July 9, 2008
“Here you may yet find the elemental freedom to breathe deep of unpoisoned air, to experiment with solitude and stillness, to gaze through a hundred years of untrammeled atmosphere, across red rock canyons beyond blue mesas.” Edward Abbey
Today, Sue and I got up with the best intentions of getting an early start. We walked Pooh Bear, and headed for Zion National Park at about 10:30 am. We retraced our route from yesterday to the Visitors’ Center andhopped on a National Park Service shuttle bus to view the Canyon. Other than on Utah Route 9 that runs from the Park’s South Entrance to its East Entrance, private vehicles are not permitted in the park. These shuttles run on clean propane fuel to be environmentally conscious.
We rode the shuttle "up canyon" to the end of the line and then worked our way back down. At the last stop, Temple of Sinawana, we took a hike beside the Virgin River. I think we walked more than a mile looking at beautiful rock formations and areas where water was leaching through the rock walls , called "weeping rocks" , and forming fresh water pools. This water began at the top of the limestone layer approximately 1,700 years ago and just now is reaching the layer where it "weeps" out and is apparent to the eyes. The rocks narrow and become a beautiful canyon passageway. I took a picture of Sue near the end of the river hike that is at the top of this posting. On the way back, we stopped at several of the different shuttle stops so I could take pictures.
When we arrived at the Zion Lodge, we got off the shuttle to purchase a picnic lunch at the restaurant. We bought sandwiches and iced tea and headed outside to sit on the very green lawn in the shade of a very large tree. This Lodge has been there since about 1920 and accommodates overnight guests. We enjoyed the shade and the respite while a park ranger gave a nature talk on the wild animals of Zion. We learned lots of interesting facts about wolves, coyotes, foxes, ravens, beavers and badgers. Did you know that wolves are the only natural predator of coyotes? Wolves are nearly extinct due the farmers who kill them off so the coyote population is expanding. We stopped next at the Museum to watch a 22 minute movie that gave an orientation and history of the park before heading back to the Visitors’ Center and the car. Everyone out here says that it’s a dry heat and that it is, but it is still very, very hot.Upon arrival at the car, we found the outside temperature was 106. We headed back to the campground with the intention of getting some more pictures. My failure to properly plan resulted in dead batteries and some of the sites we really wanted to photograph will have to wait for another trip.
Today, Sue and I got up with the best intentions of getting an early start. We walked Pooh Bear, and headed for Zion National Park at about 10:30 am. We retraced our route from yesterday to the Visitors’ Center andhopped on a National Park Service shuttle bus to view the Canyon. Other than on Utah Route 9 that runs from the Park’s South Entrance to its East Entrance, private vehicles are not permitted in the park. These shuttles run on clean propane fuel to be environmentally conscious.
We rode the shuttle "up canyon" to the end of the line and then worked our way back down. At the last stop, Temple of Sinawana, we took a hike beside the Virgin River. I think we walked more than a mile looking at beautiful rock formations and areas where water was leaching through the rock walls , called "weeping rocks" , and forming fresh water pools. This water began at the top of the limestone layer approximately 1,700 years ago and just now is reaching the layer where it "weeps" out and is apparent to the eyes. The rocks narrow and become a beautiful canyon passageway. I took a picture of Sue near the end of the river hike that is at the top of this posting. On the way back, we stopped at several of the different shuttle stops so I could take pictures.
When we arrived at the Zion Lodge, we got off the shuttle to purchase a picnic lunch at the restaurant. We bought sandwiches and iced tea and headed outside to sit on the very green lawn in the shade of a very large tree. This Lodge has been there since about 1920 and accommodates overnight guests. We enjoyed the shade and the respite while a park ranger gave a nature talk on the wild animals of Zion. We learned lots of interesting facts about wolves, coyotes, foxes, ravens, beavers and badgers. Did you know that wolves are the only natural predator of coyotes? Wolves are nearly extinct due the farmers who kill them off so the coyote population is expanding. We stopped next at the Museum to watch a 22 minute movie that gave an orientation and history of the park before heading back to the Visitors’ Center and the car. Everyone out here says that it’s a dry heat and that it is, but it is still very, very hot.Upon arrival at the car, we found the outside temperature was 106. We headed back to the campground with the intention of getting some more pictures. My failure to properly plan resulted in dead batteries and some of the sites we really wanted to photograph will have to wait for another trip.
Zion is truly a beautiful work of art and deserves it's name.
The terrain, the sandstone mountains, the canyons, the plants, all direct our thoughts to the Creator. The very name, Zion National Park speaks of the Heavenly City. Angels Landing, Court of the Patriarchs, the Great White Throne, are all signs and symbols of our Christian Heritage and Hope. We serve a great God. As I reflected on the beauty of the Canyon today, I was touched by the love of God for us. If His creation is this magnificent, how much greater is his love for us. I know in a new way today, God’s love and care for me. We are privileged to see this place and to see through this place the omnipotence of our God.
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1 comment:
Zion sounds amazing! Can't wait to see more of the pictures you took. Hope you guys are having a blast and that your A/C gets working again soon because 107 degrees is unbearable. Love you!
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