Forum Index > Trip Reports > Utah & Nevada, Apr 29-May 5
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Ingunn
Hiking Viking



Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics
Location: Redmond
Ingunn
Hiking Viking
PostMon May 18, 2009 4:12 pm 
JK and I had the opportunity to take a somewhat last minute vacation, so we jumped at the chance to return to Utah. We flew in to Vegas, but immediately picked up a rental car and drove away as far as we could since I hate that place with a raging passion. gag.gif First stop was Zion, our favorite park. We camped in the Watchman Campground and wanted to find some hikes that weren't too crowded, so we got up the next day and headed for Cable Mountain. It’s a 15-16 mile hike that ends up by the remnants of the old cableworks where they used to send timber down into Zion Canyon - it’s pretty impressive once you get up there and realize just how nauseatingly high it is. If you know where to look, you can see the structure from Observation Point and Angel’s Landing. After the trail forked off from the Observation Point trail, we only saw one other person, a ranger who was just as surprised as we were to meet someone up there. All in all a good hike, but if you haven’t done Observation Point before I would say that's a better choice. If you’re in good shape and motivated, you could go to OP on the way back from Cable.
Zion
Zion
Mule deer on the way to Cable Mountain
Mule deer on the way to Cable Mountain
Cable Mountain
Cable Mountain
Angel's Landing from Cable Mountain
Angel's Landing from Cable Mountain
Death grip
Death grip
Glued to the rock
Glued to the rock
Zion Zunzet
Zion Zunzet
The next day we were planning on backpacking along the West Rim Trail, but unfortunately the forecast called for rain and thunderstorms that night. We decided to check out Angel’s Landing and then drive back to St. George and sleep out the rain in a motel. The trail up to Angel’s Landing was just as fun as I expected it to be, with excellent views down the canyon and the adorably tiny Walter’s Wiggles switchbacks. An incorrigible acrophobic, I felt no need to attempt the skinny little trail out to the landing. I might have given it a shot if we were alone, but the thought of having to pass hordes of hikers on the cables freaked me out. JK proceeded alone while I relaxed at Scout’s Lookout.
Solo
Solo
Cable Mountain from the Angel's Landing trail
Cable Mountain from the Angel's Landing trail
Don't look down
Don't look down
The next day we woke up to blue skies (but a new friend we met in Zion later told me it had rained there), so we drove out to Snow Canyon State Park, just outside St. George. If you’re ever in the area, please take the time to visit this park! It’s absolutely beautiful, full of hiking trails, rock climbing routes, and reportedly an excellent campground. We followed a six mile loop detailed in our guide book, covering the Hidden Piñon, Petrified Dunes, Butterfly and Lava Flow trails.
I heart Snow Canyon
I heart Snow Canyon
Painfully purdy
Painfully purdy
Multicolor desert
Multicolor desert
Petrified Dunes
Petrified Dunes
Blue skies, old sand
Blue skies, old sand
Assorted knobs
Assorted knobs
King of the Canyon
King of the Canyon
View from the overlook
View from the overlook
Us by the cave
Us by the cave
Next stop: Bryce! Since we had deviated from our plan of backpacking in Zion, we drove to Bryce via Cedar City instead. It was interesting to drive around in our car at almost 10,000 feet, much higher than the highest mountain in Norway. Unfortunately Cedar Breaks National Monument wasn’t open for the season yet as most of the mountain was still covered in snow.
Zion Canyon from Highway 14.
Zion Canyon from Highway 14.
9,910 feet
9,910 feet
We didn't see any black and white dogs.
We didn't see any black and white dogs.
Bryce was amazing. Once again we made the right choice weather-wise and arrived between two storms. Moahaha. We camped in the North Campground (in hats and gloves, brr), then went for a hike the next day on the Navajo, Peek-a-Boo (my favorite!) and Queen’s Garden trails.
Red Canyon
Red Canyon
Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon
My deer and my dear
My deer and my dear
Framed
Framed
A hoodlum among hoodoos
A hoodlum among hoodoos
Nature's Cathedral
Nature's Cathedral
Snag
Snag
Not a snag
Not a snag
Next up was a long drive (this time via Zion) back to Nevada to camp in Valley of Fire State Park, but we found the time to stop for ho-made pie, a quick trip up to Zion Canyon Overlook, and an excellent meal at the Spotted Dog Café in Springdale.
Where are the wings?
Where are the wings?
Canyon Overlook
Canyon Overlook
Who knew Wellie had his own restaurant?
Who knew Wellie had his own restaurant?
The Atlatl Campground in Valley of Fire is the best I’ve ever been to. We got a beautiful tent site, all the individual sites have a covered table so you can survive the more disgustingly hot hours of the day (all of them), and they have free hot showers! We ended up scrapping our plans of camping in Red Rock Canyon the next day and stayed in Valley of Fire an extra day instead. It’s such a relaxing place with lots of little trails to explore, and we figured our fellow airplane passengers would appreciate the showers.
Our tent
Our tent
Good night, Nevada!
Good night, Nevada!
JK's self-portrait while I was snoozing in the tent.
JK's self-portrait while I was snoozing in the tent.
Chocolate-banana pancakes
Chocolate-banana pancakes
We spent a lazy day in Petroglyph Canyon, White Domes (a must!) and Ephemeral Arch. On the hike back from the arch we saw our first (ever!) rattlesnake curled up in the sand. I saw it as I was halfway through the air after jumping off a rock, about to land right next to it. I ricocheted off the ground, screaming, and JK took photos. Good times.
Blue
Blue
Really old graffiti
Really old graffiti
Globemallow
Globemallow
We are the world
We are the world
White Domes
White Domes
Wedged
Wedged
Look ma, no hands!
Look ma, no hands!
That's it, I'm staying here.
That's it, I'm staying here.
Chuckwalla!
Chuckwalla!
We're pretty
We're pretty
Valley of Fire
Valley of Fire
Ephemeral Arch
Ephemeral Arch
The last night of our vacation. Sigh.
The last night of our vacation. Sigh.
Vitamin Water gives you wings
Vitamin Water gives you wings
Sidewinder rattlesnake, aka heart attack
Sidewinder rattlesnake, aka heart attack
Our home for two nights
Our home for two nights
We flew back to Seattle the next morning. It was raining. hmmm.gif

