The Owl Chronicles

April 28-May 8, 2019
Day 10

We had a plan to head to Antelope Canyon on our way back to Phoenix.  Antelope Canyon is 7 miles outside of Page, AZ on the Indian Reservation and is a slot canyon that can be easily entered.  Barb did a bunch of research and learned that they would like reservations, but walk-ups would be accomodated if they have the room.  What they didn't tell us was that Walk-ups are Cash Only.  Between the 3 of us we didn't have enough cash to pay the $60/person.  Oh well.  Next time.

The drive from Bryce to Phoenix is 6+ hours through really fabulous countryside.  We saw everything....more hoodoos, gorgeous cliffsides and transistions from high desert to green lush forests to Saguaro cactus.  We took route 12 from Tropic UT, picked up 89S out of Tuba City and finally I-17 to our hotel for the evening.

89S south of Tuba City

Got to catch a 4:00 AM shuttle to the airport tomorrow.  Looking forward to home again, home again.

 

The Owl Chronicles

April 28-May 8, 2019
Day 9

This was a late starting day for all of us.  I was not up and about until 8 AM and Karen and Barb not until after 9.  Unusual for us!  Took the shuttle to the Lodge and made our way to the trail head for Queen's Garden Trail.

The trail into Queen's Garden

Once again this was a short hike but a killer even though it is listed as an easy hike.  The altitude is what is killing us.  Karen decided not to go down the trail so Barbie and I took off.  The worst part was the first 1/8 mile....very steep and lots of loose rock.  What was special about this trail was that it is the easiest under the rim...so, it was very heavily traveled.

Was looking forward to seeing the hoodoos from the bottom up instead of the top down, totally different perspective.  The trail is named "Queen's Garden" cause at the end there is a hoodoo that looks very much like Queen Victoria.  There is a famous statue of her in London and the hoodoo at Bryce Canyon looks very much like that statue...even I, once I was looking at the correct hoodoo, could see the likeness!!  Very cool.

A little beggar at our rest stop at Queen Victoria's feet

So, as this was our last hike, I will make some observations for lessons learned hiking Zion or Bryce Canyons....

1. Always always, always carry enough water.  I never ran out, but I was very grateful for that little bit of extra weight to have the refreshment handy.  
2. Backpacking in with a kid is probably not the most fun way to experience the canyons.  I get it...familes that play together and all that...but I saw so many fathers and mothers who looked totally miserable because their infant or toddler was not adding to the enjoyment.  And in a very few cases, parents who did not have hats on their kids should be shot....that sun is lethal.  Wait until your kid is old enough to hike at least 2 miles on their own.  Seriously!!!
3. Be prepared for a global experience.  There is a 50/50 split between US visitors and foreign visitors.  We heard/saw every possible nationality I think,  English, German, French, Dutch, Indian, Asian, Spain, etc. etc.  
4. Know your limitations.  The altitude adjustment killed us a couple of times.  Your heart is beating so hard, you can't catch your breath, etc.  Just allow plenty of time so that you can take your time getting back up the trail in particular.  Take 2 steps, stop, take 2 steps, stop....if you have to.
5. Then, take time to look around.  It is not a race on any of those trails, and the scenery is totally awesome....I want to go back....NOW!!!

After finishing Queen's Garden it was time for lunch, long past lunch time actually and if you are a lover of Key Lime Pie, try it at the Bryce Canyon Lodge....excellent!

We made one more stop as we left Bryce at Fairyland Point....one more look at the spectacular hoodoos!!!

Bye, bye Bryce!!

Tomorrow we head for Phoenix and the flight home.  :(

The Owl Chronicles

April 28-May 8, 2019
Day 8

Day 8 turned into a fantastic day.  Yesterday we had seen an article promoting free tours of Bryce Canyon.  We signed up.  Before our 1:30 pm tour we headed to Bryce Canyon Overlook and hiked a 1.2 mile piece of the Canyon Rim Trail....spectacular first look at the Hoodoos!!  They are incredible. 

The trail was a little up and down but was continually on the rim of the amphitheater which we learned today is what Bryce Canyon is.  Technically it is not a canyon but a series of amphitheaters....the park only has 1 rim which if it were in fact a canyon it would have 2 rims.

