Moments in Dirt and Ink

Zion National Park Getting off the shuttle at The Grotto, there are quite a few trails to choose from. Across the street and the bridge, there is a trail heading up to Angel's Landing and one to some shallow pools. The one I really want to do is on the right to climb the cliffs, but the time barely allows for the one on the left. I turn onto the Kayenta Trail, apparently named for the rock formation it travels along, toward the Emerald Pools. Various pieces of park literature point out that these are named for the algae growing in them giving them a green tint, which sounds downright mundane to me. Much more interestingly, these are hanging pools. Looking down the canyon in the late day. One of the trail choices from The Grotto follows next to the river. The Great White Thrown right across the valley.

Zion National Park Zion in the late Spring is crazy, but here we are. Attempts at parking extend well into Springdale, lining every street with cars that only want to be near there, not actually there. We manage a spot by the Visitor Center, but only after foolishly looking for something "closer" to the Floor of the Valley Road where private cars are not allowed. The Visitor Center parking is large while everything else is not. Once walking access to the shuttle buses is had, things go smoothly if a little claustrophobic. The bus goes along as long as the canyon is wide enough to hold a road. When it is no longer so wide, we start off on the trail. Looking down the canyon to the Great White Throne, where things are sufficiently wide for a road. Looking up the canyon, things get very narrow.

Zion National Park Kolob Canyons looks like it would be a stunning place to be hiking, but I only dipped into for a close up view of what had been far across the interstate while recently backpacking. The short road wraps around to a high point for a view into the canyons, but the best view is actually a little lower than the end. Panorama of the canyons. Trails proceed much deeper into the canyons. Wondering why this bee was so still, I found the spider. ©2015 Valerie Norton Posted 23 July 2015