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Gabigabs
Trail Breaker



Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 841 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
Gabigabs
Trail Breaker
PostMon May 18, 2009 4:52 pm 
Great photos and very a well written report. Seems like such a fun trip to take. The nature's cathedrals are my favs. Absolutely stunning.

Life is simple... Eat, Sleep, Hike!
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David¹
Token Canadian



Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 3040 | TRs | Pics
Location: The Great White North
David¹
Token Canadian
PostMon May 18, 2009 4:57 pm 
Zion & Bryce Oh so Nice!

Warning! Posts may contain traces of sarcasm. Hiking Website: http://members.shaw.ca/karenanddavid/Index.htm
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Yet
Member
Member


Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 2634 | TRs | Pics
Location: Happily Ever After
Yet
Member
PostMon May 18, 2009 5:03 pm 
Amazing photos! FUN! What a treat, thanks. smile.gif

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silly_traveler
~ roaming ~



Joined: 04 Jun 2006
Posts: 1525 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bellevue
silly_traveler
~ roaming ~
PostMon May 18, 2009 5:11 pm 
Ingunn wrote:
Vitamin Water gives you wings
Vitamin Water gives you wings
This looks like a photo for some sort of commercial up.gif Awesome pictures and what a fun trip~! smile.gif I miss Utah and the rocks hmmm.gif

♫ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. And you're the one who will decide where you'll go. Oh the places you'll go. - Dr. Seuss
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GeoTom
Member
Member


Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics
Location: Earth
GeoTom
Member
PostMon May 18, 2009 5:40 pm 
GeoTom approves of this Trip Report. up.gif

Knows literally nothing
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Karen²
A Real Canadian Girl



Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 1367 | TRs | Pics
Location: Behind the Lens
Karen²
A Real Canadian Girl
PostMon May 18, 2009 5:52 pm 
slobber.gif VERY VERY nice. You hit up a lot of great places and your photos are superb! (and the titles aren't half bad either lol.gif ). I love the shot from Cable Mountain, I'm thinking that vista looks better than the one from Observation Point (although hard to compare since our shots from there are taken with a disposable camera hockeygrin.gif ). How sporting of you to pose so close to the edge! wink.gif I love the lighting in framed, nice lizard, and the road through the "moonscape" is awesome! I also really like your last shot, what a great campsite! I remember our first trip camping among the red rocks. I had never seen anything like it before, it felt like we were camping with the Flintstones! Thanks for taking the last minute trip and I don't mind that we had to wait SOOOOOO long for a report to be posted. wink.gif hockeygrin.gif

I leave only footprints...and lens caps. http://weekendswithmarmots.zenfolio.com
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belowfellow
Transplant



Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Posts: 261 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
belowfellow
Transplant
PostMon May 18, 2009 8:00 pm 
very nice. i spent 3 weeks in southern Utah a couple of years ago and am planning a return trip this fall. great pics!

"Wilderness is bliss"
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raz2sea
Daddy RAZ



Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Posts: 1060 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
raz2sea
Daddy RAZ
PostMon May 18, 2009 8:36 pm 
Awesome!!! Gotta get back down there and actually do some hiking...

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Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostMon May 18, 2009 9:52 pm 
slobber.gif slobber.gif slobber.gif up.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish



Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics
Location: olympics!
bobbi
stillaGUAMish
PostTue May 19, 2009 8:13 am 
ditto.gif what a wonder getaway for the two of you! i want to go back! i love your photo of Angel's Landing from Cable Mountain. up.gif i think if you can see the words Vitamin water on the bottle, you should submit it to the company with your caption. who knows. anyway, great shot. maybe you should go back, have JK hold the bottle on his left hand with more label showing! sorry you got spooked on going to angel's landing. next time, bring a carabiner, rope, harness, and hook yourself to the chain on your way up/down. fantastic TR and photos. thank you.

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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Movenhike
\m/..mmmmetal\m/



Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 642 | TRs | Pics
Location: Leavenworth, WA
Movenhike
\m/..mmmmetal\m/
PostTue May 19, 2009 9:18 am 
nice report, I've always wondered what Valley Fire S.P. looked like -thnx.

"Make it your Friend" -John Bull
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Go Jo
of the lykkens



Joined: 08 Jun 2003
Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics
Location: Around The Bend
Go Jo
of the lykkens
PostMon May 25, 2009 7:25 pm 
Ingunn wrote:
The last night of our vacation. Sigh.
The last night of our vacation. Sigh.
Vitamin Water gives you wings
Vitamin Water gives you wings
The first made my heart smile, the second made my ankle scream... out loud. Is that even possible? Absolutely great photos of what looks to have been a wonderful vacation. Glad JK came through his crazy jumping moment unharmed and that you survived your close encounter of the rattler kind. ~Jo

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