Ted's Hiking World Observation Point
Zion National Park, Utah

October 10, 2017

This is Day-2 of my Fall Bucket List Tour.  Yesterday I frittered about over at Snow Canyon State Park; today's effort will be a more serious enterprise.

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Early morning in Zion Canyon

Having spent the night in nearby Hurricane, I opt for some reason not to get started until late morning, which proves to be a great mistake; for the crowds have arrived in force.  I never have encountered conditions such as this previously:

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A short delay here
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A lengthy delay here

Ignoring the parking warning, I manage to secure a spot at the visitor center after just ten minutes of circling the lot.  The shuttle-bus queue is a different story, however; there must be 700-800 people waiting to head up the canyon.  While waiting in line, there is little more to do than to gaze at women's legs:

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"10 miles behind me, 10,000 more to go" is a worthwhile objective

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It almost looks as if the cliff has been shored up with concrete

Today's trailhead is Shuttle Stop #7.  Most visitors are interested only in the short stroll up to Weeping Rock, but I'm off in a different direction.

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That's where I'm headed

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Hidden Canyon is up in there

Various signposts adorn the beginning of this path.

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Weeping Rock Alcove is a feel-good place

Even in October, this park always has flowers.

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Hairy False Goldenaster
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Havana Snakeroot

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Scarlet Monkeyflower
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Cardinal Flower

After passing the junction to Hidden Canyon, I am in previously unvisited territory.

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They even paved the route for me

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Oops.  End of pavement ahead

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The objective is way up there

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Arizona Thistle
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California Fuchsia

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Looking up Zion Canyon

Having climbed quite a bit already, I can view the activity atop Angels Landing across the way:

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"Only an angel could ever land there", it was predicted

In fact, I have landed there four times myself; and it wouldn't surprise me to do it again.  That cable-assisted route, being such a unique experience, is my second-most-favorite hike.

Presently the trail stops switchbacking and cuts into the side of the cliff.

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Are we in Echo Canyon?" they ask.  "Yep".

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The creek is dry

The next section of trail has been cut out of the rock wall to allow passage beside the creek below.

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I love this kind of stuff

I had seen this well-known trail segment in photographs, but of course there is nothing like being here.

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They don't make trails like this anymore

It would be even better if there were some running water below.

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Still a lot of work to do

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There is plenty of activity here today

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That man is trying to access the spur to the Echo Canyon Trail

Unfortunately, even though there is a signpost, I can see no evidence of an actual trail.

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Continuing uphill
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It's not as far as it was before

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Interesting formations, near and far

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Finally, I reach the portion of the route that I have been anticipating — a series of exposed switchbacks that are visible from across the canyon.

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Blasted out of the rock, and paved as well

It's a shame that the lighting is so dreadful because of the angle of the sun.  For this photographer at least, that has been a persistent problem in this park.  Unless I were to visit here in the summertime (which never would happen), the sun always is in the southern sky, right where the views are.

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Looking down Zion Canyon

Hooray!  It looks as if I won't have to climb to the highest point after all.

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The route skirts the cliff

Nearly a mile of walking remains, however.

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The destination is way over there

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And I must go around the long way

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Getting closer

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Hot and dusty

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The scene gets better

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Looking north

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Made it!  So this is Observation Point!

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Angels Landing is pretty close now

Oddly enough, I never noticed anyone at this point when I was over there.  Go figure.

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View to the west

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Now that is straight down

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The high switchbacks are over there

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The others are well below

A couple asks me to take their picture.  After apologizing for not having already offered, I do that; then they take mine as well.

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Yours Truly is a happy guy

Half a dozen relatively fearless chipmunks are scurrying about.  Somehow I 'accidentally' drop a raisin onto my open palm, whereupon one of the little guys runs up my pants leg and plucks the goodie from my paw with its own.  What can I say?

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Starting back

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Good lighting to the north

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Looking down into Echo Canyon

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Not as scary as it might have been

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Virgin River

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Farewell to Observation Point

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Prickly Pear Cactus

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That's a real arch

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Some nice fall color

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Back in exquisite Echo Canyon

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My favorite shot of the day

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What's this?  Modern art?

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No, just another perspective

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I can see people up there

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Back on the pavement

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Here comes my shuttle.  Or maybe not

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Everyone seems to have departed Angels Landing for the day

A fellow photographer has been shooting many of the same subjects as I, including the amazingly colored cut in the rock ahead.

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The other guy is behind the bush

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A great time to be at Weeping Rock    ⇔

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Nearly finished

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Sunset at the Visitor Center

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Just south of the park entrance


§: Well, this outing certainly lived up to expectations, although I feel that the overall views are better from Angels Landing.  I feel guilty for having left this one undone for so long.  Because of its relative difficulty, I was somewhat surprised to see so many hikers on this trail.

Although I still have unfinished business in Zion, I am delighted finally to add this one to my done-that list.

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This trail was closed in August 2018 by a big rockfall, and there is no projected
reopening date.  Apparently, nature must run its course before the area can be
deemed safe again.  Observation Point still can be accessed by way of the East Rim Trail.

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