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[GregKhougaz]

Was Looking forward to this GTG since it was announced.  Did a lot of planning... what a waste.      Had a fabulous time seeing great old and new friends.  Logged over 3,000 miles and knocked a few things off the bucket list.  Thank you's go out to Mark and James for organizing,  Kathy and Ron for their hospitality Marilyn for helping with lunch, Simon for putting me up (or putting up with me), Jock, Doc and others for the great pictures, jokes and stories, and all attendees for their great company and riding!   

Monday, July 8:  Left Santa Monica, CA about 3:00 with friends, Kyle and Lauren.  75* at home in Santa Monica.  105* in the San Fernando Valley and most of the "back" way to the Luxor in Las Vegas where Lauren got us comped.  (14 to 138 to 18 to 15 N, 311 miles).  Split lanes for 10 miles on the 405 through the Valley and another 3.5 on the 14 (with a police escort) because a semi tangled with a large truck.  We would have cooked otherwise!  What happened there.... well....  Kyle is 6'7".  It's a bit like riding with Guido.

Bear with me here.  I'm not used to uploading multiple photos.  Thanks!

[GregKhougaz]

Tuesday, July 9:  Left Vegas for Springdale, UT, gateway to Zion National Park (165 miles up the 15 then east on the 9).  One of the highlights is the Virgin River Gorge but with highway construction, we could not stop.  Bucket list item one was to hike The Narrows, the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. This gorge, with walls a thousand feet tall and the river sometimes just twenty to thirty feet wide, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park. You can see The Narrows by hiking along the paved, wheelchair accessible Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava. After that you walk up the Virgin River.



Views from the motel:





This gent guarded the front door of our motel room while we were hiking:



Temple of Sinawava and the path:





Entering the Narrows

[GregKhougaz]

At first, this hike can be down right crowded but the crowd thins quickly.  Every few steps becomes an OMG moment: 



On this warm day, the water felt great but it can be cold and hypothermia can set in.  Walking stick(s) and good shoes are required!



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Lauren scouting the way:

[GregKhougaz]

After a couple of miles, the solitude and views are surreal: 







Sometimes the little ones need a hand:



Gentle giant:

[GregKhougaz]

Feeling very small:

[GregKhougaz]

It's 16 miles to the very top but that takes a couple of days.  After a few miles, we were losing light and it was starting to drizzle which can be dangerous because of flash flooding.  The Narrows are susceptible to flash flooding because much of the surrounding area is bare rock that does not absorb water. During storms, runoff is funneled rapidly into the Narrows. During a flash flood the water level rises almost instantly--within seconds or minutes.  So it was time to head back. 

We found a wild local:



Can't imagine where he came from:





Lauren communicating:

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After about six hours of hiking it was back to Springdale for a huge rib dinner at The Switchback Steakhouse.  Then a well needed sleep.  We were up early as Kyle and Lauren had to head back to LA. 

[GregKhougaz]

Wednesday, July 10.  If you've been to Zion, you've heard of, seen or done "Angels Landing."  Park legend says it was so named because it was so high (1,400' above the Valley floor) and precipitous that only the Angels could land there.  It was the toughest 5 mile hike I ever had.  On the way into the park, I met Gabriel and Jen who were there for the first time.  Once in the Park, we met Bob who was about to hike Angels for the 40th time!  He became out tour guide.  The first 2 miles are a walk up a steep path.  The last half mile, from Scotty's landing on is a treacherous climb.  Sadly, tourists have perished....   

The start, looking up:



Getting close to the ascent:



If you look closely, you can see the hikers:



So far, so good:



Temps were cool for the way up:







Scotty's Landing:

[GregKhougaz]

The views down from Scotty's:





But now the fun (climb) begins:





Gabriel (L) and Jen took one look at the chains and discretion became the better part of valor.  BTW, Gabriel lives a couple of miles from me.      So, Bob and I pressed on.  He was a wealth of information about the history and geology of the area.  Just don't look down... yet!





Couldn't photograph the climb.  Too busy hanging on to the chains.  But the top.... oh the top! 



Bob was a little hot:



Exuberant! 

[GregKhougaz]

Lunch on Angels Landing was as good as it gets.  The views... oh the views. 







See the trails?  Above, just to the left of the highest peak, Mormon settlers built a trestle by which supplies were lowered by rope to the Valley.  Amazing!



North to The Narrows:



South towards Springdale:



Vistas:

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The "trail" down:

[GregKhougaz]

It got hot on the way down.  Still, since this trip became a, "Well, we're here." trip, Bob and I hiked another 3 miles up to The Emerald Pools.  Beautiful but a bit of a let down after Angels.  Still, an incredible day. 

[GregKhougaz]

Thursday, June 11:  Could not get enough of Zion.  First went to the Zion Lodge and then to Weeping Rock:





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Great view but someone got in the way:



A Methodist minister named many of the features in Zion during his visit in 1916. He named three peaks at the Court of the Patriarchs after figures from the Old Testament; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Mount Moroni sits in front of Jacob, and is named after the Book of Mormon prophet that appeared to Joseph Smith.

[GregKhougaz]

Some friends were on their way to Shark week in Texas.  We agreed to meet up at Oscars in Springdale for lunch.  Chris and Scott with their Sharks:



Hungry crew!



After lunch we headed out the east exit of Zion and I rode with them to Orderville and on to Cedar Breaks National Monument.  95* at Oscars.  Rain once we left the Zion which cleared near Duck Creek.  47* at Cedar Breaks, 76 miles away. !    







East exit of Zion:

[ultra98]

Wow thanks for sharing it`s amazing and this is in pictures to see it live must be awsome

[GregKhougaz]

From Zion, we took the 9 to the 89 to Orderville.  Then I took the 14 to the 143.   Cedar Breaks National Monument is an amphitheater of multi-colored limestone strata plunging 2,000 feet deep into the Markagunt Plateau. Inside the scenic bowl are hundreds of geologic oddities and hoodoos surrounded by lush, green alpine vegetation. Situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet and surrounded by the Dixie National Forest, Cedar Breaks is located 23 miles east of Cedar City and three miles south of the resort town of Brian Head on Hwy 143





See the Arch to the left of the ridge:

[GregKhougaz]

From Cedar Breaks, I took the 143 south to the 14 west to Cedar City and then the 15 south.  It's about 35 miles to Kolob Canyon, a separate section of Zion. 

Here are the names of the peaks: 







Still chilly:





Sunset:





From Kolobs, it was south on the 15, east on the 17 to the 9.   It was nearly dark by the time I completed my 160 mile loop and got back to Springdale.  Needed food and sleep.  Tomorrow... North Rim!