'The Slab', Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah. Destination is the high point beyond the jutting corner.
Editor in the early stage after reaching Scout Landing. Spectators below 'cheering' her on.
Angels Landing is one of our favorite challenges. We completed the hike for the tenth time, up and return on the way to somewhere else. We are, in fact, returning to Zion but as we had to pass through the park, we thought: 'Why not?' In fact, that sounds defensive but it has become something we try do annually, that is, a visit to Zion and particularly, the Angel. We have come across a few places over the years which have a special feeling to them, it could even be spiritual—Zion is one of those locations. Its name seems appropriate, too. Unfortunately, we've not been in Utah for two, perhaps three years, which is shame in of itself. In our opinion, the southern part of the state is unique although in somewhat contradictory fashion, its neighbors, Arizona, Nevada and even California share similar landscapes, at times. (Of course, nature does not concern itself with artificial, political boundaries.) While we may appear to get carried away at times, this land is spectacular. The people are very nice, too.
(Kindly read the paragraphs at the end as we pay tribute to Barry Jahn.)
The highest point on the Angel, an outcrop of rock.
On the way up, the editor approaches the rock bridge. The Virgin River and park road wind and wend below.
Then she takes the gap. The rock bridge can be seen linking the sections of slabs.
Back at ground level, nature has its own way of making 'temporary death' attractive.
Later that day, we make our way to Bryce Canyon. The photograph appeared in the mind long before it made the camera.
A new position that provided some stunning views down the canyon and a little flow of adrenaline.
Contemplating our return to Scouts Landing and then back to ground, from a position well below the top. The view is stunning, we would offer.
But first, we tried a new position which provides a vertical view down to the canyon floor from the right side. A spectacular position but it was a little 'nippy'.
With a square yard platform, it provides one of the nicest vertical views to the canyon floor. It's not at the
top of the Angel, although high up.
We have been most fortunate over the years to have met wonderful people on the trails. We’ve always maintained that an advantage of living on the road is the opportunity to come across people from all walks (trails) of life. From time-to-time, we mention them by name but I’m afraid, not often enough. One gentleman in point is Barry Jahn of Oregon. We met him on a rather long day hike (Tunnel Falls) that culminated at a terrific waterfall in his home state. The reason we mention Barry is because recently he put out a highly complimentary piece about Jenni and me. Unfortunately, our vanity allows us to be flattered and this piece hit all the right ‘buttons’. What’s worth mentioning is that Barry is a stronger hiker than ourselves. Back to the meeting in Oregon, the state of many, many trees.
We had returned recently from Europe (2013) and were making our way to San Diego by car. Before the trip to Europe, we could not find a place to park our vehicle in San Diego. Instead, we decided to leave it at the home of our son, Gavin who lives in Seattle. The trip is only about 1,100 miles. Jen wanted to hike in the three west coast states and I agreed, not wanting to be difficult. It took us about 5 weeks to reach our destination—we don’t have the fastest of cars.
Anyway, on this hike, we came across Barry and a friend as we returned from the waterfall, the hike ending. We began chatting and he mentioned he would be hiking during the summer in Austria. He even listed the hikes he would be undertaking. A few of them we had completed only weeks before. Quite a coincidence. We spoke a little about our lifestyle and we related, probably boasting a bit, the number of hikes we had tallied at that stage. A couple of minutes after taking leave of Barry, I decided I needed to revisit the waterfall and enjoy it further. I did just that.
Of course I passed Barry who was still sitting in the shade talking. I never questioned him as to this long period of inactivity—that’s my little barb. In his brand of humor which I’ve come to enjoy so much, he quipped as I passed, “Say Jeffrey, since you visited the endpoint again, are you going to count this as a double hike?” Of course, I didn’t have a comeback other than laugh loudly and continue to smile each time I think of the incident. (Scroll down, please.)
Thanks, Barry (and Ron, Jonna and many others.)
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
Three days earlier in the Mojave Desert, California.
And off to the fabulous Bryce Canyon.
Barry Jahn has me 'cracking up', a rather deft photographer (Jenni) captures a wonderful moment-(Photo stamp - Monday, July 15, 2013 3:42 PM)
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