Our ritual anniversary trip had finally arrived and Thursday evening we left SLC bound for Zion National Park, our home away from home. The weather forecast looked incredible: Friday – partly cloudy, ~70s, and breezy; Saturday – rain down low and snow up high; Sunday – sunny and sure to be “alive” after the rain. After years of building a relationship with the Park you can’t help but be drawn to experience it when mother-nature is in all her different moods. After-all, Zion is what it IS only because of the mighty power of wind and water. To visit the park only during clear and sunny conditions would be like only talking to your friends only when they are happy. which would be a fairly shallow relationship. Meaningful relationships involve a deeper understanding and connection.
Overview:
- Friday : Mindy/Phoebe/Catherine had a nice hike on the Chinle Trail while I did a super linkup from Springdale to Gifford Canyon via Johnson ridge, the Watchman, No Mans Mountain, Stevens Wash and Hepworth Wash. Complicated terrain!
- Saturday : Our family did an awesome hike in the rain up Many Pools canyon. Mindy then ran from the east entrance to Weeping Rock, and I got in an evening run in the rain/snow up Lady Mountain.
- Sunday : Family hike up the West Rim Trail, then I snuck in another jaunt up the Lady before the drive home.
I’ll let the pictures do the talking
Slab running terrain on the east face of Watchman ridge
