Sept 29 - St George, UT and Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park

   We got up EARLY and left for the Subaru dealer, so we could be there at 7am.  Ugh.  Got there and was told the express oil change would take a couple of hours.  So we walked to the nearby Cracker Barrel and had breakfast.  In the parking lot, on the way out, there was a Classic Car Club that meets for breakfast each week with their classic cars parked in the lot.  Some really nice ones--although its hard to consider that the cars of my youth are now considered classic!

   Our outing for the morning was to drive north to the northern section of Zion National Park, to Kolob Canyons.  This section has a winding, uphill, 5 mile scenic drive with pullouts and trail heads.  It ends at the Kolob Canyons Viewpoint and Timber Creek Overlook Trail.  We hiked the mile round trip trail, which climbed up to the rim and then out to this amazing overlook. However, the temperature was 49 degrees and the wind was really blowing.  We actually put on our fall jackets, hats and gloves.  Thank goodness we hand them in the car (not enough room in the RV).  It's interesting going from too hot to rather cold so quickly.  The trail ended at a peak, with vistas on both sides of the peak.  On one side, we are looking across the deep canyon to the mountain peaks, which are about 8000 feet tall.  The other side looks out over a valley, toward another distant mountain range.  We sat for awhile on one of the rocks and just enjoyed the view.  Back at the parking area, there was a unique sign at the bathrooms that said "Watch out for rattle snakes.  There have been some spotted in the bathrooms."  You can imagine, we opened the doors rather carefully.  

   Next stop--Hurricane Library again.  It's hard not having any cell or internet coverage at the RV.  Updated the blog.  Then, I found Natural Grocers, a market with organic and healthy food.  Going to check it out.  

   On our way back to the RV, we passed by the Quail Creek State Park, with a big reservoir.  So we stopped at the day use overlook.  Lots of geological info posted on the signs, about the fold, the uplifts, the erosion, and the age of the mountains surrounding the basin forming the reservoir.  It also explained how the first dam was poorly designed and eroded away, allowing the dam to fail and flood the area.  Oops.

Classic car photos:

Kolob Canyon scenic drive photos:

Timber Creek Overlook Trail photos:

Quail Creek State Park photos:

Hurricane, UT Campsite view of mountains photo:

Sept 28 - St. George and Hurricane, Utah, and Zion National Park

   We realized that our Subaru was 2000 miles over the change the oil due date.  So we found a Subaru dealer in St. George, that said on their website that they have Express Oil Changes, no appointment necessary.  So we drove into St George after breakfast, only to find that there would be a 5 hour wait time, and they were making appointments for next week.  However, we could come back tomorrow, at 7 am when they open, and perhaps we could be fit in.  OK. . . 

  So our next item on our morning TO DO list was to stop at Camping World and buy a few RV items that we needed.  It just so happens that both Gander RV and Camping World were right near the Subaru dealer.  Peter was looking for some more leveling blocks to replace some old ones of ours that are smashed.  Of course, we found a few more items to buy as well.  

   That sort of shot the morning, so we went on to the Hurricane Library, with great WiFi, to work on the computers.  While there, I snuck off to Walmart just down the road to get a few more RV items.  Returned to the library and caught up with my travel blog, finally!

   Then, off to Zion National Park.  This time we got there at 4pm, and easily found a parking spot.  We jumped onto the Shuttle and went to the Lower Emerald Pool Trail, that started across from the Lodge.  This trail wound along the rim, above the Virgin River, and ended in a delightful little, green, pool.  The pool was located beneath the towering cliffs, undercut by erosion, so the water came pouring out from the rim of the cliff.  Or it would have, if it were spring time.  Now, there was just delightful streams of water cascading over the cliff rim, and flowing into the pool.  The path took us behind the waterfalls.  Very cool.  This hike was about 1.5 miles, round trip.  So just the perfect length, with several moderate inclines.

   We really liked coming at this time, as there were much fewer crowds and the weather was nice and cool.  Our next shuttle stop was at the Court of the Patriarchs.  This short uphill walk took us to a nice overlook.  It looked at three major mountain peaks, which someone had named with biblical names.  It is interesting how different canyons create different microcosms of environments.  This one had lots and lots of cacti, some with purple flowers.  And a lot of Zion has way more trees than elsewhere in Utah.  Must be the Virgin River and its tributaries cutting through here, or something.

   We got back to the car and drove back into the town of Hurricane, and stopped for dinner at the Rooster Run Cafe.  Nice place.  They served breakfast all day, so I had options.  Back to the RV and played another game of Innovation.  I really don't like that game.  Peter gets all the good cards and tromps on my cards the whole game, so it's frustrating for me.  The only good thing about it was that in the last four hands, everything turned around and I ended up winning!  Go figure. 

