Zions National Park Vacation

Tim, Aubrie, My sister Lila and me had the awesome opportunity of going to Zions National Park.  We had a wedding for my niece in St George Utah, and so we made the pilgrimage over the mountains and through the desert and lava fields (no joking Lava fields in Veyo, Utah, who would have thunk it!)  It was a lovely wedding.  It was nice to spend time with relatives on both sides of the family.  While in the area, we decided that it would be a fun experience to visit Zions National Park.  Tim has never been there, nor has Aubrie.  The thing the Park Ranger told us is that the "Subway" and the "Narrows" hikes were the best and unforgettable.  My hips were bothering me, and I really didn't feel like hiking 14 miles, but Aubrie, bless her heart said it would be "Such a waist to come all this way and not experience the Narrows"  She was right, cause I am not sure when we will pass this way again.  The other reason why I didn't want to go is because the hike is wading in the river (except for the mile long trail head.)  Tim had just bought a new pair of shoes, and Aubrie was wearing my shoes, that I didn't want to get dirty (of course she was wearing one of my good pairs!)  but she kept saying what a rip off it was to come all this way, not to be able to hike it...So...I plunged right into the water!  Yup the hike was in the river going against the the flow of the current.  It was really rocky too, and you had to be careful of your foot placement.  I was lucky enough to find 2 walking sticks.  It helped me alot with my hip pain, and stability. 

The Narrows got it's name because of the fact that you are walking through a canyon that the river flows down.  You have red sandstone cliffs on each side, hundreds of feet up in the air.  It is beautiful and breathtaking...now when I say breathtaking I also mean that literally, because some parts of the hike were past my belly button, and the water was cold!  However it was such a hot day, that it felt really good.  We hiked for several hours, and then decided to turn around so we could head home.  The hike down only took about 45 minutes because we were walking with the current.  Lila made the comment that it would be a great idea next time to bring a blow up raft and float down! It was worth the hike, and needless to say, none of shoes got ruined, and it was one of the best hikes ever.  We really enjoyed having Lila along for the trip.  It has been a while since we have gone on a trip with her.  We also spent time with my Uncle Theron.  It was really good to see him again.  Here are some photos of our trip

there were these woderful cave type formations along the path.  Tim and Aubrie were brave enough to climb up, if my hips hadn't hurt so bad, I might have climbed up too!

Aubrie had "Fun" falling in the river.  She was not disappointed with her "Once in a lifetime" hike to say the least.  In one of the photos above, you can see my walking sticks! they are a must for this hike for sure!  If you click on each of the photos you can see them full screen, for a more detailed view.