Over the weekend (April 24-26), I reunited with two old (correction) dear friends, who are getting older, just like me, at Zions Park. This is a place where we 30 years ago had gone several times with a group of friends to camp and play. This time we checked in at lodgings in Sprindale, but visited the park to play. These pictures are a random sampling, not in time order. The above is the Virgin River at the end of the Riverside Walk (Temple of Sinawava), a gently sloping walk. This is also the end of the "Narrows Hike" which is 16 miles long, much of it through water, at points with the walls so high you can't see the sun, and at one point so narrow that you can almost touch walls on both sides. I have done this ike three times in my life!! Thank goodness for memories.
This very fuzzy and friendly guy isn't shy of people. There are signs posted warning we humans not to feed the animals, that there will be a fine and to report any violators.
One of the many BIG rocks. Shot was taken outside the lodge where we went for breakfast Saturday morning. These majestic mountains were once part of 3000-feet-deep sand dunes.
Indian Paintbrush, which is blooming right now in the park, and grows readily wherever this is some sand embedded on the rocks.
Checkerboard Mesa.
Joy, yours truly and Robin. We're so happy to have Robin with us, as her past 9 months have been filled with surgery and chemo--thus, this trip was really a celebration of life.
Taken Sunday morning as we were heading into the Park--very busy, two lanes going in.
Joy and Robin on Saturday's walk to the river bottom.
Zions is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the oldest national park in Utah--was originally designated Mukuntuweap National Monument by President Taft using the Antiquities Act, later changed to Zions National Park in 1916 by Congress. The first white man, Nephi Johnson, was guided into the area by a Paiute Indian. Annual visitation in 1917 was 1000, but today nearly 3 million people visit yearly, necessitating the shuttle system, a very efficient way to allow so many people to come and visit. What a jewel here within my home state.
2 comments:
Great entry! Think I will also print it for my own journal entry. Thank you! (Glad you got home safely.)
M, looks like a great weekend. Your lucky to have friends like that and they are lucky to have you! That looks so fun to be away and enjoying life away from life for a weekend! I think we need another sister-in-law retreat sometime in the future!
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