SPRING BREAK IN ZION NATIONAL PARK

It's becoming a tradition. Spring break means a trip to Zion National Park for Ken, Coppelia and the family.

Rather than camping this year, they stayed at a motel outside of the Park and spent the days exploring and hiking in Zion.

Here's what Coppelia wrote:

We went on our usual Zion's trip but this time Ken found some lesser known hikes for us to do. At first I was skeptical about the hikes. These are not kept trails and I had visions of us lost in the mountains, but it turned out to be wonderful, in fact, some of the best hiking we have ever done.

The first hike was up the desert rock on the backside of Zion's past the tunnels like you were heading to Bryce Canyon.

Ken referred to this area as the California Adventure side of the park. Great-but not as well known or popular. The trail was called mini-pools because there were many of these rock pools carved into the layers of rock by a stream. It was perfect weather and we were entertained by Nathan who narrated the journey along the way in journal entries.

Day 1

We are moving quickly over the red rocky terrain, but I am watching private JP closely. The stone pools are deep.

Day 2

There is no sign of intelligent life anywhere. We are completely alone on the unmarked trail.

Day 14

Hunger is spreading through the camp. We are all waiting for Mr. Steven to open his dark chocolate covered pomegranates hidden in his backpack

Day 24

We found a cave that looks like a movie set. Investigating but cautions for Robbers or Indians.

Day 29

Beginning to question the Captain's sanity as we climb to the highest peaks for yet another photo shoot.

A slot canyon

The ladder

Brrrrrr

      

Coppelia continues:

I was particularly pleased with Nathan and Steven who kept a careful lookout for their younger siblings. On one occasion they had to rescue me! Ken was little help because he chose to film my rescue on his phone. If it goes to U-Tube there will be blood. The second hike was a bouldering hike up to an Emerald Pond, but not the well known one. This was on the back side and you can still swim in it. We did. 

Steven meditating?

We got a picture of Steven under the waterfall in meditation pose.



Sophie loves bouldering and JP is fearless. But Nathan and Steven watched them closely. I was very proud of how they learned to be gentlemen on the trail. 

In the evenings, we came home to our small room. Same Zion's Motel, but we had a smaller room with two beds and another room with one bed. The Second room was the size of my walk in closet. In fact, everyone said how our house felt huge when we got home. But still, it had room for cards and what more do you nee? Nathan was unstoppable in cards the whole trip. He won every game, but Dad and Sophie gave him some competition. We ate at several restaurants including the Zion's lodge with Mayra, who is living and working in St. George. It was so good to see the sweetie again. 

On the last day, we drove home and stopped to do one last hike. It was a bouldering hike along a stream up to slot canyons to a set of waterfalls. We had trouble at first finding the trail but were soon off. We got behind another family of six that was moving very slowly along the cliff about ten feet above the stream. We soon realized why they were moving so slow. Two of their kids were completely blind. One boys was Nathan's age and the girl was a bit older than Sophie. I was very impressed that they would try such a hike. The girl was very frightened, but the boy was moving well. Steven offered to help but they happily urged us to go ahead. They were going to travel their own pace. It humbled me somewhat. I have six very, very healthy kids all and all. My problems are all very manageable. I should endeavor to embrace my challenges and learn from them like this family. They did make it to the waterfall, we were coming back from the second one by the time they got there. But their achievement was glorious. It made me think that we are all on a trail toward a glorious destination (waterfall or heaven). Some of us will move very quickly like JP and Nathan. Some will require a lot of help and some will have trouble just finding the trail like us in the beginning. We learn as we go and when we help others it helps us. Steven stopped along the trail to climb a stone wall cliff. The last part required wading through very cold water and JP and Sophie had to turn back because the depth and coldness of the water. Only Steven and Dad made it to the last waterfall because the water was so strong, deep and cold. But it was a great lesson to us all.

It seems like a wonderful way to spend Spring Break and a great family tradition. Thanks, Agles.