Adventures in Zion

This morning we met Dennis and Cheryl at 8:30 a.m. and walked to the flagpole at the Visitor Center to meet our ranger-guided shuttle tour. Our ranger, Sally, greeted us and boarded us by parties, in the order in which we had signed up.

Our tour stopped three times on the way up the canyon, and at each stop we got out and Sally explained something of the biology and geology and mystique of the canyon. When we reached the last stop, the Temple of Sinawava, our guide gave everyone the choice of returning directly to the Visitor Center on our shuttle bus or leaving the group and returning later by the regular shuttle service. We stayed on our shuttle and returned to camp.

After lunch, Dennis and Cheryl walked out of the park to look around the shops and theater and photography exhibits. We stayed home for a while and then walked over to the Visitor Center to peruse the many interpretive signs. Ken caught a good shot of a deer browsing near the river.

Dennis fired up his portable Weber grill to cook dinner. He and Cheryl fixed chicken shish-ka-bobs and veggies, and we grilled chicken sausages with spinach and mozzarella. After dinner Dennis and Ken and I took the shuttle to the Zion Lodge, where the trails for the Emerald Pools originate. Cheryl decided to stay home and rest her knee.

We took what Dennis and I thought was the trail to the Lower Emerald Pool, which was supposed to be paved and relatively easy. Instead we found ourselves on a rather steep path that took us to the Middle Emerald Pools. We heard loud sounds that turned out to be the mating calls of male Canyon Tree Frogs . We heard lots of them, but didn't see any.

When we continued on, we walked through a slot in the rock and towards the Lower Emerald Pool. The trail leads directly behind some waterfalls leaping from the cliffs above. It was an enchanted moment. The evening light was shining on the upper elevations across the canyon.

From the Lower Pool, the trail is indeed paved and accessible for strollers and "rugged wheelchairs." When we returned to camp, Dennis and Cheryl came over and Ken showed photos and videos of the trip on the tv.