This place is weird. It's either empty or filled with the most interesting geological phenomena. Bryce Canyon remains one of my favorite places in the US. The formations look like dripped sand castles and the hikes are strenuous without being brutal. We did about 5 miles in the morning after camping out. The camping itself was still quite cold, it dipped to at least 20. Even in clothes, liner, sack, and rain cover it got very cold. We were very happy to be hiking when the morning got started. It ended up being about perfect, 50 and sunny and the hike was perfect. Somehow it turned out to be uphill the whole way, though. Still it was wonderful to have been camping again and I cooked some brats and smoked the pipe. It hadn't gotten super cold until the sun went down so the fire was just pleasant. As for the formations themselves, awe. I've decided that aliens came a hundred thousand years ago and built cathedrals and monuments out of the sandstone, and now we are looking at the remains. It is inspiring, and wonderful, and it causes in me such a curiosity that cannot be filled even with the knowledge that we have. I know it is dangerous to create and accept a myth as a reasonable explanation, but to me I would rather have a story than a fact when it comes to this place. In the afternoon we booked it over to Zion. It begins with a lack of fanfare: rocky hills with a some small trees. Then you realize the trees are growing OUT OF THE ROCK. There is no soil. Sometimes they push through cracks but for most of the time, the plants have just pushed through. Then the formations start. The next thing you know you are hiking up a river with 1500 foot cliffs on either side of you and the only way forward is further up river. Springs have penetrated through the cliffs and plants have grown into what are called the hanging gardens. In the middle of the desert there is this verdant paradise with cottonwood forests and the most beautiful flowers and moss just hanging around. Every corner of the hike, about 3 miles, revealed another mystery. The water was still runoff and my feet honestly kind of went numb. So after 8 miles of strenuous hiking in one day we crashed hard in Arizona with some friends of the Zinks, Dave and Jo. Awesome people that left the hustle and bustle of LA life and got a pad on 38 acres in the middle of Nowhere, Arizona. They run a horse rescue/foster center and own a feed store. The city of Williams, Arizona is a Mayberry kind of heaven. We live in a world of visible and consistent sorrow, and sadly (or gladly?) it is obvious how happy everybody in that town is. You have to chat before you can order your food, or buy a shake, or even get a hat. I've never thought to myself "I could stack hay and sell feed for a living", yet I have found myself wondering how to get a job on a ranch. Another oddity, if you aren't aware, is Arizona has gone straight Second Amendment. It is legal carry without a license so you see handguns pretty much everywhere. I'm not sure how to feel about it but I have to admit I might not be so passive aggressive if I knew you were carrying a .45. Great dogs, too!
Bryce camp. Freezing.
Aliens.
Another alien. With a pipe.
This landscape is the norm here. Every inch is another picture.
Thor's hammer is on the right.
Beginning of the hike.
Naturally occurring bridge.
It's a Spiral Tree. They grow in spirals. I have no idea what or why. Aliens?
This formation is called The Cathedral. Fitting since I had been reading Pillars of the Earth. It's over now, great book. Thanks Nancy! Aliens.
This is what they all look like up close - candle wax or drip castles.
Wildlife. A squirrel, right in the middle on the rock.
Dani fell behind, she's in the grey with the black hat. Many switchbacks so you get high pretty quick.
First sight at Zion. It's called Checkerboard, see the square cuts in it? Naturally occurring. By aliens.
Plants growing in rocks.
1500 foot cliffs.
The first of the river crossings. About 25 went across and back. Only about 5 of us continued up river. Totally worth it.
Arizona state line. Negligible.
Feed store.
Dave and Jo.
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