ZION Con't

We decided to splurge on a campsite this time as we were going to be staying 3 nights. We camped just outside of the park, the sites were not very nice. Our view was a new house being built and as we set up camp they were roofing. However I could look any other direction and see mountains of rock. This campground had a pool, laundry and hot showers (YEAH!!)so that made up for the view. We sure did need the laundry but I'm not sure we'll be able to make Alex's white soccer shirt white again. Who bought him that anyway:)

On Sunday we stayed on the east side of the park. We viewed the Checkerboard Mesa and other interesting rock forms. We also hiked a short hike to view the Zion Canyon. Gorgeous!

Monday we went farther in the park. The only way in was by shuttle bus which made Matty really happy. Toot-toot, toot-toot was all we heard from him. We hiked a riverside trail which went along the river and ended at the Narrows: a series of canyons that are so narrow you have to walk through the river to keep going up stream. Will befriended an older woman who held his hand most of the way up the path. She was trying to distract him from his pertetual "I'm tired, I can't walk" routine. It didn't last long.

After this hike, we had a pizza lunch under a huge tree at the lodge (halfway up the canyon). The pizza tasted incredible. I don't know if it was the view or the fact that we had only eaten PB/honey sandwiches and hot dogs for days straight or if it was actually really good pizza.

After our fabulous meal, Collin, Josh and Matty headed up the emerald pool trail. At the top pool , they saw a horse hair worm in the water. Essentially this was a huge leech (Yuck!) but Collin thought it was really cool.

I was struck by how water is so life sustaining. Zion had so many desert areas with amazing rock formations, but also these desert swamps along the river with hanging gardens of vegetation. The pictures don't do it justice. We could have spent another week exploring this park but this morning we packed up and headed for the Grand Canyon.