee and another one that was sick due to lack of water therefore dehydrating herself.
The trail wasn’t easy, but well worth it.
The Upper Emerald Pool
Coming back down from the Emerald Pools, we split off onto the Kayenta Trail which was also strenuous with steep drop offs. We ran into a few other travelers, but it was less traveled and we liked that.
Kayenta Trail
The trail eventually winded itself back down to the Virgin River, where we had a choice of taking the West Rim Trail which takes you to the boy scout lookout and to Angels Landing or taking the trail back to The Grotto Day-Use area; we took the Grotto way. The Grotto Trail was easy and short, heading you back to the Zion Lodge, where we jumped on the bus and headed back home. That is after on short detour to the Court Of The Patriarchs for a quick picture.
The Court Of The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
When we got back, we were tired, exhausted and new we would sleep well tonight. Maybe tomorrow we will kick back and relax a little. But we do plan on doing the Angels of Landing. That is the most strenuous hike and should not be done under windy conditions.
Being a chilly morning, hot cereal was in order before we started out on our adventure for the day. Because of the cold, Leah won’t walk very good, so we didn’t feel guilty about not taking her for her daily morning walk.
so immediately after breakfast we headed out to the Visitor center where we waited for our “Ride With The Ranger” trip. We had to be there 15 minutes before boarding the bus, or we could loose our spot to someone on the waiting list.
The ride started promptly at 9:00am with a loaded bus and a fantastic guide tour. Our first stop was to a land slide that happened back in 1995 where the Virgin River re-routed itself after days of heavy rain, right in the middle of the road that we were traveling on. Taking out the road completely, and stranding those at the lodge for over 36 hours. A path was finally made to get those people out, but only by foot. Vehicles literally had to be left behind for months, until the road could be rebuilt. Two years after the work was completed, a mainteince worker was traveling on this same stretch, when he heard a loud crash, shaking the vehicle. upon looking back, a portion of the road was completely caved in! No one was hurt, but again, stranding many folks again at the lodge. Then just this past Dec 2010, due to lots a rain, and a raging Virgin River and fearing a horrible flash flood, Zion Park was evacuated, both the lodge and the campgrounds.
The remains of the land slide back in 1995
The rebuilding of the river and roadway-hoping this wall will hold the Virgin River in it’s place.Next stop was to the Court Of The Patriarchs; the Mormon Settlers is what gave Zion it’s name and naming the peaks of the canyons. We also stopped at the Lodge which was built back in the 1920’s, burned down in 1966 and rebuilt that very same year. The only thing that did survive the fire was the fireplace which still remains in the current lodge.
We stopped a few more times along the way, until we reached the end of the road. The Temple of Sinawava where you got some spectacular view. One stop just before there, gave us the view of the Great White Throne and Angels Landing, where they do many rock climbing.
Angels Landing
The Great White Throne
Temple of Sinawava-end of the roadWe got back around 11:00am, grabbed lunch and headed back out on a long hike. Today’s hike was going to consist of the 3 Emerald Pools, the Kayenta Trail and the Grotto Trail.
Heading to the first Emerald pool was loaded with school kids and many other visitors from all over the world, so we had to share the path and some points wait for others to pass us. The first pool called Lower Emerald probably was the most spectacular of all.
Lower Emerald PoolThe middle pool was nice, but not as spectacular as the first one. We had planned on taking the Middle Pool Trail back when we were done, but the trail is closed. Back in Dec, I had mentioned about the heavy rain they received here, it created a mud slide-literally wiping out the Middle Emerald Pool Trail. Yet today, the ground is still unstable, and slides are still happening and workers are unable to get in to start doing the repairs.
Middle Emerald Pool
Middle Emerald Trail-what is left of itAlthough part of the trail was closed, we still could get to the Middle Emerald Pool. But the strenuous part of the hike in its' self was heading to the upper Emerald Pool. On the way we had already run into on person who injured their knee and another one that was sick due to lack of water therefore dehydrating herself.
The trail wasn’t easy, but well worth it.
The Upper Emerald PoolComing back down from the Emerald Pools, we split off onto the Kayenta Trail which was also strenuous with steep drop offs. We ran into a few other travelers, but it was less traveled and we liked that.
Kayenta TrailThe trail eventually winded itself back down to the Virgin River, where we had a choice of taking the West Rim Trail which takes you to the boy scout lookout and to Angels Landing or taking the trail back to The Grotto Day-Use area; we took the Grotto way. The Grotto Trail was easy and short, heading you back to the Zion Lodge, where we jumped on the bus and headed back home. That is after on short detour to the Court Of The Patriarchs for a quick picture.
The Court Of The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, & JacobWhen we got back, we were tired, exhausted and new we would sleep well tonight. Maybe tomorrow we will kick back and relax a little. But we do plan on doing the Angels of Landing. That is the most strenuous hike and should not be done under windy conditions.
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