Zion : Over Crowded

The last morning I woke up in Bryce Canyon, I knew that I wanted to do more hiking in Bryce, but essentially the entire state of Utah was supposed encompassed in rain. The best course of action seemed to be to set off for my next destination to get as much done before the rains came as I could. I headed towards Zion National Park. Zion had been a place that I wanted to go to for a while, and it was quickly starting to turn ill as the south entrance was under extreme construction, slowing traffic to a standstill at times. As we are all well versed in the idea that people drive like assholes when there is road construction, worse was made by the simple fact that we were in Zion. People would poke along like old folks on Sunday, hanging their cameras out the car windows as they slowed to near stops, or were unsure of how fast they should take a curve around the park. I remember the colorful explosion of expletives that expelled from my mouth at the driver from Colorado that I stated “Should F***ing know better!”

By the time I reached the visitors center, I was near my wits end with people who insist on poking along the road. The visitors center nearly pushed me to the brink of insanity. I had been to my fair share of parks on this trip already, and I had not experienced a visitors center that would best be described as a mall parking lot on Christmas Eve. After circling three times in search of a spot, I was able to pull into a spot vacated by a minivan that about six children had to load into. Walking to the building I laughed, overhearing a group of tourists on motorcycles bitching about the lack of open parking spots, and declare “What, there free blowies in there or what!?”

I left the part of that park that civilians could drive and found the only camp ground in town, a Comfort Inn, that also accommodated campers. And by accommodate, I mean that they charged ten dollars more than any other campground I had been through thus far, their shower facilities were using experimental 'green technology', which is code talk for 'if your shower is cold thats just too bad', there was no bench in the showers, nor curtains to separate the changing room from the shower itself. No benches to sit on and change clothes. And to top it off, when you check in, they give you a chit to activate the shower, and is only good for six minutes of running water. After my cold shower, I wandered into the lobby to charge my cell phone and get on the internet. This isn't permitted for the 'campers', only hotel guests. I swallowed my pride and packed up my stuff and left, knowing I would be leaving first thing in the morning. I don't need to be treated like a second class citizen just because I'm one of those 'camping folk'.

Zion has something that few other parks offer. Shuttle services. I was able to take a shuttle to the park entrance and walk through a pedestrian entrance. Once in the park, there are additional shuttles that will take you wherever you need to go in the park. I found this to be convenient and relaxing. I had the ability to relax and gaze at the window while en route to the various places I wanted to hike. The rest of the tourists around me found the shuttles to only be a nuisance and cramp to their style. Seats were left open by people that didn't want the discomfort of sitting next to a stranger on a full bus, they would prefer to stand. Bellyaching about the slow pace of the bus and having to stop for pickups and drop offs was being murmured throughout the trip. Finally at my destination I was able to get off the bus and begin a hike.

My first hike was pretty easy, walking along a high ridge along the Virgin river, which is the very river that cut Zion Canyon. Stopping along the way I was able to photograph the squirrels that are completely unfazed by human activity, as well as beautiful cactus flowers hanging desperately to the edge of the drop. The hike led up into a deep canyon between monoliths, in which there was a pool and a tall waterfall dropping snow melt stream from over 1000 feet overhead. There was a somewhat stagnant little pool at the base of the waterfall, but most of the water continued to runoff into several subsequent pools and smaller waterfalls that eventually lead back to the Virgin River itself.

The next hike was a little more arduous. The Hidden Canyon is located near the top of a basin that is accessed only by a steep climb up nearly 900 feet of switchbacks. At the top is a very cool (temperature wise) narrow canyon that leads on for miles. The designated trail ends at that point and there are several bouldering technique spots to continue on. I continued for about a half mile in before turning back. If you keep going it continues about five miles before finally intersecting with a back country trail route.

The trail that eluded me due to weather conditions was the Angels Landing Summit. The trail to the top is a narrow switchback trail cut into the rock and rises over 1200 feet to the top of Angels Landing. Angels Rock holds intrigue for me now as shortly before my arrival a woman unfortunately fell to her death. Since 1987 eight have perished en route to the summit, but thousands of others make it without too many problems. The only problem that I had was the unending rain. After checking the radar it appeared as though the cloudy weather and rain were going to hold up in the Zion Canyon area for at least two more days. I thought it the best time to simply cut my losses with the park that had angered me so greatly already. I hope to return and take Angels Summit and hopefully have an all around better experience at the park, but that is another endeavor for another day. It was time to move on.