Monday, May 25, 2009

Southwest Trip--Day 2

Sunday morning Jean and I grabbed great breakfast sandwiches at Cafe Soleil before meeting Mike and Jo at the Zion National Park visitor's center. There we worked out the logistics for dropping one car off at the trailhead, and shuttling back to the visitor's center to pick up the other car that we would eventually use to pick up the first car. Huh? Our plan for the day was to hike the 10-ish mile East Rim Trail which started at the eastern entrance to Zion National Park and ended at the Weeping Rock Trailhead. From there we took the shuttle back to the visitor's center where our other car awaited. Enough of that.

The hike was great, but hot. Really hot. As in "more than 100-degrees hot." We could have had twice as much water as we had and we probably still should have had more. Anyway, not much to say other than we got to see some amazing desert vistas. The photos just don't do it justice. One of the best parts was going through a narrow slot canyon towards the end. After descending an endless series of swithcbacks, we reached the end. And, "thanks" to Mike who let Jean borrow a trekking pole. At Weeping Rock, we picked up the Zion Shuttle to the Lodge for massive rehydration (Jean alone drank 64oz of unsweetened Nestea and still didn't have to pee for a couple of days).

Mike, JoAnne, Jean and I grabbed dinner at the Spotted Dog (which was adequate), then it was time to go our separate ways--Mike & Jo to the Best Western and Jean and I to our B&B.

One a serious and somber note, that same day that we did our hike, a group of mountain bikers went out for a ride nearby (Little Creek), and one died on the trail. As of this writing, I'm not sure what happened--heat stroke? Heart attack? Either way, my thoughts go out to his family and those he left behind.





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