Two Hikes Each Day!

We usually took two hikes a day, one in the early morning, another in the late afternoon.  It worked great.  We even took a nap a couple of days.  Tom outdid us though, one morning he got up early and did the extreme Angel's Landing hike.  The rest of us slept in and that day did only an afternoon hike.  Because the hikes all were different we enjoyed each one.  I can't recall which was taken when, but here are pictures from some of them.

Here is the hike that Tom arose at 5:30 a.m. to experience:

Here is what Tom ventured without us:

This part of the trail even Tom didn't attempt.  It is the width shown (about 3-4 foot across) and has a 3,000 ft. drop off on each side!  Truly it is an Angel's Landing!

Zion!

Here is where we stayed while in Zion.  Tom & Julie made the reservations and gave us the suite complete with living room, full kitchen facilities, and extra long bathtub--perfect for soothing aching muscles!

Julie's pick for a site to eat our lunch.  The day was warm, the Visitor Center crowded, tables public and sunny.  We loved her choice!  Of course, I have my mouth full--as always!

This picture includes a hummingbird hovering over the river can you find it?  There were several which came while we enjoyed our meal.

After eating lunch, touring the visitors center  and getting settled into our rooms, we took the tour bus up the canyon and viewed all the trailheads.   We chose the river trail as our first choice:

Taken from the bus window on the drive up the canyon.

As you can see it was a beautiful trail and not too strenuous.

Or was it?

Actually, we just needed to cool off our feet after making the end of the trail.  The narrows would have been the best part of the trail, but as you can see, there was just too much water to go much further.    We had a wonderful day!

Red Rock Canyon & onto Zion

On Thursday, May 27 we drove to Zion's National Park.  We did not stop at Red Rock Canyon that day, but did on the way out from Zions early the morning of the 29th, and did a short but breathtaking (in every sense of the word) hike.  These are a few of the scenes.

If any of you go be sure to visit this sight and take the walk to the Forestry Cabin.  Your Great-grandfather and grandmother Whitaker stayed in one of these the first summer they were married.  What a honey-moon!

Yep, that was their table!

Having purchased a lifetime Golden Age pass several years ago at Yellowstone, we were able to provide free entrance to Tom & Julie and ourselves at all of the parks.  It was a great advantage to us on this trip.  Before entering the Zion's National Park proper, we were astounded at the canyon walls.

We called this quilt rock, but the park named it checkerboard.  Amazing!!!  The horizontal and vertical lines are made by water and freezing temperatures.  This phenomena is found in only a few places in the park, and no where else on earth. 

These are a few of the views we enjoyed before we reached the gate entrance, even though these pictures were taken as we left the park to return home.  When we first saw them, we had no idea that each was a unique sample.

Horse or Mule?

We had scheduled a horseback ride for Monday afternoon, but decided to postpone it until Wednesday.  Julie called to reschedule as we traveled toward Bryce Canyon on Monday.  She turned out to be a prophetess for just before we should have been leaving, it began to lightning and thunder--then hail--and then snow!  We pitied the poor people we saw leaving a short time after our cancelled appointment, huddled over their animals' backs.  Wednesday turned out to be a gorgeous day.  We hiked into the canyon that morning, ate lunch outside on the lodge deck, and then left to saddle up!

 

As we were waiting in line for our "broncs" three young men came up and joined the line behind Leonard and I.  (Julie and Tom were already getting "into the saddle".) 

 Leonard asked the young men where they were from.

"San Francisco." 

Leonard: "Where are your wives?"

They all three looked at each other, and one guy pointed to the one standing beside him.

Leonard: "Oh, you're not married?"

One of the three:  "Yes, we are," said the fellow, again pointing to his partner.

"I'm not.  I mean I'm not married--they are."  Said the third.

Leonard's expression was priceless!  Thank goodness, Leonard and I were then called to mount up. 

Westward Ho!

Do we look like John Wayne's posse or the outlaws?

It was a pretty steep trail in places.  At one point the horse ahead of me shied when the "cowgirl" dropped her camera.  Of course, my mount shied also, but thank goodness Tonya (my mule) knew what she was doing, and I just had to hang on!

Was the 2 1/2 hour grueling ride worth it?  You decide:

Blessings Continue

Below are pictures from our trip to Bryce Canyon with Tom and Julie Kearney.  The beauties and variety of God's creations never cease to amaze.  Was it cold?  YES!!!  These were taken the first day we arrived at Bryce, Monday, May 24, 2010.

The following pictures were taken the next day.  It was warmer and the wind had stopped.  We hiked some of the trails we viewed the previous day.

Leonard, Tom, and Julie on the Queen's Garden Trail on Wednesday morning.  (Bonnie was taking the picture.)