Hiking in Zion

Tyler, Scarlet, Jordan and I exploring one of the undiscovered cracks in Zion.

Brianna and I at employee falls.
Hidden Canyon chains and the view on the way to the canyon. Beautiful.

Hidden Canyon

Yesterday was my day off. I wanted to try a new trail, so I hiked Hidden Canyon. This is one of the lesser traveled hikes in Zion Canyon but I found the chains to be much more intense than Angels Landing. Our goal for the summer is to hike all the hikes in Zion National Park once. We literally are hiking four to five times a week to meet this goal. I loved hiking Hidden Canyon.

"The trail starts at Weeping Rock and climbs high onto the canyon walls. The trail is steep and at points the parks service has bolted chains into the side of the cliff. You'll be glad that they did because the trail is only 2 to 3 ft. wide and drops off for a few hundred ft. It is a little nerve racking when someone passes you on the trail. If you are afraid of heights skip this hike! The trail stops at the mouth of Hidden Canyon and over all you have come 2 miles and 850 vertical ft. You can continue up Hidden Canyon for another mile or so. This involves few rock scrambles and a few area that you need to climb."

While hiking along the chains I watched in slow motion as the girl in front of me trips and starts to slip. So scary!!! She recovered and hiked very slowly down the rest of the canyon.

Will post pictures later......

Happy Birthday to Me!!

I had a few days off of work and was able to come home for my birthday. My Mom, Amber and Ella met me at the airport with flowers which was so fun. They then surprised me with a trip to the spa where I got a massage and after hiking ten miles the night before I really appreciated that.

My favorite moment of the day was the cake. A model of Angels Landing, complete with the switch backs, chains and a picture of me at the top. So funny!! Kylee then took me out to dinner to a little bistro downtown where we met up with some friends and ate amazing pasta. I then came home and crashed. What a great day.

Angels Landing

"Angel’s Landing—if you have done your research, you know this hike is not for anyone with a fear of heights. You probably also know that it is one of the most unique and thrilling hiking trails in Zion national park. The trail to the top takes you along the narrow spine of a geological fin, complete with chains to help you reach the summit of this highly exposed rock formation. The clincher for most hikers is the last half-mile to the top, where you must climb along the narrow ridge that has dizzying drop-offs on both sides—nearly a 1,200 foot drop on one side, and over 800 feet down on the other. When you reach the top, stunning valley views and canyon vistas spread out as far as the eye can see—a spectacular award for those who brave the climb."

We took a group of eight and only four of us made it to the top. We reached the top right at sunset. It was amazing.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon

Paria movie set

Paria Movie Set was used to film western movies and TV shows from 1963-1991. As a location, it was used for several episodes of “Gunsmoke” and “Sergeants Three” and the famous Clint Eastwood film “The Outlaw Josey Wells”.

12 hours of BRUTAL hiking. Welcome to the Subway

The Subway!!!

The Emerald Pools

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Not far from the ranch is Coral Pink Sand Dunes State park. What an interesting place. It was so windy this past weekend and I got sand everywhere! My eyes, my teeth, my hair. Not the souvenir I was looking for.

The Hospital Visit that almost killed me

The past few days my leg has been bothering me but knowing that I haven't fallen and have no injuries I didn't think much of it and thought it would go away eventually. Well it didn't. The pain has slowly increased and my leg has been turning a wonderful array of red, black and blue. After a horrible night and insistently from my Mother, I decided it was time to drive myself to the local hospital and have it checked out.

The hospital was something you would see in the movies. It was so tiny and all the nurses and doctors were like characters in a movie. They got me in to see a doctor rather quickly and he said my leg had an infection. They have no idea what caused this infection but most likely it would heal itself. He prescribed me an antibiotic and sent me on my way.

Then I head to the pharmacy and out of habit I ask the pharmacist if the medication I was prescribed had any penicillin. (I am deathly allergic.) She said that the prescription I was given was penicillin and that she had to refuse me. I was so mad. I told every nurse, PA, and doctor that I saw that I could not have Penicillin. And then to walk out of the hospital with a prescription that would have killed me was so frustrating.

My leg still looks the same and is taking a long time to heal. At least it wasn't a spider bite!!

It is finally starting to warm up again so I went on a hike Saturday afternoon. I have been very overwhelmed with all the changes and lack of direction at the resort.

I went into the canyon to get away and think about the changes and directions I want to make for myself.

There is a peace that I feel when I am in the canyon that always seems to clear my head and I feel more centered.

I had a friend who said that Zion Canyon takes away your worries and allows to enjoy the beauty around you. When I looked at the pictures I had taken not one did I look stressed or overwhelmed.

I believe he may be right.

Look who came to the Ranch

What do you do when you get five feet of snow?

Race to the top of the "mountain"....

Wait for your car to thaw out....

And of course have many snow ball fights.