More Hiking?? Yep: Zion Canyon

I know, I know... one look at those trails and my legs began to weep.  But the nice thing about Zion Canyon was that the hard part (uphill) is at the beginning.  My original plan was to conquer Angel's Landing but I woke up with the start of a head cold and thought better of that idea. 

 I took my second choice, the East Rim Trail, which took me through Echo Canyon.   

 

 

The trail was not so bad until the end, where the steepest part practically kills you.  But it was worth it; the views were spectacular! 

Echo Canyon was a different sight- surrounded by walls that seem to reach the sky, and ripples in the sandstone from all the levels of water flowing in the canyon throughout the years.

A part of me enjoyed it a little more than the Grand Canyon.  I was supposed to make it to a place called Observation Point, but stopped just before it to eat lunch while perched up on a chuck of cliff with an amazing view... my own observation point.  You were able to see the length of the canyon and watch hawks soar overhead.

On the way down, I was so relieved it was downhill that I actually enjoyed the trip back!  Made such good time that I decided to then hike Hidden Canyon Trail. 

This trail was adventurous... you have so many ups and downs and round the side of a cliff.  I climbed beyond the mouth of the canyon, and climbed beyond that too.  It was an adventure in itself and I was the only one of 5 people exploring it.  Definitely the only one who walked as deep into the canyon as I did. 

 

 Most of the footing was on a sandy trail with the occasional pile of boulders or tree trunks blocking the way.  The walls of canyon towered overhead.  I reached what had become my stopping point because there was no possible way around it without risk of taking a tumble into the creek.  Besides, I heard my mom's voice in my head saying "Barbara Angeline, not another step" -like when I was a kid who always pushed the limits while hiking- and felt it was a good idea to listen :)

I thought this was the end of my trip through Zion, but then went up one more mini trail to Weeping Rock.  This area is full of little springs of water that run down the side of the canyon-  some of the water in the canyon is said to be up to 4000 years old!

Zion Canyon was a full day of hiking and picture-taking and I finally took the shuttle back to my car, only to find my left head light was burnt out.  That makes two of us.

Grand Canyon: North Rim

Ok, it was time to try out the North Rim.  Over 200 miles around the canyon to get there driving. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon and the North Rim: completely different worlds.  Other than the fact that the South Rim has more accommodations for tourists so the North Rim often has less "traffic", the South Rim-as I mentioned- has a lot of desert colors and has this silent beauty.  The North Rim is more lively with all of its forestry and its more often seen wildlife.

 I took the north end of the same trail, the North Kaibab Trail.  The two trails connect at a bridge over the Colorado River.  Again, very steep and this one has a lot of twists and turns and is more rugged.  Walking along this trail had a more ideal "hiking" feel to it.  The aroma of pine needles envelope you while walking through the changing colors of the trees.  Lizards would scurry across the path every so often.

 

Once you leave the "tree level", the red rocks set in.  The view opened up and amazed me all over again.  Trees line the sides of the canyon and Mt. Humphreys (highest pt in AZ) could be seen far in the background.

 

After getting passed the red zone, the rock turns to a lighter sandstone color and cactus plants begin to show themselves.  So strange how parts of the canyon along your journey have such a different environments!
I walked quite a bit further this time because I made a point to start earlier in the day.  I probably ended up doing 10 miles, round trip.  I made it down to a place called Roaring Springs... name fits well.  It literally is a few springs that, because of the amplification in the canyon I'm sure, roar like it's this huge falls. 
And, of course, the way out was terribly difficult... thought I was going to collapse.  I'm so glad I started hiking when I did because there was no way I wanted to be left to guide myself out after dark in all those trees.

 

This part of the trail makes you feel more inside the canyon, for it doesn't have the widespread feel of the south end (and I'm sure descending over 3000 ft below the rim has something to do with it too!).
All I know for sure is that after these last 2 days, I am going to sleep like a baby!  I'm beat from all that climbing...

