After taking a few days off allowing the tendons in my foot to heal some, I was ready to get back to hiking. If winds stay down, our plans were to hike the most dangerous and the most adventurous trail in the National Park Trail System-Angels Landing. But as we woke early on Tuesday morning, the winds were pretty strong and we weren’t sure if we would be able to do this hike. As the morning went on, the winds calm down. So a hearty breakfast was in order to get our energy level up.
Angels Landing got it’s name when a group exploring Zion back in the early 1900’s made a statement that only an Angel could land on it. Zion’s first superintendent was determined to make Angels Landing a trail that anyone could “land on”; creating many switchbacks to make this happen. It was completed back in 1924. To this day, as you walk along and look down at the work it took, you still can see hoof prints of work horses in the cement work.
Angels Landing
We jumped on the bus and headed up canyon where we got dropped off at The Grotto. As we crossed over the bridge of the Virgin River we started the hike. At first was a gradual climb as we meander along the river. Then you really started to notice the uphill climb and several times you needed to stop just to catch your breath. We watched many ahead of us as they started on the many switchbacks heading to what they call Refrigerator Canyon.
Heading into Refrigerator Canyon
Refrigerator Canyon got it’s name because no matter how hot it is-it will always be cool in between the canyon. As we walked this long trail, between the canyon walls, we are amazed by the markings on the walls and all the holes and crevices of years past.
Million of years of natural wonder
We are still climbing in elevation, but back here you don’t realize it, until you get to the second round of switchbacks, and then you really start to climb once again.
One section of the many switchbacks
We finally reached to one section of the mountain called Scout Lookout. Here there are vault toilets and a nice place to rest. Many folks stop here and don’t adventure any farther to Angels Landing. Once you get a view of others starting the actual climb onto the mountain with steep drop-offs on both side, many get freaked out and won’t go any farther. This was the case the day we went, where several folks took one look and said they had enough. For us, it was just the beginning of another exciting adventure. It is definitely not one to due in bad weather conditions, and on the sign below, they should also put not to do during high winds.
As we started across, there came time where if you had the place to “pull-over” and allow those coming down to pass or for those faster than you to pass you up. As we did this, I turned around and got a good shot of the first part of our climb and couldn’t believe we were doing this.
We came to another area where many had stopped to rest and again, a few had enough and was turning around, not adventuring any farther. We thought we had just done the scariest part, when we looked and notice that the worse was yet to come.
The front side
In the pictures above, the mountain that you see was still the part we needed to climb up and then it curved and we still yet needed to reach the summit, which is behind this first one.
The back side
A few days back, someone had just completed Angels Landing and they said there was only a small section where it was shear drop of on both sides, I think this person was trying to convince us that we could do this. After leaving Scout Lookout, we had only 3 feet wide with sheer drop offs on both side, all the way up to the top of Angels Landing. I would say probably about 1-1/2 mile hike of heart stopping climbing.
We did have chains to help hike us up and to guide us for the most part, but there were areas, where there were no chains and you totally rely on good footing and good hiking shoes.
Once on top, the view is spectacular and very well worth the adventure of doing! but again, not for those fearing heights, young children or anyone with leg, hip or back problems. On this hike I guarantee you will use every muscle you own in your body and if you are not use to this kind of strenuous hike, you will fill it the next day.
If you are in good shape and love to take small risk, this is one to do. We saw all ages-except children on this hike. I was surprise and glad to see Senior Citizens doing this hike. The younger adults made it look so easy as they jumped along and bounced off rocks, making us “older’ ones holding our breaths.
Angels Landing got it’s name when a group exploring Zion back in the early 1900’s made a statement that only an Angel could land on it. Zion’s first superintendent was determined to make Angels Landing a trail that anyone could “land on”; creating many switchbacks to make this happen. It was completed back in 1924. To this day, as you walk along and look down at the work it took, you still can see hoof prints of work horses in the cement work.
Angels LandingWe jumped on the bus and headed up canyon where we got dropped off at The Grotto. As we crossed over the bridge of the Virgin River we started the hike. At first was a gradual climb as we meander along the river. Then you really started to notice the uphill climb and several times you needed to stop just to catch your breath. We watched many ahead of us as they started on the many switchbacks heading to what they call Refrigerator Canyon.
Heading into Refrigerator CanyonRefrigerator Canyon got it’s name because no matter how hot it is-it will always be cool in between the canyon. As we walked this long trail, between the canyon walls, we are amazed by the markings on the walls and all the holes and crevices of years past.
Million of years of natural wonderWe are still climbing in elevation, but back here you don’t realize it, until you get to the second round of switchbacks, and then you really start to climb once again.
One section of the many switchbacksWe finally reached to one section of the mountain called Scout Lookout. Here there are vault toilets and a nice place to rest. Many folks stop here and don’t adventure any farther to Angels Landing. Once you get a view of others starting the actual climb onto the mountain with steep drop-offs on both side, many get freaked out and won’t go any farther. This was the case the day we went, where several folks took one look and said they had enough. For us, it was just the beginning of another exciting adventure. It is definitely not one to due in bad weather conditions, and on the sign below, they should also put not to do during high winds.
As we started across, there came time where if you had the place to “pull-over” and allow those coming down to pass or for those faster than you to pass you up. As we did this, I turned around and got a good shot of the first part of our climb and couldn’t believe we were doing this.
We came to another area where many had stopped to rest and again, a few had enough and was turning around, not adventuring any farther. We thought we had just done the scariest part, when we looked and notice that the worse was yet to come.
The front sideIn the pictures above, the mountain that you see was still the part we needed to climb up and then it curved and we still yet needed to reach the summit, which is behind this first one.
The back sideA few days back, someone had just completed Angels Landing and they said there was only a small section where it was shear drop of on both sides, I think this person was trying to convince us that we could do this. After leaving Scout Lookout, we had only 3 feet wide with sheer drop offs on both side, all the way up to the top of Angels Landing. I would say probably about 1-1/2 mile hike of heart stopping climbing.
We did have chains to help hike us up and to guide us for the most part, but there were areas, where there were no chains and you totally rely on good footing and good hiking shoes.
Once on top, the view is spectacular and very well worth the adventure of doing! but again, not for those fearing heights, young children or anyone with leg, hip or back problems. On this hike I guarantee you will use every muscle you own in your body and if you are not use to this kind of strenuous hike, you will fill it the next day.
If you are in good shape and love to take small risk, this is one to do. We saw all ages-except children on this hike. I was surprise and glad to see Senior Citizens doing this hike. The younger adults made it look so easy as they jumped along and bounced off rocks, making us “older’ ones holding our breaths.
Great photos ! Thanks for taking us along for your hike !
ReplyDeletep.s. your facebook profile photo has dissappeared, probably the link needs repair.