I had made plans to get out to Snow Canyon last sunday with Dave and Dave to do an Island in the Sky Traverse in Snow Canyon State Park. The rain/snow put a damper on the plans and both Dave and Dave had picked up late winter "crud". I was aching to get out for some hiking so I fell back to my old "standby" Angels Landing. Angels Landing is very special after a good winter dumping. Pristine, glittering and pure, but best of all.....I always find that I have it all to myself! Headed up to the park at 10AM and was parked, donning my crampons at 11AM. As I trudged in 3 inches of slushie cottage cheese toward the summit, I noticed 2 footprints ahead. The shoes worn were standard running shoes. I knew I wouldn't have to worry about them making the summit, so I stopped and re-adjusted my crampons (had loaned them to a friend a month back). While stopped, 3 young fellows passed me by dressed in blue jeans and hooded sweatshirts, no hats or gloves! Best of all they wore "skater shoes" so I knew that they certainly wouldn't go far! Well.....I caught back up to the 3 as they started up the buried chains just past Scout Lookout. The other 2 tracks had turned back long ago. I worked up the chains that they were so painstakingly uncovering from the new 8" of snow. I asked if they wished me to break trail and uncover the chains to spare their blue tortured barren hands. They obliged! Got up ahead and wondered just how far they would follow? Dropped into the saddle, looked back and they were perched on the level slabs as they watched me work up the steepening ridge, and finally dissappear into the clouds. The snow deepened each step (thank goodness) to make footing even more secure. I arrived up top and swiped a rock clear of snow to sit, have a drink, eat a bar, and then snap a few photos. Periodically am opening would spread in the low clouds to show the valley floor below and mid levels of cliffbands surrounding. After 5-10 minutes I decided to head down and then cap the day at Deans new restaurant located in Springdale. Just before starting the descent at the west end of the ridge, low and behold here comes a solitary sweatshirted, skateshoed, bluejeaned, ungloved lost soul! I was amazed! Anyway I just had to take a picture of this solo BYU student that wouldn't take no as an answer to his sunday goal of seeing "The Angels". Here are a few shots of up top, an ungloved (until I loaned him my liners) BYU Hardcore and the beauty of Angels Landing in the winter after a nice snowstorm! Cheers!
PS: The good part....I'm heading back up to the park at 6AM this morning for the next 2 days for some great training! Yee-haw!