We left the trail at Inspiration Point and took a quick shuttle ride to the Lodge where we had lunch and then waited for our tour bus to pick us up.  The Lodge was built in the 1920's and looks just as you would expect a 'cowboy' lodge to look.  (Everything around here is 'cowboy' this and 'cowboy' that.)

The tour bus showed up around 1:40 pm and Randy our bus driver and tour guide was fantastic.  It sounds like he has spent his entire life roaming the country working in different sorts of tourism positions.  He was a really great story teller and kept us laughing most of the trip.

The bus headed south in the canyon for about 40 minutes and made its first stop, which was an hour long at Yovimpa Point and then a walk across the road to Rainbow Point.  Randy knew everything about the geology, biology, etc, etc. that we were seeing.  We OWLS agreed that it was 3 hours well spent. 

Once off the bus we still had a little energy left so headed toward Tropic, our home base for this leg of the trip, and stopped at Mossy Cave, which was a .4 mile hike.....quick and easy.  Interesting history at this trail...the trail follows along the Tropic Ditch which took 2 years to dig by hand in the late 1800's.  When the Mormans first settled in the area they lacked water, so diverted a bit from the Sevier River to meet their needs.  The town of Tropic is still, to this day, dependent on that source of water to meet most of their needs. 

The day ended at the local pizza joint for a well earned pizza!!!  Tomorrow is our last day in the Park...then we head back to Phoenix and the flight home.  Not ready for that.

The Owl Chronicles

April 28-May 8, 2019

Day 7

A quiet day today.  Had to make the drive from Zion to Bryce.  About a 160 mile drive. Sorry to say goodbye to Zion.

The drive was uneventful.  Stopped in the little town of Panguitch (which means “big fish”) for lunch and a new gas cap.  We kept getting “Check Engine Light” on, finally figured out it was the gas cap….all fixed!!!

Bryce is set up similar to Zion with regard to shuttle buses and parking.  So we wandered around the Visitors Center, made a reservation for a 3-hour tour tomorrow and then headed to Tropic, UT for our hotel for the next 3 nights.

We are staying at a place called Bryce Pioneer Village, which has a little bit of everything….tent camping, RV camping, motel rooms, restaurant, live music, fire ring for marshmallow roasting, pool, hot tub, etc. etc.  Hit the jackpot with this place.

The view from our motel room.

However, posts will be delayed cause I can’t seem to get on their wifi system!!!  Darn!!!!

The Owl Chronicles

April 28 - May 8, 2019
Day 6

Friday started off as usual with our slow start...we have a definite routine down now.  Got to Zion around 9:30 AM.  We now know how the parking system works and how to get in the park as a pedestrian and made our way quickly to the shuttle bus and our first stop of the day was the Museum Center.

We happened to walk into a Park Ranger presentation and learned all about the human history of the park.  Very nice presentation.  She happened to mention that Galen Rowall was one of 3 first climbers to climb a rock face in Zion.  I had met Galen many years ago so it was neat to know he had a history here.

A visit with the Park Ranger

From there we picked up the Pa'rus Trail to the Visitors Center where we picked up the Watchman Trail.  3.3 mile trail that was described as very little shade and a 600' elevation gain.  Well the sun and elevation gain did me in.  I made it for about the first mile then gave up and headed back to the trailhead where I waited for Barb and Karen.  Had a fantastic view of the mountains as I waited.

When we gathered back together we found a shady picnic table and enjoyed a quiet lunch.  Something hard to do in this Park.

As we finished lunch and headed back to the Visitors Center we passed by one of the campgrounds and I spotted something I'd never seen before...a solar powered camper?  If anyone had been around I would have asked a bunch of questions

The Watchman Trail turned out to be pretty tough for Barb and Karen so we decided to ride the shuttle all the way to the last stop, just to see the park one last time.  Once we got to stop 8 Barb and I decided on one last stroll along the Virgin River.  Karen kept our packs and met us at the next shuttle stop.  And then we called it a day.

Tomorrow we head to Bryce Canyon.  We will get to drive the Park Road for one final look, but we will be sad to leave.

It's been a glorious visit!

