Vacation Recap – October 2009 – Day 4 and 5

As stated in my previous vacation update, I had originally planned on posting a couple of blog entries while on the road this past week, but my inability to pack one pathetic power cord caused my laptop to lose its ability to power up. Stupid Banana.

Here is a recap of Day 4 and 5.

Day 4, October 16

After a terrible night of no sleep due to having caught “air-plague” day 4 started early with a journey to Zion National Park. I was looking forward to Zion, having heard many great things about it. It was more beautiful than I had hoped.

Zion Lodge

We came into Zion via Hwy 89, then Hwy 9 entrance, through the famous Zion tunnel built in 1930. The size of the mountains was amazing. We immediately went to the Zion Lodge because we had booked two nights in one of the historic cabins.

After checking in, we decided to use the shuttle system in order to get our bearings around the park. We stopped by the museum and the visitors center, then hoped back on the shuttle because we realized we need our car for lunch. A quick jaunt to Blondies in Springdale, where I had a most excellent Bacon Cheese Burger, fries and Dr. Pepper. Now I was ready to hike. And we did, all afternoon, visiting most of the Zion Canyon trails. All except one major one that there was no way I was going to attempt.

Also for the record, lots of foreign types and senior citizens were roaming freely.

View towards the Narrows

Weeping Wall – Zion National Park

The day ended with a nice meal at the Zion Lodge. I was dead tired when I hit the bed at 9:30 pm.

Day 5 – October 17

Day five started early with a breakfast at the Zion Lodge, then we headed out for a quick morning jaunt before a drive out to Bryce National Park. Of course being my wife’s concept of a quick jaunt and mine are two different things. A 1 mile one way, 500 foot climb, out to Overlook was not for the feint of heart with narrow paths and step canyons.

Cabin at Zion

Zion Tunnel

Cinna on Overlook trail – Zion Park

Overlook Trail – Zion Park

Once returned to the car, we took a 1 1/2 hour drive over to Bryce National Park. Bryce is the another one of the “three steps” in term of geographical areas. The other two were Zion and the Grand Canyon. AH! Now you all get why we went to these three parks.

Bryce Lodge

Cinna and I did a combination trail, taking the Navajo trail down into the Bryce amphitheater (not a canyon) through what is called the Wall Street section, then onto the Queen’s Garden trail. A total of over 3 miles with 450 feet down then a tough 450 feet up.

On one part of the trail we were surrounded by German and French citizens.

Bryce National Park