hikemasterpa
09-21-2011, 05:48 PM
June 5, 2008
Jim and I had been in Utah for the last few days, coming from great days of hiking in Arches and Bryce National Parks. Our target for the day was Observation Point, a strenuous but invigorating 8 mile rountrip hike. 3 of the 4 miles to Observation Point are a steady uphill climb. A great workout in my opinion, one that makes you feel great to be alive. We had done this same hike 16 years earlier, almost to the day, during our first visit together to Zion. We had a fantastic day back then, and anticipated the same again.
One of the most enjoyable things we encounter on our hikes are the people we meet. It seems every hike we take we meet someone who becomes a permanent part of our conversation and reminiscence about that hike for years to come. In fact, as we started off today, Jim remarked that you always seem to run into the nicest people on this particular hike. This day would turn out to be no different.
So, off we go, with a reasonably early start, grabbing the shuttle from Springdale and on the trail shortly before 9AM. Not many people on the trail ahead of us and the climb begins, up, up and up some more. We come to the junction for Hidden Canyon and this brings back quite a memory from 16 years ago. Seems the night before we arrived in Zion back then, there was a big hail storm, and the next day we found mounds of hail stones in the shady parts of the trail. In early June. Quite refreshing at the time, as the stones provided a cool drink on the 95 degree day. This day we press on with no such relief, though it is not particularly warm at this time of the morning.
After a while longer we come to Jim's favorite spot, an outcropping of rock that hangs suspended over the depths below, with a wonderful view of the canyon. 16 years ago Jim had gone ahead on the way down from Observation Point, and we found him lounging on this same spot when we came around the bend.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt02_big.JPG
We move on. The views of the inner Zion canyon are spectacular.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt04_big.JPG
Soon those views will be left behind as the trail wraps around the back side. The climb continues a while longer until we reach a plateau. From here it's about a mile of mostly level walking until we reach our goal - Observation Point! You never know if you'll ever make it back to any of these places, so when you do, it's like reuniting with an old friend. It's great to be back!!
Time for a break, to take in the incredible views, to relax, refuel. Inevitably, we make new friends, Bryan and his wonderful family from New Orleans who are in the midst of a 2 week vacation all over the great western United States. What an outstanding thing to do! We spend the better part of an hour at the point. Did I mention the view? All the way up canyon to the junction and beyond.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt05_big.JPG
Now back down, most of the way spent getting to know our new friends. They will forever be part of our memories and conversations.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt06_big.JPG
We stop for a few pictures. I personally don't like the long, steep downhills, prefer to climb, find it much easier on the legs and knees, as well as the fitness benefits. Ah, but once again, the scenery takes away all misery!
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt07_big.JPG
We reach the bottom and hop on the shuttle. It feels good to sit and rest. We still have several hours of daylight left and begin discussing our options over lunch at the Zion Lodge. We decide we're going to do Angels' Landing. We try to entice Bryan to come along, but he looks too comfortable sprawled in his chair. He says we're too hard core for him, plus he's doing the Narrows tomorrow.
Jim and I hop back on the shuttle to the Grotto and we're at the trailhead in no time. 2 and a half miles up we need to go. We feel good at the start, and the weather is perfect. Last night it got down into the 40's and only hit the mid 70's today, quite cool for this time of year. We're the only one's headed up, and in fact don't see many people coming down. We have about 2 hours of daylight left and are thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Thru Walter's Wiggles, which really is a beautiful, if exhausting, part of the trail and then to Scouts Lookout. Now the fun begins, 45 minutes of steep, exposed climbing.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_angels23_big.JP G
Allow me to describe this climb. This is my fourth time. Did it in 1992 with Jim and 1993 with another group. In 92, pre internet, pre trip reports and tons of pictures, we had no idea what was to come. We were happily moving along until we started this last section, when, as Jim described it, "all conversations stopped." I believe the comment at the time was "Hey, this is some serious stuff, we better pay attention." Of course, today there is so much information available that anyone should have some idea of what they're getting into. However, that day in 1992, it was all new to us, and we had just started up the knife edge when we came across a young lady sitting on a rock. I was in the lead and said hello and she just started crying. She was terrified, could not move. Her group had gone ahead to the top and left her alone. She made a good decision to not go further, but now needed some help getting back to a safer spot. So we took her by the hand and led her to safety. Jim keenly put her at ease by telling her "Don't worry, we're just going to remove your belongings and dispose of your body!" Luckily, she laughed. We moved on and made it to the top. Having never done anything like this climb before, we recognized afterwards it was exposed, but it seemed like no big deal.
