Ted's Hiking World Angels Landing
Zion National Park, Utah

May 2, 2021

So here we are back in Zion.  Having extra time today, we park in the same lot as before and utilize the shortcut I discovered yesterday in order to avoid the crowd at the entrance gate.  Only four of us will attempt the dreaded Angels Landing Route today.

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'Sneaking' into the park

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It must be time; I'm wearing my Angels Landing T-shirt

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The task ahead

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Spectacular engineering

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They won't make trails like this anymore

This trail was originally constructed in 1926 by Walter Reusch, the park's first superintendent.  The pavement was added in 1985, with the aid of 258 helicopter flights and a team of mules to haul the concrete.

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Into Refrigerator Canyon

We have reached the world-renowmed Walters Wiggles — a series of 21 elegantly constructed switchbacks up the canyon wall.

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Walters Wiggles has its own plumbing

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The task ahead

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Scout Landing — where much soul-searching is done

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Many call it quits right here

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The shuttle driver announced a recent birth in the park

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Getting started

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Spreading Phlox

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The exciting Razorback

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Aproaching a tricky spot

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The Big Step is a favorite trail feature

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It's 800 feet down to Mary's left, and 1200 feet down to her right

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Paul forges ahead

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This stuff certainly is not for everyone

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On the summit!  Of course, for the others the first order of business is phone calls.

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View to the north

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Big Bend is 1,400 feet below

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Zion Canyon to the south

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Scout Lookout is over there, in the lower-left corner

On the summit we meet a nice gentleman named Mike, who happens to be a former teacher at U.C. Davis.  Small world.  Mike also is even more aged than Eileen and I; at 81, he might well be the ranking oldster on the route today.

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That rockfall closed three trails a year and a half ago

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The Panorama Point Trail, albeit accessible from the east, is virtually deserted these days

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Starting down

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Eileen forges ahead, as usual *
Mary and Paul follow

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Where is the chain, anyhow?

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The nearly hidden arch that holds up the trail

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Mike and I both like these textures

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It's not far now

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The view from Scout Landing

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Firecracker Penstemon *
Western Wallflower

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The rendezvous point

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Across the canyon

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Wiggling down the Walters

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Back into Refrigerator Canyon

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A previously unnoticed arch

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A couple of caves

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Carmine pays his usual visit to The Catacombs

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A favorite trail view

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Eileen chats with Mike and his partner

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The rest of the route will be in the shade.  This is good

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Hairy False Goldenaster *
Prickly Pear Cactus

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Been there, done that

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Tufted Evening Primrose *
Blue Dicks

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Paintbrush *
Nuttall's Linanthus

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The Great White Throne

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This Prickly Pear is flowering *
Telegraphweed

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Blow Wives *
Desert Globemallow

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Nostalgic reprise.  Are six ascents enough for me?

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At the finish line

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Springdale sculpture

Scenery *
Difficulty *
Personality *
Flowers *

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