From Zion to Outerspace

Zion Day 2: Hike up the Narrows in the Virgin River

It was definitely a different and cool way to enjoy the river that flows at an steep 71 feet down over 100 miles. To compare  the Coloroda is 50 ft, which is why this seemingly small river can carve and flash floods beware!

This thoroughly exhausted us, well at least me because of a couple sleepless nights (wind and some flu-like thing I got) and the heat. So we headed to town for the local brew pub, then coffee shop to wait out a passing storm.

I was quite nervous about our tent, but alll was well.

We have been indulging our dorky sides by doing lots of ranger talks, the mountain lion talk, the night sky talk which was actually at our campground, then the ride with the ranger for the geology of Zion.  

Had a morning sighting of the big horned desert sheep.

Then off to Bryce:

Felt like we were on another planet. The temperature of 72 degrees also made it feel other- wordly.

Then a wildlife encounter with my new second favorite animal, the Utah Prairie Dog. They are very chatty, interactive with each other and rather curious about passing people and you'll see below, cars.

There are only 7,000 of these cuties left! Which means I will most likely be adopting one tomorrow( ya know pay to get the stuffed animal and it goes to help the critter). Tee- hee!

Mark chauffeured me around the entire park to see the view points.

Check out how the clay is literally dripping down the limestone! 

Apparently underneath of all of the "hoodoos" are the rocks of Zion and Grand Canyon, but it is eroding slower because of its elevation and lack of water flow.

Finally I regained my strength and some breathing capabilities and we did a little hike. Hum those switchbacks aren't so little!

Totally worth it though.

Through the Queen's Garden and up the Navajo loop. To see Thor's Hammer.

After a quick shower ( they are always being closed for cleaning) and some lodge pizza, we are going to enjoy our second ranger talk about the prehistoric creatures that used to be swimming around here, including ammonites ( related to the chambered nautilus) and some neato  dinos.