Lower Emerald Pool Trail photos:

Court of the Patriarchs photos:

Sept 27 - Zion National Park, Utah

    We got up early so we could get to Zion before all of the crowds.  We actually arrived there at 8:30 am, and by that time, all of the Visitor and Shuttle parking lots were completely full.  I can't believe the number of people there, as well as in the town of Springdale, which is at the park entrance.  The town is 100% touristy, catering to the Zion park attendees.  Without a doubt, this park is WAY more crowded than Arches was.  

   The Shuttle system takes you to the Scenic Drive, up a canyon and stops at 5 different waypoints and trailheads on the way to the end of the road.  It actually stops at a 6th one on the way back.  These shuttles come every 4 minutes, and are actually double bus shuttles.  So they move lots of people.

   There is also a road that goes through a different section of the park, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy.  It goes up a mountain side, with 7 or 8 tight switchbacks.  It then goes through a mile long tunnel under the mountain, and finishes up through more canyons and vistas, at the east side of the park.    There are many pullouts along the way.  So, we decided to drive that road, as parking wasn't an issue.  VERY SCENIC.  Wonderful red/orange/white colors, spotted with green scrubs and trees.  HUGE mountain formations.  At the end of the road was the Checkerboard Viewpoint.  This looked at two or three jutting mountains that were etched with very distinct checkerboard lines.  

   It was also the trailhead for the East Rim Trail, an 11 mile trail that headed back over to the main section of the park, through the back country.  We walked about 1 mile in and turned around and came back.  It was different and interesting to be walking in the wilder park of the park.  The trail was mostly sandy, and it went through some canyons, over rocky outcroppings.  Interesting.  Nice hike.

  We stopped at the Canyon Overlook Trail, and thought we'd try to walk it.  Everyone coming down from it said it was worth the climb.  However, the placard said the trail was not for people afraid of heights and that there were narrow ledges, some of which had no guard rails.  We hiked up to the rim of the canyon, holding on for dear life to the rails, but at the first narrow ledge without a rail, we bailed.  Not for us.  Live and Learn.

   By the time we returned to the Visitor Center, around noon, we were able to find a parking spot.  So we ate our picnic lunch at the visitor center and boarded one of the shuttles.  It took us to the end, the Temple of Sinawava, and the Riverside Walk.  This mile and a half "walk" went along the river that cut the canyon.  Nice walk through the canyon, up and down.  It ended at "The Narrows", which is where the canyon walls are only 20 feet apart.   The trail went through the river to the other side, and continued on for many miles, but that was enough for us.  Lots of folks were playing in the water.  The canyon walls were really high, all along the way, and made for a beautiful hike.

   We boarded the shuttle and got off at the next stop, Big Bend.  There were some park naturalists there with a telescope trained on two California Condors, perched on the cliff side.  Apparently, they tag and track every condor in the park.  When they started, there were only 50 condors, and now there are 500.  Above the condors, at the top of the cliff, is the Angels Landing Trail.  Now this is a crazy trail!  It ascends 1500 feet to the top of the mountain cliff, then the last 1/2 mile goes along the peak to the top.  It is so narrow, that there is a chain going down the middle of the trail, so that people going both ways have something to hold on to, as the drop off is so steep on both sides!  I asked if there were ever people falling off the peak, and they said yes, many, over the years.  Now why would anyone want to walk that trail?  As you would have it, that night, we got some new neighbors at the campgrounds, and he said he walked it last May.  Go figure.

   The next stop was at the Lodge, where we had a cup of coffee and Peter his ice cream.  By this time, we had had enough, so we took the shuttle back to the Visitor Center.  At 4pm, the parking lot had many sites, so we will plan our return trip here for the later afternoon.  

   Zion National Park is different than the Arches, Canyonlands, Captiol Reef and Bryce Canyon parks.  More big mountain formations creating incredible views.  Not many formations.  So it is striking, but it is also SO CROWDED everywhere, that it detracts from the natural beauty.  Even Arches wasn't nearly as crowded.  Of course it is a much larger park, so the people are more spread out. 

  Back at the RV, we just relaxed for a while, and then chatted with our new neighbors.  Dinner, and a game of Cribbage.  No TV as there was no internet, and we had already watched the DVD's we had brought.  So we read.  Good sightseeing day.  

Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy photos:

Checkerboard Viewpoint photos:

East Rim Trail hike photos:

Canyon Overlook Trails photo:

Narrow ledge without rails \

Riverwalk trail photos:

Tired Peter photo: