It rained the next day. Mikey found a free spot on a side road next to the local library. There was a park with plug-ins, and nice outdoor toilets with hot water (for trucker showers). Since it was next to an outfitters store, many campers came and went without hassle. We talked to a Brit who drove what appeared to be a soccer mom’s van, but the back hatch opened up to a full kitchen, sink and everything. His journey started in San Francisco and had been on the road for months. He told us he hiked that morning in the rain, saying, “it was a bit slippy—”

I couldn’t imagine hiking the trails we’ve hiked in the rain. The back of my legs get little tingles thinking about it.

We spent the day at Deep Creek Coffee shop, a little hole-in-the-wall place with a golden retriever sleeping in the corner. The baristas fit the type for this town: grungy and muscled with dreads, windburned skin and big, toothy smiles. Very laid back. A couple came up to order, and the barista man, working on a drink, said, “It’ll be just a moment. In the meantime—why don’t you tell me a joke?”  The couple had to break from their role as the customer, so it took a second, and then they told a corny joke about ants having aunts. I laughed, not at the joke, but the barista. I’ll be saving that line for later.

The next day we hiked the Riverside Walk, also called the Gateway to the Narrows. Lush green vegetation—ferns, grasses, flowers and algae—grew seemingly straight out of the rock beside us, some even upside down. The Hanging Gardens, as they’re called, are an anomaly in the hot, cracked desert.

As we walked, the Navajo Sandstone cliffs close in and water is forced into the walls known as the Narrows. We didn’t bring anything to continue further—most people wear wet suits and have poles for stability. Next time.

The water was an iridescent green-blue.

–

The Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes in the national park system. Zion’s pride and joy runs along a narrow rock fin with dizzying drop-offs on both sides. The trail culminates at a lofty perch, boasting magnificent views in every direction. Rarely is such an intimidating path so frequented by hikers. One would think that this narrow ridge with deep chasms on each of its flanks would allure only the most intrepid of hikers. Climbers scale its big wall; hikers pull themselves up by chains and sightseers stand in awe at its stunning nobility. The towering monolith is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Southwest.

– ZionNationalPark.com

Looking at the map, we saw a little dot that read, Angel’s Landing.  It sounded neat, and knowing nothing, we shrugged and started up. The sign said 2.5 miles.

We hiked the switchbacks until we could no longer breathe, and then the path changed dramatically, curving through a narrow crack with a cool, welcome breeze.

And then the switchbacks continued.

These pictures don’t do justice to the epic scenery surrounding us.

The smile masked my terror. I know climbers in my family could do this with one leg tied behind their back, but for me, it was incredibly daunting. Mikey, on the other hand, took it like a champ.

The trail zigzags up to the top, seen here:

Here are some more neat photos.

We spent the rest of the week in our little free spot, heading into Hurricane to get supplies, lounging and reading, walking Bubba.

Our Camp:

Next stop—who knows?