Zion National Park, Utah
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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.
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:
A short delay here
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:
"10 miles behind me, 10,000 more to go" is a worthwhile objective
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.
That's where I'm headed
Hidden Canyon is up in there
Various signposts adorn the beginning of this path.
⇔
Weeping Rock Alcove is a feel-good place
Even in October, this park always has flowers.
Hairy False Goldenaster
Havana Snakeroot
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Cardinal Flower
After passing the junction to Hidden Canyon, I am in previously unvisited territory.
They even paved the route for me
Oops. End of pavement ahead
The objective is way up there
Arizona Thistle
California Fuchsia
Looking up Zion Canyon
Having climbed quite a bit already, I can view the activity atop Angels Landing across the way:
"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.
Are we in Echo Canyon?" they ask. "Yep".
The creek is dry
The next section of trail has been cut out of the rock wall to allow passage beside the creek below.
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.
They don't make trails like this anymore
It would be even better if there were some running water below.
Still a lot of work to do
There is plenty of activity here today
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.
Continuing uphill
It's not as far as it was before
Interesting formations, near and far
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.
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.
Looking down Zion Canyon
Hooray! It looks as if I won't have to climb to the highest point after all.
The route skirts the cliff
Nearly a mile of walking remains, however.
The destination is way over there
And I must go around the long way
Getting closer
Hot and dusty
The scene gets better
Looking north
Made it! So this is Observation Point!
Angels Landing is pretty close now
Oddly enough, I never noticed anyone at this point when I was over there. Go figure.
View to the west
Now that is straight down
The high switchbacks are over there
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.
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?
Starting back
Good lighting to the north
Looking down into Echo Canyon
Not as scary as it might have been
Virgin River
Farewell to Observation Point
Prickly Pear Cactus
That's a real arch
Some nice fall color
Back in exquisite Echo Canyon
My favorite shot of the day
What's this? Modern art?
No, just another perspective
I can see people up there
Back on the pavement
Here comes my shuttle. Or maybe not
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.
The other guy is behind the bush
A great time to be at Weeping Rock ⇔
Nearly finished
Sunset at the Visitor Center
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. |
