December 12,13 ZION

Dec. 12 & 13,
Zion:
   We decided to take the longer route from Bryce to Zion because we had been warned that the shorter route was a very treacherous route including paying an extra fee at a tunnel.    
  Entering Zion National Park was simply the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen.  Unlike Bryce, Zion is a geological area located at the bottom of the canyon.  The Virgin River runs through the canyon creating spectacular cliffs and rock formations.  The river is the source of life for this canyon.  The water flow from this river has sliced through these massive rock formations for millenniums and continues to do so today.  At the river’s bank, there is a diversity of pants and animals that thrive in this canyon oasis.  John Wesley Powell, in 1895 said “All this is the music of waters.”
   Our first hike was at the Temple of Sinawava.  Walking along the banks of the river we could look up the canyon walls that are at least 800 feet high.  The layered colorations of the cliffs once again formed magnificent natural art work.  We came face to face with 3 mule deer who were not at all bothered by our presence.  They simply stared at us and continued eating the green grasses at the river’s edge.  The hike took us to an area known as The Narrows.  We were told we could not go into the Narrows this time of the year because the water temperature was 34 degrees and the water was too high to wade through.  We did however, stand on some rocks in the river and could get a glimpse of the most narrow part of the river between two enormous cliffs.  In the spring and summer, hikers could walk through the river and into the Narrows and on to a longer hike.  I would love to come back and do the rest of this hike.  It was beautiful.
   The next morning we hiked the Pa’rus Trail.  The map indicated it would take 2 house but we took 3 to complete it.  The views were just so stunning that we needed to stop and admire them often.  There is a sense of being part of the landscape as we traversed through the bottom of the canyon.  We had a quick lunch at the Lodge then hiked the Emerald Pool Trail.  This hike took us up a winding narrow path that led to a small green pool that was being filled by a water fall about 500 feet above it.  What an amazing view.  The weather was incredibly warm at 60 degrees and full sun shine.  The sky was intensely blue.  The only white in the sky were streaks of jet streams that soared 30,000 feet above.
   This was the most extraordinary day of hiking I have had in years.  Walking through these canyon walls is like walking through time centuries ago and yet being present in the moment of creating a new landscape as the river rushes by.  Being present at this moment is awe inspiring.  There are many hikes through this natural wonder some easy some very difficult.  I am grateful that I was able to experience up close and personal the beauty of this natural park. Zion means “promised land,” and this park is not just “promised” but has given a sense of a truly sacred place.