Monday Donkey Blogging

Donkey (Hwy 89) - Utah  2016

As one drives from Zion to Bryce on Highway 89 one passes through the small towns of Orderville, Glendale, Alton and Hatch. Great names, and visually very interesting!

Mike's procedure was to have the Canon G5X laying on the passenger seat ready for a photo op. Pulling over to the side of the road, rolling down the window and taking the shot turned into a regular routine.

For some reason, this animal decided to lay down just as Mike pulled up. Maybe something to do with Mike's California license plates.

Road to Bryce

Highway 9 - Utah  2016

In Utah, leaving Zion heading east on Highway 9 towards Highway 89 in early March.

Leaving Zion National Park

Trees, Checkerboard Mesa (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Trees, Rock Formations (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Mike had reasoned that after driving all the way to Zion he should include some other Utah destinations in his itinerary. So he left Zion, drove through its famous tunnel and headed towards Panguitch for some groceries on his way to Bryce Canyon National Park.

This part of Zion, from the tunnel to the park boundary, is quite scenic. Not that many turnouts, though, alas.

Zion itself was nice enough, especially minus the crowds. But Mike probably won't be needing to go back there anytime soon.

Next week: the road to Bryce.

Zion Waterfall

Waterfall (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Waterall, Cliff Stains (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

After a short hike (Emerald Pools Hike) one can walk in back of the waterfall! Cool. (Waterfall is visible in upper section of bottom photo, just right of center.)

Also: bottom photo taken using an Olympus wide-angle zoom lens. Interestingly enough, I'm discovering that it's a little too wide . . . it's a challenge getting adequate compositions.

Monday Western Bluebird Blogging

Western Bluebird (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Seen outside Zion Lodge sitting on a utility pole.

Zion Hike - 5 (Video)

Zion National Park - Hidden Canyon Hike from Mike Mundy on Vimeo.


Camera inventory for the hike: Olympus E-M10 with a 14-150 zoom lens; Olympus E-M5 with a 9-18mm zoom lens and a Canon GX5 (used for this video).

And, of course an iPhone 6S Plus.

Fritos & Beer (Zion NP)

Fritos & Beer (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Mike having a relaxing moment on his room's balcony. Can't remember if this was an actual scene or if it was staged. It was winter, after all: temperature wasn't that conducive to sitting outside.

Zion Hike - 4

Trail, Stairs (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Trail Sign (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

The trail finally went up a Mordor-like staircase before coming to the end of the maintained trail. Mike decided that he wasn't really up to any rock scrambling that day, so that was the turnaround point for him.

Zion Hike - 3

Trail, Chain (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Trail (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

The trail was just a little bit precarious, sloping at times with a precipitous dropoff on the outwards edge. But there were chains affixed to the cliff wall for grabbing-on purposes, so, no problem!

Zion Hike - 2

Cliffs (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Tree Trunks (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Nice views while on the trail: wrinkled cliffs on the opposite side, and close-up details.

Zion Hike - 1

Trees Near Trailhead (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Early one morning Mike hiked to the mouth of Hidden Canyon. Even during the winter a fairly early start seems to be advisable due to parking issues at the trailheads.

Monday American Dipper Blogging

American Dipper, Virgin River (Zion) - Utah  2016

Seen here perching on a rock in the Virgin River. A favorite of John Muir's:

He is the mountain streams’ own darling, the humming-bird of blooming waters, loving rocky ripple-slopes and sheets of foam as a bee loves flowers, as a lark loves sunshine and meadows. Among all the mountain birds, none has cheered me so much in my lonely wanderings, —none so unfailingly. For both in winter and summer he sings, sweetly, cheerily, independent alike of sunshine and of love, requiring no other inspiration than the stream on which he dwells.

- The Mountains of California

Virgin River, Cliffs

Virgin River, Cliffs (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Virgin River, Cliffs (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Scenes from two separate mini-hikes.

Winter Branches

Branches, Leaves on Ground (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Branches, Rock Wall (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Well, it was winter, so Mike was able to photograph a number of Andrew Wyeth-ey scenes.

Cottonwood

Cottonwood Trees, Cliff (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Cottonwood Trees, Evening (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

As I've said before, a winter visit. Late winter, yes, but still winter: the cottonwood trees were still bare. Some just starting to leaf out, though.

Zion Lodge

Zion Lodge Main Desk (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Mike had paid Zion National Park a visit some four years ago:

The sheer number of people wanting to visit Utah's national parks - even in the (supposedly) off-season of October - was somewhat confounding.

So, a drive-though, parking at a few pull-offs, checking out the vistas and the cliffs. Might be interesting to plan a winter visit.

Since the scenic main road through the park is accessible by shuttle-only starting in mid-March, Mike scheduled this particular visit for the first week in March, springing for a reservation at Zion Lodge. Yes, a winter visit. 

A late arrival after a somewhat exhausting drive, so after a quesadilla and beer at the lodge's restaurant, back to the room to rest up.

(BTW: yes, comparisons are odious, but Zion Lodge is much nicer than Yosemite Lodge.)

Quesadilla, Beer (Zion NP) - Utah  2016

Approaching Zion National Park

Cottonwood Trees, Cliffs - Utah  2016

Concerning This Property - Utah  2016

Fun fact: Zion National Park was initially established as Mukuntuweap National Monument (by President Taft, in 1909). (I'm getting this from Wikipedia.)

Continuing on with our story:

In 1918, however, the acting director of the newly created National Park Service changed the park's name to Zion, the name used by the Mormons. According to historian Hal Rothman: "The name change played to a prevalent bias of the time. Many believed that Spanish and Indian names would deter visitors who, if they could not pronounce the name of a place, might not bother to visit it. The new name, Zion, had greater appeal to an ethnocentric audience."

A prevalent bias of the time! I'm sure that that wouldn't happen today.

Driving through the increasingly spectacular scenery towards the park, one expects the park entrance to be just around the corner. But it isn't. As I've noted before, the total area encompassed by the park is disappointingly small.

Zion Tunnel

Climbers (Zion) - Utah  2012

Taking Pix (Zion) - Utah  2012

Mike zipped through Zion National Park in about a half-hour, not liking his time there to be that short, but  . . . oh well!

There was a delay at the tunnel going out of the park, probably to accomodate RV's coming through. So there was a chance to get out of the car and check out some climbers.

Then, the chance to negotiate the famous mile-long Zion tunnel!

Tunnel (Zion) - Utah  2012

Zion National Park

Road & Cliffs (Zion) - Utah  2012

Cliffs (Zion) - Utah  2012

The sheer number of people wanting to visit Utah's national parks - even in the (supposedly) off-season of October - was somewhat confounding. Showing up around noon at Zion National Park is just not going to work: even to check out the Visitor Center required taking a shuttle from outside the park. (Of course, the main scenic road through Zion is accessible by shuttle only. But Mike had known that in advance.)

Maybe the park boundaries could have been larger from the beginning? Probably not.

So, a drive-though, parking at a few pull-offs, checking out the vistas and the cliffs. Might be interesting to plan a winter visit.

Taylor Creek Hike (Zion) - 2

Leaves, Red & Green (Zion) - Utah  2012

Taylor Creek, Rock Wall (Zion) - Utah  2012

It was still early enough that no sunlight was reaching the bottom of the canyon, thus enabling Mike to get some uncontrasty photos.

To be honest, Mike didn't actually go to the end of the trail. He had to retrace his steps and start the drive towards the main section of Zion National Park.