In 1993 I was happy to lead some other friends up, eager to show them how cool it was. And it was, and still is. But 15 years later, in 2007, as I was on my third ascent, it really struck me how dangerous this could be. Probably just a factor of youth gone by, more to lose now, facing one's mortality. It is steep and exposed and somewhat nerve racking and demanding of full concentration, and ... BUT, it also makes you feel SOOOO ALIVE! I find myself stopping several times to think what a place I'm in, somewhere I'd never imagine being, a place I am thrilled to be!
And, now today, the fourth time. As I am climbing I'm really starting to feel the fatigue in my legs from the day's activity, and some doubt goes thru my mind. Should I stop and call it a day? Am I in any extra danger? Am I making a bad decision to continue? After all, summitting is always optional, returning is not. Oh well, on I go and make it up without incident. It's pretty cool to be the last people on top for the day - wait, here comes another hiker. Damn. Well, at least we now have a photographer. We hang for a few minutes and then start down. Coming down probably is scarier for a lot of people because you kind of have the long drop offs on either side of you in view. But I've never had a problem with this part, and the views to the canyon floor are awesome! After we get off the knife edge, the rest is easy.
Back on the shuttle and then off at the visitors center. We make some kind of remark about our Angel's Landing hike and someone over hears. He says he did that hike today and what a great hike, and that he's doing Observation Point tomorrow. We casually mention we did both today. He says "Wow, you guys are hard core!" I guess we are.
Jim and I had been in Utah for the last few days, coming from great days of hiking in Arches and Bryce National Parks. Our target for the day was Observation Point, a strenuous but invigorating 8 mile rountrip hike. 3 of the 4 miles to Observation Point are a steady uphill climb. A great workout in my opinion, one that makes you feel great to be alive. We had done this same hike 16 years earlier, almost to the day, during our first visit together to Zion. We had a fantastic day back then, and anticipated the same again.
One of the most enjoyable things we encounter on our hikes are the people we meet. It seems every hike we take we meet someone who becomes a permanent part of our conversation and reminiscence about that hike for years to come. In fact, as we started off today, Jim remarked that you always seem to run into the nicest people on this particular hike. This day would turn out to be no different.
So, off we go, with a reasonably early start, grabbing the shuttle from Springdale and on the trail shortly before 9AM. Not many people on the trail ahead of us and the climb begins, up, up and up some more. We come to the junction for Hidden Canyon and this brings back quite a memory from 16 years ago. Seems the night before we arrived in Zion back then, there was a big hail storm, and the next day we found mounds of hail stones in the shady parts of the trail. In early June. Quite refreshing at the time, as the stones provided a cool drink on the 95 degree day. This day we press on with no such relief, though it is not particularly warm at this time of the morning.
After a while longer we come to Jim's favorite spot, an outcropping of rock that hangs suspended over the depths below, with a wonderful view of the canyon. 16 years ago Jim had gone ahead on the way down from Observation Point, and we found him lounging on this same spot when we came around the bend.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt02_big.JPG
We move on. The views of the inner Zion canyon are spectacular.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt04_big.JPG
Soon those views will be left behind as the trail wraps around the back side. The climb continues a while longer until we reach a plateau. From here it's about a mile of mostly level walking until we reach our goal - Observation Point! You never know if you'll ever make it back to any of these places, so when you do, it's like reuniting with an old friend. It's great to be back!!
