Zion National Park--Day 2
13 May, 2018
Sun coming around the edge of Angel's Landing.
Making it to the top of the difficult Angel's Landing Trail was something I really wanted to do and Eric did not. I cajoled him, please, could he come with me as far as Scout's Lookout, before the really precipitous part of the trail, and enjoy the view from there while I hiked up to the top. I didn't want to abandon him for an entire day in order to do the challenging trail. You absolutely get great views from Scout's Lookout, and the hike up there is still quite steep, as you'll see from the pictures. The last part is for people who love climbing over rocks.
Eric took my picture climbing the first part of the trail. It was already lovely and dramatic.
Eric took a picture looking down at the first part of the trail. This was one of the easier parts.
Eric found a massive flightless beetle.
Looking up at Scout's Lookout.
Scarlet Pensetemon.
Eric captured this fascinating stovepipe formation.
After the first big set of switchbacks, you hike through a mostly flat canyon, called the Refrigerator Canyon because it is shaded and cool most of the day. Photo by Eric.
A cool formation in the walls of the Refrigerator Canyon.
After that little break, you climb up a set of very steep switchbacks called Walter's Wiggles. They are a remarkable feat of Civilian Conservation Corps trail engineering.
At last, you're at Scout's Lookout, looking up at Angel's Landing. Eric photographed the throngs of people. Don't make the mistake we did and try this on a weekend.
There's another quite difficult, pre-sampling rock clamber before you get to the true Angel's Landing climb. Eric took a picture of all the people doing this part. Traffic control is a huge issue. I can't tell you how many times I had to remind people of the trail rule that "downhill yields to uphill."
Eric took a picture of the trail up Angel's Landing.
I made it! Photo by a Norwegian who was studying at Cal Berkeley and wearing his Go, Bears! regalia.
The famous view from the top of Angel's Landing.
Eric took a picture of me on the difficult part. It was hard to pick your path with so many people behind you.
Looking down from a dramatic overlook along the trail.
I made it back to Eric and we started heading down through all those previous steps. I had been fooled into thinking that there was a bathroom at Scout's Landing and had started drinking as much water as I had wanted. But the bathroom had a sign saying it was for emergencies only. Is it an emergency if you're not in an emergency situation now, but you know you will be before you get back to the bottom? I tried to wait, but eventually had to duck into an outlet off the trail before we got back. It was quite obvious from the stench there that I was not the first person who had had to do this. This is one big thing that makes Angel's Landing much more difficult than Bright Angel in Grand Canyon--Bright Angel has those 1.5-Mile and 3-Mile Resthouses with water and bathrooms!
On to Watchman Trail.