The Owl Chronicles

April 28 - May 8, 2019
Day 5

Typical for us, we did not get an early start.  Our hotel is a little snarky, you get what you pay for holds true here.  Last night Barb couldn't get any hot water in the shower so this AM I tried and about fried myself.  When the gang was all together, dressed, breakfast eaten and us organized, we have about a 20 mile drive to Zion NP Visitors Center.  It was really cute the park ranger at the gate recognized us from when we entered the park from the East End and as usual, commented on Karen and I being sisters....not true.  So he was at the West End entrance this AM and called us out as the sisters again....how does he do that!!

Made our way to the Zion Shuttle and started up the park road.  Our first stop was the Zion Lodge where the Lower Emerald Pool trail started.  Was very surprising at how many people are here already, this early in the season.  A Ranger told me this was nothing compared to high summer.  Geeze...might as well go hiking at Times Square!!

As we approached the trailhead a cowboy on horseback came charging up and stopped us all from crossing the bridge so that a trail ride could come through.  He was very authoratative!!  We stopped.  

We followed the horses across the bridge, they turned left and we turned right.  Lower Emerald is a 1.4 mile hike, not tough at all and ended in a gorgeous waterfall.  We wanted to continue on to Middle Emerald, but the trail was closed due to a landslide.  

So we turned around and took the shuttle up the road a bit to try Echo Canyon.  Guess what???  It was closed due to a landslide.  So we changed plans and headed for a very short but steep hike to Weeping Rock.  Again, "Wow" and "Wow"!!!

Came back to the trail head, crossed the street and headed down to the Virgin River.  It was an unmarked trail that followed the flow of the river.  What was VERY nice was we saw no other person at all on the hike up to the next shuttle stop.  Peace and quiet as the wild places are meant to be.  

From there we had a nice chat with a Park Ranger.  He was waving an antennea around so we had to ask.  Turns out he was tracking a pair of nesting Condors.  They currently have 87 Condors living in the park.  They loose several each year to lead poisining.  I had to ask.  Turns out that most of the lead comes from animals that have been shot and killed and left....for the wild animals to eat and die from the lead.  Not a good story.

From there we could catch a shuttle and head to the last stop of the Park Road and where we could hike The Narrows....a slot canyon that the Virgin River flows through.  Guess what!!!!

So we hiked back to where we were supposed to enter the river and just looked longingly up the canyon to where we couldn't get.  Maybe next time.

It's a 40 minute drive back to the Welcome Center via the shuttle, we sat back and relaxed.  Made our way back to our car, found dinner, bought breakfast and hunkered down for the night.

Tomorrow is another day!!

The Owl Chronicles

April 28-May 8, 2019
Day 4

Woke up in our darling little cottage today at Best Friends.  Had breakfast at the cottage and then headed out to explore Best Friends further.  The day before our tour guide had told us about an underground lake and an ancient indian grain storage location, so we decided to take off and see if we could find both.

Found the parking lot for the hike and had been told not to cross the creek in our vehicle as water could come up quickly and strand us on the other side.  Came to mind that if we walked over we could get stranded just as well, but oh well....we're on an adventure!!

The creek we were not to drive across

Hiked up the road about .82 miles when we found the hidden lake.  BLM property with a sign, picnic tables, etc. so made for a nice rest stop.  

Barbie looking in

Looking out from the lake

From the lake we headed to the indian grain storage site.  While there a Best Friends tour guide came up with a group and we learned a whole bunch more than we would have.  The site has been used by multiple cultures over the ions.  Very interesting.

Hike was done and it was time for lunch.  Best Friends serves lunch on site from 11:30 - 1:00 pm ....$5 for an all you can eat buffet.  Yum Yum.  From there is was on to the Angels Rest Cemetary where all the animals from Best Friends are buried plus you can bury your pet there for a price.  There are over 1700 wind chimes on the site so when there was any kind of breeze there was beautiful music in the air.  A gorgeous site.

Then it was time to leave Best Friends....on to Zion National Park!!  We spend 2 days, 3 nights there.  Decided to take the scenic byway, Route 9 and oh boy was it scenic!!!  When we crossed into the park the landscape totally changed and it was one "Wow" after another.  Hiking tomorrow.  Photos to follow.