Time for a break, to take in the incredible views, to relax, refuel. Inevitably, we make new friends, Bryan and his wonderful family from New Orleans who are in the midst of a 2 week vacation all over the great western United States. What an outstanding thing to do! We spend the better part of an hour at the point. Did I mention the view? All the way up canyon to the junction and beyond.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt05_big.JPG
Now back down, most of the way spent getting to know our new friends. They will forever be part of our memories and conversations.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt06_big.JPG
We stop for a few pictures. I personally don't like the long, steep downhills, prefer to climb, find it much easier on the legs and knees, as well as the fitness benefits. Ah, but once again, the scenery takes away all misery!
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_obspt07_big.JPG
We reach the bottom and hop on the shuttle. It feels good to sit and rest. We still have several hours of daylight left and begin discussing our options over lunch at the Zion Lodge. We decide we're going to do Angels' Landing. We try to entice Bryan to come along, but he looks too comfortable sprawled in his chair. He says we're too hard core for him, plus he's doing the Narrows tomorrow.
Jim and I hop back on the shuttle to the Grotto and we're at the trailhead in no time. 2 and a half miles up we need to go. We feel good at the start, and the weather is perfect. Last night it got down into the 40's and only hit the mid 70's today, quite cool for this time of year. We're the only one's headed up, and in fact don't see many people coming down. We have about 2 hours of daylight left and are thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Thru Walter's Wiggles, which really is a beautiful, if exhausting, part of the trail and then to Scouts Lookout. Now the fun begins, 45 minutes of steep, exposed climbing.
http://blog.besthikes.com/image.axd?picture=2008%2f11%2fzion_angels23_big.JP G
Allow me to describe this climb. This is my fourth time. Did it in 1992 with Jim and 1993 with another group. In 92, pre internet, pre trip reports and tons of pictures, we had no idea what was to come. We were happily moving along until we started this last section, when, as Jim described it, "all conversations stopped." I believe the comment at the time was "Hey, this is some serious stuff, we better pay attention." Of course, today there is so much information available that anyone should have some idea of what they're getting into. However, that day in 1992, it was all new to us, and we had just started up the knife edge when we came across a young lady sitting on a rock. I was in the lead and said hello and she just started crying. She was terrified, could not move. Her group had gone ahead to the top and left her alone. She made a good decision to not go further, but now needed some help getting back to a safer spot. So we took her by the hand and led her to safety. Jim keenly put her at ease by telling her "Don't worry, we're just going to remove your belongings and dispose of your body!" Luckily, she laughed. We moved on and made it to the top. Having never done anything like this climb before, we recognized afterwards it was exposed, but it seemed like no big deal.
In 1993 I was happy to lead some other friends up, eager to show them how cool it was. And it was, and still is. But 15 years later, in 2007, as I was on my third ascent, it really struck me how dangerous this could be. Probably just a factor of youth gone by, more to lose now, facing one's mortality. It is steep and exposed and somewhat nerve racking and demanding of full concentration, and ... BUT, it also makes you feel SOOOO ALIVE! I find myself stopping several times to think what a place I'm in, somewhere I'd never imagine being, a place I am thrilled to be!
And, now today, the fourth time. As I am climbing I'm really starting to feel the fatigue in my legs from the day's activity, and some doubt goes thru my mind. Should I stop and call it a day? Am I in any extra danger? Am I making a bad decision to continue? After all, summitting is always optional, returning is not. Oh well, on I go and make it up without incident. It's pretty cool to be the last people on top for the day - wait, here comes another hiker. Damn. Well, at least we now have a photographer. We hang for a few minutes and then start down. Coming down probably is scarier for a lot of people because you kind of have the long drop offs on either side of you in view. But I've never had a problem with this part, and the views to the canyon floor are awesome! After we get off the knife edge, the rest is easy.
Back on the shuttle and then off at the visitors center. We make some kind of remark about our Angel's Landing hike and someone over hears. He says he did that hike today and what a great hike, and that he's doing Observation Point tomorrow. We casually mention we did both today. He says "Wow, you guys are hard core!" I guess we are.