| Southern Utah Bike Tour |
Once 
again we had an easy day ahead of us on the ride from Mt. Carmel Junction to Zion National Park. I think I would have preferred to ride from Bryce to Zion in one day, and as my friend Oliver said, if he could do it fully loaded, us wimps with van support should be able to do it. Had we done so, we would have had a full day to explore Zion. As a child I visited this area but have only vague memories of the rock cliffs on the approach to the park. We entered the park from the west along route 9. We were told that bicycles were not allowed to ride through the mile-long tunnel on the approach to the valley. To get through we needed to rendezvous with the van to shuttle through and be deposited on the opposite side.
 Kerie on the Route 9 approach |  Loading up for the tunnel shuttle |
Traffic on the Zion Canyon road is limited to buses and bikes, which I think should be a model for all our parks. 
With an efficient bus system, there are no traffic jams and resultant foul air and angry motorists. Another plus is that the buses are powered by natural gas. We rode through the valley to the end of the road at the trailhead for the Narrows hike, then returned to the Grottoes parking lot. After the short ride from Mt. Carmel Junction, we had time and energy for a hike into the park. Nola suggested the Angels Landing hike as one of the most scenic in the park. (See the PDF Park Map).
The trail follows the North Fork of the Virgin River before heading into Refrigerator Canyon, a narrow, cool canyon between towering cliffs. 
Then we ascended the infamous "Walters Wiggles", an amazing series of over 20 switchbacks built into the side of the cliff at the base of Angels Landing trail. The picture on the left is the approach to Refrigerator Canyon. On the right Silvey leads the way ahead of Kerie, Nancy, Chris and Ann. Angels Landing trail is not for the height impaired, as the trail clings to the edge of the cliff with a vertical drop of what felt like 1000 feet. There is a chain to which one can cling. 
Some of the group decided that wasn't enough and stayed behind. I decided to try it. 
I don't have a fear of heights, but anyone in their right mind would feel nervous peering over the edge of the trail at the valley below. One family (left) was inching their way up with the two kids secured by climbing ropes. This was one of the few sections where the chains were on the outside of the trail. Most of the time it was against the rock ledge. Nancy yelled at me to hold onto the chain when I tripped as we started up the trail. After a while I got over my anxiety about the steep dropoff, as long as I concentrated on what I was doing and not on what I could be doing (learning to fly).
The view of the valley below was spectacular. Those of us who made it to the top gathered for a picture and then I headed back down at a relatively fast pace. I had thought that the return trip would be worse than going up but I felt surprisingly confident. There was a certain sense of conquering my potential fear of slipping over the edge. I didn't feel quite so cocky after seeing an elderly lady of about 70 making her way down. She must not live at sea level.
 Zion Canyon |
 View north toward the Organ (middle right) and The Narrows |
 Holding on for dear life atop Angels Landing |
After 
the hike it was a short ride to the Desert Pearl Motel located just outside of the park in Springdale. The hotels along the strip outside the park were also served by the park bus service, reducing the need for a huge parking lot on the edge of the park. The rooms were large with an excellent view. While some opted for the jacuzzi, I set up my watercolor paints for a quick sketch.