Showing posts with label sandstone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sandstone. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Zion National Park, Utah 2022

At the top of the Watchman Trail


My groom and I visited the beautiful Zion National Park on a weekday but it was still crowded. We drove the almost 3-hour drive from Las Vegas, NV, and got to the park entrance at 10am, local Utah time. Unfortunately, all the parking was full and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive was closed. Since it was a weekday, the shuttle wasn't running. We were told that we could hike the Canyon Overlook trail but space at its trailhead was very limited. We could also hike any of the trails from the Visitor's Center. We stopped at the Visitor's Center so that I could purchase a Zion NP t-shirt and baseball cap, then headed to the Canyon Overlook trailhead. 

The drive up and through the Zion Mt. Carmel Highway and tunnel was spectacular! Unfortunately, there was no parking available at the Canyon Overlook trailhead as well as along the road. Directly across the trailhead is another parking area but it's for "small vehicles".....which we didn't have (GMC Yukon SLT). There were so many people and cars! We drove past the trailhead and turned around and hoped we'd find parking on our way back, but no such luck. We ended up driving back to the Visitor's Center and hiked The Watchman Trail. The trail is very popular and views along the trail as well at the top of the foothill are amazing, photos don't do it justice! The trail doesn't bring you to the top of the Watchman mountain, just to the top of the foothill. But the views from the foothill of Watchman mountain and the southern area of the park are stunning, nonetheless!

We plan to re-visit Zion, stay overnight in either Springdale or Hurricane. Then get an early start in the morning to make sure we can get to those hikes along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive that I had originally planned for this trip - Riverside Walk and the Emerald Pools Loop. And the Canyon Overlook Trail along the Zion Mt. Carmel Highway.

Enjoy this YouTube video I put together of our visit to Zion National Park.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Arches National Park, Utah 2019



Delicate Arch


I visited Moab, Utah for a rock climbing festival and to continue my bucket list and do some hiking in the beautiful Arches National Park! I was not prepared to be so amazed when hiking and driving through the park. The colors of the rock in the morning light was vibrant and breath-taking. The park's paved road is a 36-mile round trip loop. The park entrance is only a 5-minute, 3-mile drive from the Holiday Inn Express that I was staying at in Moab. I wanted a morning start to avoid any heat and crowds, but I was prepared for a large crowd, especially on my hike to see the famed Delicate Arch. Fortunately, I started early enough and avoided large crowds on my hike up to and at the Delicate Arch. It was on my hike back down to my car that I encountered many hikers headed to the arch. Surprisingly, there were several folks on this hike that weren't prepared! They had no backpacks....not even a water bottle! I hope they didn't think there was water at the arch! It's fall but be prepared with food, water, a hat, sunglasses, layers, and sunscreen when hiking here. At the visitor center, I browsed the displays and bought an "Arches NP" t-shirt. Enjoy some photos taken on my hike through the park. Also, read about Moab Food & Shopping.


Along the Delicate Arch Trail









Skyline Arch



Landscape Arch

Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches

Along the Devils Garden Trail to the Landscape,
Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches
Archess National Park, Moab, Utah


Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Dog Wall - Rock Climbing



Peanut gallery on the upper trail from the 1st pullout parking lot


Spent the morning at the Dog Wall crag in Red Rock Canyon. Yup, the rock was dry enough! The climbs here were overhanging and I only attempted one climb, Pleasure Dog (5.10) but quit when I couldn't get to a hold (too reachy for me). After that I just sat out and belayed. It was amazing to watch Linda and Tim leading the overhanging routes! And it was good to get out - I got to spend time with my climbing buddy who was visiting from Colorado for the weekend! 




Liz leads Catwalk

Trad routes on the left of the Dog Wall
Unknown Dihedral, Doggy Style and Wok The Dog

You can spot a climber on The Slab

Tammy on Pleasure Dog

Linda leading Cujo

Unknown Dihedral - Trad

Friday, December 7, 2018

YouTube Channel - Hawaii Girl Adventures

Check out my YouTube channel at:  Hawaii Girl Adventures I will eventually be phasing out blog posts and be posting videos of my climbing, h...