Zion National Park

 We intended to get to Zion early but on the way, I discovered that I didn't have a SD card in the camera.  We couldn't go back and disturb Sandy so we had to look for a Walmart.  That caused us to get into the park around 10:00.  We were able to find a parking spot.  The park was crowded despite the fact that it is Monday, October 29.  For the last few years, no automobile traffic is allowed in the main canyon unless you are a registered guest in the lodge.  Then to complicate things even more, they were working on the road into the canyon.

There were climbers on these enormous towers of rock.  

This is the Virgin River.  It is a beautiful river.

We took the shuttle to the end of the canyon where we took a mile paved trail to "the Narrows."  The Narrows is where the canyon walls seem to touch each other as the Virgin River flows between the walls.  A lot of people come prepared to wade the river through the narrow canyon walls.  Carol and I didn't plan to wade the river.  Carol's knee is still bothering him enough that he was not able to walk to the Narrows.  I left him about half way there and walked there by myself.

The aspens had already turned yellow and dropped their leaves but the oaks and maples where beautiful.

This is where the Narrows begins.  

The Narrows.

This was the only wildlife we saw today but the squirrel was very happy to pose for my picture.

When we got back to the beginning of the trail, we met the same people we had met at Bryce Canyon.  They had taken our picture at Bryce and took this one as well.  They are from Alabama.  They flew into Salt Lake City and rented an Airstream and truck so they could spend a week or so in this area.

This rock formation is called "Angel's Landing."  There is a trail to the top of the formation.  The trail starts with a segment called "Walter's Wiggles."  Walter's Wiggles consists of a series of switchbacks which totally wears you out and then the real climb begins.  From there you must climb a trail using chains to hold on to.  We climbed Walter's Wiggles a few years ago and I did some of the chain trail but I never got to the very top.

These climbers have made it to the top.  Look closely and you can see some of the chains.

To leave the canyon and drive east, you must take the Mt. Carmel Highway.   This is a mile long tunnel built in 1930.  There are several "windows" in the tunnel.  This is the only one seen from the floor of the valley.  If you have large camper, you have to pay $15 to go through the tunnel.  They shut down the traffic so your vehicle will be the only one in the tunnel.

These pictures do not show the enormity of what you see when you are in the canyon.  The rock formations tower above you head and you feel very tiny.  The park has changed so much through the years that we have been visiting.  The canyons and towering monoliths have not changed.  What has changed is the tremendous increase in traffic and visitors.  It is hard to enjoy Zion when you are hampered by the external commotion of traffic and people.

We got back to Cedar City around 4:00 p.m.  I needed a few groceries and we decided to get something to eat before going back to camp. 

Cedar City is crazy.  The streets are filled with cars speeding here, there and everywhere.  We are not camped by an interstate but instead by the main street in the town and it is as noisy and busy as any interstate.  We will be glad to get out of Cedar City.  Tomorrow we head for Capitol Reef National Park.