Grand Canyon: South Rim

Oh my goodness; now I know why people ride mules into the canyon!

I've been to the South Rim Trail in the past, so this time I planned to do some hiking down in the canyon.  There is no way to make it to the Colorado River and back in one day, and to camp overnight requires a permit- one that has to be applied for months ahead.  Yeah, had no idea when I was going to arrive so I just settled for day hikes. 

Well, I thought I "settled".  I was blown away from the views I got on my hikes!  The South Kaibab Trail gets pretty steep, but I figured it was the best way to see a lot in the daylight I had left.  The depth is just amazing.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing, or where I was for that matter.  The more you look down, the more times you realize that you won't see the "bottom", not from where I was anyways.  Orange and red walls, greenery, yellow trails--all desert-toned colors-- with the vast sky above... makes one feel so tiny.

 

I walked just passed the 2-mile mark before turning back I think.  I got shots of sunset and wanted to make it out before dark.  That wind started picking up too; it got really chilly.  But the sunset itself doesn't amaze you- it's the effect it has on the opposing wall of the canyon.  The tops of that stone were just on fire! 

Let me tell you why mountains are more ideal to hike than canyons:  when hiking a mountain, the hard work of getting to the top is rewarded by the view and by the easy way back down. 

 

When hiking into a canyon, it's all fun and easy walking as much as your heart desires while getting awesome views.  The strenuous part of going back at the end is easily forgotten during that part of the hike.  Then time to start upward, after you've already walked too far because picture-taking got out of hand.  But I made it out before the flashlight was needed.

I have also experienced an unforgettable sound.  On the hike upward, I stopped for a drink of water and just stood and observed the scenery.  Not a single sound, for the wind even let up.  Then a cricket starting chirping, and the chirp just echoed along those canyon walls like nothing I would have ever expected.  The little things :)

Cartwheelin' into South Mountain

From the Tucson area, I headed to Scottsdale.  I have been here before also, but haven't had too much opportunity to spend time with a good friend who lives here during those past visits.  Even while doing something low-key, Jessica and I always have a good time.  I arrived in the late evening and we spent it catching up at a place where an 80's hairband went on stage.  They were pretty good, and definitely entertaining!

 

Monday, Jessica had class and allowed me to sort out some photos and organize the car during the day.  Then I did something that I had not done in about a decade: rode a bicycle.  The saying is obviously true ("it's something you never forget how to do, like riding a bike"), because I did not fall and break my arm, or any other bone for that matter. 

 

I was so pleased with myself :)  And it was a blast!  I had so much fun, I am considering to buy a bicycle for next spring to start riding in Chicago.  We rode through a park and around a golf course... and stopped to do some cartwheels on the course, just for the heck of it!

 Finished the night off with a couple terrible movies at the drive-in theater.  I love drive-in theaters, and the occasional bad movie, so it was still an awesome end to a really fun day.

My final day in Scottsdale was spent riding around in a golf cart and watching the sun set in South Mountain. 

 I never knew people had a separate mini garage door, specifically for golf carts!  They do, and Jessica's mom does, so we took the cart out for a ride after my first lunch at Chick Fillet(yummy).  Sped around in the cart, scared the ducks, ducks chased us after, and then headed out towards the mountain (in a car, not the golf cart!).

South Mountain was really beautiful.  Really hilly, covered in cactus plants, awesome sunset.  I don't know if Jessica's dog, Rascal, liked the mountains as much as I did but I really enjoyed the day, and the visit to Scottsdale in general. 

 It was so great of Jessica and Matt to put me up these few days.  (And, for the record, I had NO influence on any classes that Jess might have "missed" during my visit!) 

This week has given me the chance to be reminded of the pace of living I am used to- a chance to take a break from the road for a while.  I didn't want the trip to feel like an express train without any stops.  Well, after the next few days of sightseeing, I'll be stopped again in Vegas with friends and then on the road for quite a stretch again... don't worry.