Bryce Canyon & Zion National Park

June 4, 2019 - Day 1

Arrived safely in Bryce and set up camp. I would give the site a B- Although it does look over a meadow where “ deer and antelope play”, well, not together but in the same field. Showers are nice. Facility is very full. So many giant rigs, Mother Ships etc. The area othat is the town of Bryce, is really, Ruby’s! They run the store, the camp ground/RV spaces, the horses, the ATV rentals , gas stations, hotel, nightly rodeo and restaurants! There is a constant din of ATV’s. Some of these vehicles are 4 seaters and the occupants look like alien warriors with black head gear and gas mask looking gear on their faces. Lots of Motorcycles too. We did a nice hike to the Queen’s Garden, 1.8 miles.

Amphitheater from the Rim Trail

Happy Campers

Queen’s Garden Trail

June 5, 2019 - Day 2

The shuttle service into the park is great. I wish Yosemite would do this. The buses come every 10 minutes and stop at all the major viewing points. Zion does the same thing. It would be very difficult to accomplish this in Yellowstone . Ed’s favorite trail is still closed as a result of a recent rock fall(Navajo). We did do the Fairyland trail, 5.5 miles. Wide variety of wild flowers and crazy, tortuous, stunningly shaped dead wood formations. It was wonderful. Weather is quite varied, sunny, cloudy, rainy and windy. Jackets are on and off all day. The camping is fun . Brings back great memories of my kids in Tahoe every summer. I had 4 entrees prepared and frozen. Those have worked out well. I have somehow managed to loose Ed’s razor and shaving cream and the cork screw. Have torn the car up looking for them! No luck. All is good.

From the Fairyland Loop Trail

June 6, 2019 - Day 3

Took it easy today. Drove to Kodachrome State Park. Wonderful campground and notable rock formations! Drove 30 miles and paid $8 to see the largest phallic symbol I have ever seen, 125 feet tall! Took a hike to see Shakespeare’s arch only to find a sign stating it had collapsed!

Hike to Shakespeare Arch

June 7, 2019 - Day 4

Moving day. 2 hour drive to Zion. I had forgotten how stunning the drive into park is! We will set up camp, do laundry and hope to catch the Warrior game. Ed chose a wonderful camp site on line with the assistance of google earth. We are on the banks of the Virgin River, which is roaring! Lucky for us it is loud, we are in the middle of a 5-6 family group. We counted 18 camp chairs around the camp fire! Lots of kids, I would guess 11-15 years old. It is so nice to see Dads and sons playing catch and throwing the football around. It is very warm. Oh dear, the Warriors lost and so did Roger Federer, I’m bummed. In the morning we will drive to Las Vegas to pick up Ryan and Emily.

June 8, 2019 - Day 5

Got kids settled into camp life and just took the shuttle around park to show highlights. We all shopped for dinner deciding on hot dogs and beans. I choose chicken apple sausages. Kids at pool, as there is a plug to charge phones...... big tent worked well, it is warm!

Zion campsite

June 9, 2019 - Day 6

Drove back to Bryce and walked quite a bit of rim trail. Around many corners Ryan or Emily said, oh, this is the best view yet!

Back to Zion, sloppy joes, meal of choice, I finished spaghetti sauce on zucchini. S’mores over camp fire even though it is 86 degrees! Found a duel charger for cigarette lighter ! Everyone happier! Of course it only works when we are traveling!

Day trip with Emily and Ryan back to Bryce Canyon NP

June 10, 2019 - Day 7

Plan was to do Observation point trail and Hidden Canyon but both were closed due to rock falls. So we hit all the high points, Weeping rock, emerald pool #1, two and three closed due to slides. Walked out the Narrows path. This is also closed to through passage due to very high water in Virgin River. With so many closures people are concentrated into limited sites. Very congested. Like a conveyor belt of the masses! Kids spent afternoon at pool.... charging phones, highest priority you know. Tomorrow big day, Angel’s Landing!

Emily’s Birthday Party

June 11, 2019 - Day 8

Everyday has been an early rise but today up at 5 am, hoping to avoid masses and heat. Cold cereal or yogurt. Unfortunately, we had to wait half an hour for third bus as everyone headed to the same place, Angel’s Landing, we were in shade almost all the way up, thank goodness for me. I struggle with pain but once I got Peg’s walking sticks out it got better. I went as far as the chains. I did not plan to do more. Have failed 3 times prior with the exposure and heights. The Kids charged on ahead and had already summited, without Ed, much to our surprise! I enjoyed watching the people and reactions to trail description. The recommendation is sturdy hiking boots, with good reason, but I saw all types, even one person bare footed! It was so beautiful. Again, so many people on the chains. People with baby’s in back packs, even a dog in a chest carrier! A schnauzer I think. Going down was a two way escalator! I was so happy to be on the descending one! Very hot! Small children crying, not ideal but so incredibly beautiful . Well worth fighting the crowds.

Afternoon at pool waiting for laundry. Smorgasbord dinner, scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, sausage or cold cereal! Gave rest of perishables, shower coins and wood away. Packed what we could tonight. Headed to North Rim of Canyon in early a.m.

Angel’s Landing hike

Atop Angel’s Landing 

June 12, 2019 - Day 9

On road by 7, breakfast in Kanab at McDonalds! Drive is beautiful with mix of green meadows, lush aspens and pines, mostly fir. Evidence of an historical fire which repopulated with mostly aspens. Perhaps even a controlled burn?? Roads inside park are narrow. Snow in many places. Very few cars. Took pictures at both Imperial Point and Bright Angel Overlook and then back tracked, had a picnic lunch at Jacob Lake. Arrived at motel in Marble Canyon around 3pm. It is 105 degrees! We saw our friend JP, our guide 2 years ago and a trip previously for Peg and Ed. Great guy, he had just come off the river. We petitioned for one of his trips but no go. Room is beautiful, 2 queens and a king. 1 night of cool luxury in middle of trip! On river at 0830 tomorrow!!!