Bryce and outer Zion.
May 26th-28th
I drove north to the Wasatch Wunder Disc golf course outside Salt Lake City. Mistakenly starting on hole 9 afforded me the back 7 holes before reaching an impassable water flow preventing the play of the first 6. Driving north’s motivation was visiting Utah cousins and documenting a welcome center. Memorial Day changed the tune. Fueled with closed welcomes and reaping last-minute plans, journeying south to Bryce Canyon followed.
Arriving within 5 minutes of my park pass providing maps, I filled up my water jugs and drove to the farthest point. Settling in for the evening at Rainbow Point.
The next morning I put the shoes to a second test with 9.5 miles. The Memorial weekend hordes of people fueled my pace. Slowing when required to pass politely. Learning not to be too polite. Halfway, while nodding, waving, and greeting a few passers, I lost focus on the one embedded rock ahead. I scratched up my Nalgene and myself diving toward a non-existent home plate. Thankfully, no critical damage was done. Just a few respectful donations to the canyon.
It felt necessary to pay tribute to a childhood story while on Bryce Canyon’s Peek-a-boo loop. I was unable to find anyone that lacked our manufactured unnecessary moral borders. But finding the spot of my 8-year-old memory was gratifying. On my last family visit, with my little sister on his shoulders, my dad strolled through the archway above exclaiming, “Oh how beautiful”. At the same moment a woman of strong character with no top rounds the corner. That may be the one and only time I’ve seen his face turn red.
I showered off the Canyon I collected unintentionally, ate lunch, then decided the shoes had see enough for the day. It was time for sandals.
Once fresh and fully fueled I headed off on the magical 8-mile fairyland loop trail. The distance deterred the crowds, after the mornings infestation, the change of pace was welcome.
With Zion within range and the hours still early I departed Bryce Canyon. Beating the setting sun to make a well earned meal. Sleep came easy.
Waking up late on the east side of Zion, I decided a respectable 6 miles was appropriate for the day. My brief visit was enjoyed by a small trailside conversation with a young German couple. Leaving before the noon hour to mosy past the Memorial weekend crowds, I enjoyed the rest of Zion from the driver’s seat. After slogging through the peak day heat of Las Vegas, I rewarded myself with a stop topping off power steering fluid, and my requirement for hole-in-the-wall Enchiladas. I continued to make my way to Bakersfield, California before calling it.
