Home Again

Well, we made the trip home through the Utah/Arizona/Nevada/California desert! We definately could have stayed longer, but we were glad to be home too. Everyone agreed the the second half of our trip that included the National Parks was the best part. Most of the girls liked Yellowstone the best, because of all the animals, and I liked the Tetons the best. Kristian enjoyed the mountain states and really would like to move there, though he admits he might feel differently in winter.

We have already decided that the must be a Road Trip 2011, to the midwest, conviently starting Zion. We'd like to see Mt Rushmore and the Badlands and fill in the blanks on our map. after that, we'll only have a few states in the south, and the three uppermost New England states, before we've seen them all. They will have to wait until 2013 :).

We're very grateful to Aunt Karen for feeding the cats and watching the house, thanks! We missed all of our friends and family, and are looking foward to getting caught up with everyone. Thanks for following our adventure!

Zion National Park

After an overnight in Salt Lake City, we arrived at Zion National Park in southern Utah. We endured much rain and cold in the mountain states, and were nearly knocked over by the heat at Zion. We arrived mid-afternoon and after unhitching the trailer and setting up camp we were melting. For the first time in the almost 3 years we have owned this trailer, we actually turned the AC on. It works :). Then we decided to go drive through the Zion Mt Carmel tunnel.

The 1.1 mile Zion Mount Carmel Tunnel was finished in 1930. At that time it was the longest tunnel in the United States. It's got low clearance, plus it's curved on the sides. When we entered the park, we were told we had to hang a "No Tunnel" sign in our window, because our tow combo exceed the acceptable length (we meet the height requirement). Once we left the trailer at the campground, we were free to go through the tunnel. There are no lights in the tunnel, but there are cut outs to the canyon to provide some light. It was really cool! On the other side, there was Checkerboard Mesa and you can drive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon from there.

After getting back to our sweltering camp, we decided to go check out the nearby virgin river that runs through the campground. The water was cool, but this was no glacier water like we had had up north. The river is swift in some places, and dh had fun moving rocks and creating a sort of swimmers rapids that the kids could coast down. The water was really deep in some places, and the girls had a great time.

The next day, we caught the Zion Shuttle bus up to the end of the canyon. Cars are not allowed in the canyon above the tunnel crossroad, because of the volume of park visitors. Before the shuttles were introduced, there were 3000 cars in the canyon vying for 400 parking spots. We got off at the Temple of Sinawava, to hike up the Riverside trail. This trail followed the river back into the canyon as it narrows, and ends when the canyon in so narrow, there is no more room for a trail. You can continue up the canyon, however, hiking in the river, assuming there is no flash flood warnings or danger. The canyon gets no narrow at some points, it's only 10 feet across. We hiked up the river until the water was over the twins' heads, and then we turned back. We all agreed we want to come back someday, and hike the whole thing.

Then we took the shuttle down to the trail to Weeping Rock. The sandstone cliffs of Zion absorb rain water, and then leak it out down the sides. This created "hanging gardens" of lush beautiful plants literally hanging to the sides of the cliffs in places. At Weeping Rock, water gushes out at a higher rate, and creates these gardens, as well as make the cliffs "weep."

After lunch at the Zion Lodge, we headed up the trail to Emerald pools. The lower pools is easily accessible, but the middle pool trail is considered "moderate" with sheer cliffs, warning to people afraid of heights and warnings about how people have fallen and died. The Upper pools trail is considered "strenuous" and no longer maintained by the park service. After reaching the lower pools, Mikaela and Madeline wanted to continue on, so DH took the twins back to the lodge for ice cream, and we headed up the stairs cut straight out of the sandstone cliff side. After reaching the middle pools, Mik and Mad wanted to continue on to the Upper pools, and so I sat down on a rock and tried to catch my breath, while they head up with the camera. Meanwhile, as I sat there, a deer wandered in from behind me. The girls got back just in time to snap some photos. They had diligently taken photos of each other at the Upper pool.

We head back towards the Lodge along the middle pools trails, and along the sheer face of the canyon walls. I admit portions of that trail even made me queasy. But the views up the canyon were gorgeous and it was mostly downhill back to the lodge, where we found dad and the twins eating ice cream on the grass. After our snack and our bus ride back to the campground, we all cooled off in the lovely Virgin River again. The older girls and I had hiked about 5 miles.

1 full day was NOT enough time in Zion Canyon. We all agreed that we need to come back, and soon!