and the gorgeousness continues ...

June 22, 2007 2:30:39 AM EDT
Subject: and the gorgeousness continues ...

Zion gave up the beauty that it promised us last night as we drove in. Satisfaction guaranteed & received.

We drove all through the canyon today stopping at every outlook there was, plus a few that weren't, but where Nia was able to park the car anyway. The amazing thing about Zion is that the drive is through the bottom of the canyon, so left, right, forward and back you're surrounded by soaring cliffs - fractured walls peppered with trees growing out of the cracks between the rocks. Massive boulders line the roads - pieces of the cliffs that have broken off and crashed to the ground below - they lay scattered all along the roads and in the valleys, remaining in the spot where they landed when they finally stopped their bouncing paths down the canyon walls. It is impossible to leave Zion unimpressed.

We stopped at the last outlook before leaving the park and despite the 109° heat we chose to make the 1 mile hike up the cliff in order to view the entire canyon. Sunblock smeared over our San Francisco skin, cameras in hand and inappropriately shod we began, and it was worth every step. We walked the switchback up, surrounded by the fractured stone of the cliffs, the desert foliage, and incredible views. About halfway there we stopped to cool off under a huge overhang - water seeped through the back of the wall where it met the ground, and there delicate ferns grew thickly, the open cave was almost chilly in the hot desert air.

At the end of the walk we were treated to an overall picture of the stunning beauty we had just driven through - one of the pics I am posting with this email is of that view. The road through the park can be seen, and there are a few cars on it - just to give perspective to the whole thing. I want to recommend to the hikers in the crowd - if any of you go to Zion - plan on staying and hike it! There are things there that Nia and I were not able to see due to time limitations, and the fact that we just weren't prepared to hike - but there are caves and waterways and branches to the canyon that just beg to be explored.

We reluctantly left Zion, wishing we'd had more time, noted that the stinky foot smell was back - although this time we were both wearing sandals, so we both took the blame, and laughing at our dirty, smelly state, we made our way first east and then dropped south and then west again toward the Grand Canyon. We stopped in a little town called Kanab at the Utah/Arizona border - tip - eat at the Rocking V, and stay for dessert. Totally worth it!

The drive took us through the Vermilion cliffs and the painted desert. We were amazed to see a "mini canyon" that wound it's way along our drive - looking at the map we think it was made by the Little Colorado River - much smaller than the Grand Canyon, but still beautiful. In retrospect we shouldn't have been surprised by multiple canyons - why should we have been? Any waterway that runs through this area is going to have the same effect on the earth - it just wasn't something we thought about. Very cool.

We pulled into the Grand Canyon as the sun was going down, although we still had another 31 miles to get to our hotel. We began our drive through the park in the dusk, the dark cliffs a mere tease against the setting sun. And that will be our tomorrow - the Grand Canyon.

Until then!

Mileage: 260 Time: 6 hours Destination: The Grand Canyon