Zion

More of the Narrows
see all photos »

Susan says:

We got to Zion by driving along an incredibly scenic highway, following switchbacks around very large reddish cliffs and striated faces of rock. Really brilliant. Once we arrived at our campsite, we found ourselves with a great view and the Virgin River taking care of our swimming needs. It also served as our daily shower. "What perfume are you wearing? Oh, I call it Mossy Rock." Zion was truly amazing. We stayed for two nights and explored with a day of short hikes up the Narrows and up to a place called Emerald Pools. The Narrows is a high walled canyon where hiking entails being knee to waste deep in the river, and Emerald Pools had us underneath a drizzling waterfall, which was beautiful but likely more deserving of the waterfall designation in the spring. Our best camping and nature-gazing experience yet.

There's a bat in my kitchen.

Road to Zion
see all photos »

Debbie says:

Wow. This place was really gorgeous. The colour of the rock was amazing and the arches and little "holes" that the water had created over many, many years were really cool. I took a lot of pics but i don't think they show it off as well as when you're there (funnily enough). I was a bit worried when we rocked up to Zion that the campsite would be full since it was the 4th July weekend but we got a really good spot. pretty close, but not too close, to the toilet and a 3 minute walk to Virgin River. It's been a while since i went "swimming" - i looked like a white fish out of water - i'd forgotten how refreshing it is to pee in a river :) The squirrels had no fear and it was fun watching one of them trying to get into a neighbours box full of food. I nearly gave the little fella a push up into the box (the neighbours were gone and the kids were noisy plus they never said hello so i didnt feel they deserved a guard for their food.) On the first night of camping i'd forgotten to charge the lantern so it died after a minute so we used a torch to see what we were eating instead. The torch must have had an inbuilt "bat signal" because a pretty decent sized bat tried to attack my face. I really don't know why im getting kamizaze bugs and bats coming right at me but it's starting to piss me off. And the f***er didnt just have one pass at me but two. Susan found this quite entertaining (the thing was bigger than one of Dario's hands and thats pretty big.) Anyway, next day we got on the shuttle bus to take us right through the Canyon to our first hike through to the Narrows (see pics). The bus was rammed full of kids about 15 from NYC. I never feel like im that old but when 2 of the kids gave up their seats to give to me and Susan, i felt like a coffin dodger. Funny. The Narrows and Emerald Pools were beautiful. Camped a second night at Zion and then drove to another part of the canyon called Kolob which is where we're going to backpack through backcountry and camp for one night. Nervous about that. Its hot and im not exactly a bundle of energy and i reckon there's more chance of "snorty animals" coming right up to the tent. Anyway, I could waffle on for ages but i'll stop now and you can check out the photos which tell it all - there are quite a lot (i took probably about 150 in total so i've selected the better ones for you). Tot ziens, dx.