we headed off to angel’s landing, a 5-mile, 1500 foot elevation gain day hike that overlooks the vast red canyons of zion.  i never knew how flexible my dad was until now…he stretched those quads like a 12 year old gymnast! go dad! the last mile of the trail was strenuous but most exciting, with chains lining the narrow paths aiding the weaker-kneed folk. i led this part some of the way and whenever i’d turn around to make sure everyone was alive, i couldn’t help but laugh at my view. it kind of looked like the human centipede slowly climbing up…i won’t go into detail. anyway, making our way past the steep cliffs was such an adrenaline rush as we approached the peak.  finally, up top, you kind of do get that “angelic” feeling, or was that vertigo…

the next day, we rented some drypants at zion adventure company and hit up the narrows, an extraordinary river hike.  it was absolutely magnificent, with towering walls on both sides of the river. we hiked up to the split and decided to take the orderville canyon narrows just for a bit before heading back. the feeling of being waist deep in the water is astounding, imagine a vacuum sucking you into a cold abyss!

*sigh everytime i come back from a trip like this, i can’t help but feel a little depressed. i’m a slave to the bills and money-making! maybe, perhaps, hopefully…one day, i’ll get to live in the wild. til then, at least i’ll have photos to commemorate the passage.