What a year of amazing adventures! An 8000 mile roadtrip to Jasper, Alberta and back, a trip to Ukraine with a ballet company and camping in and around the southeast with friends. I am so lucky to have visited nine National Parks (including two in Canada) with Louise this year. So to look back on my travel adventures, I’m going to do a top ten of 2016.
Number 10: The Narrows at Zion
Cat and I got up early and headed to Zion from our campsite at Cedar Breaks National Monument well before the sun rose. We headed south to Zion, and immediately hopped on a bus that would take us deeper into the canyon, and our ultimate destination, the Narrows.
It was going to be well over 100 degrees, so were glad we got to the park as early as we did.
We walked along the easy riverside trail, and changed shoes to begin the water portion of our hike, walking up the cool Virgin River, surrounded by beautiful, red rock walls. It was a hot summer day in August, and the shade of the canyon and cool water at our feet was a welcome relief. We only hiked a mile or so of the full canyon in the water, but had an outstanding time.
After the hike we continued to explore Zion and had drinks at the Zion National Park Lodge. There’s nothing like a craft beer to celebrate the grandeur of one of America’s National Parks!
One day, I’d like to go back and do the full, two day 16-mile hike. You start outside the park at a nearby ranch and hike into the canyon, spending the night at a campsite halfway back to the trailhead at the Temple of Sinawava. It’s supposed to be an incredibly strenuous hike (12 hours of hiking, total) but I think it would be amazing to experience. There’s also a 10 mile day hike version you can do from inside the park, but I’d like to camp in the backcountry I think!
Teardrops & Ales 