A Stormy Night

 (Continuing the recap of my mid-October trip to southern Utah...)

Our first day in Zion National Park had been wonderful so far.  My hubby and I had traversed the Riverwalk, visited Weeping Rock, and had an exciting hike on the Emerald Pools Trail.  Although heavy clouds had obscured the sun all day, so far we'd avoided any rain.

But boarding a shuttle bus at the Zion Lodge, our driver had ominous news.

Towering rock formations

Local radar indicated a severe thunderstorm heading our way.  It was already hitting the northern portion of the park, overflowing rivers and causing flash flood warnings.  As our driver put it: "We're gonna get walloped good."

Cacti ready to bloom

It was hard to believe such a big storm was coming...the sky didn't look any different than it had all day.  Roger and I decided we had time for another stop.  We jumped off the bus at the Court of the Patriarchs viewpoint.

The Court of the Patriarchs consisted of three large sandstone mountains that soared high into the sky.  Discovered by early Mormon settlers, the peaks were named after the prophets Abraham, Issac and Jacob.  One of the most recognized landmarks in Zion, I wanted to be sure and get some good photographs.

The Court of the Patriarchs

However, the darkening sky made for difficult lighting conditions.  That, and a few large thunder rumbles scared us away from a very exposed viewpoint.  Roger and I decided to move on.  After catching the next shuttle bus, we debated whether to visit one more place, or head back to our campground.

Info board photo

Since the bad weather hadn't hit yet, we made the decision to get off for a final stop.  Deboarding at Canyon Junction, Roger and I followed the paved trail that dipped under a highway bridge and led towards the Virgin River's banks.  It was a lovely place, lined with tall, colorful sandstone towers and lush green trees.  The river burbled peacefully below.

River view from under highway bridge

Looking up towards a nearby sandstone peak, the sky suddenly began to change.  It took on a white, misty sheen.  Roger noticed a high waterfall suddenly begin to gush down the cliff face.  Uh-oh....the big storm had arrived.  That white fog was rain - and lots of it!  Luckily, the highway bridge wasn't far away, and we made a quick dash for it, ducking underneath just as the deluge began.

The sky is getting very dark

The thunderstorm hit with maximum force.  High winds bent nearby trees, and torrential rain streamed from the sky.  Roger and I were joined by another couple, and the four of us huddled under the bridge.  Then I noticed quarter sized hail had begun pounding the earth.  All I could think of was my new car, barely five months old, parked back at the campground that was probably getting hammered.

Here comes the storm!

Runoff began pouring from the road above, and dirty red torrents came gushing in fat streams under the bridge.  Afraid the river would rise quickly, Roger suggested we make a run for the bus stop.  Flipping up my jacket hood, I followed my hubby through the downpour.  Splashing through huge puddles, we were instantly soaked.  Hailstones pounded the ground around us.  I took two painful hits on my head and hand during our escape.

Wet campsite

Reaching the bus stop, we ducked under the shelter with a bunch of stranded tourists.  Finally a bus came by, and we crammed on.  It was a long, wet ride back to the visitor center.  I stood in the aisle, trying not to drip on the other passengers.

Back at the visitor center, the rain hadn't let up in the least.  Roger was in a hurry to return to our campsite, so we ran through the pouring rain, getting soaked to the skin in the process.  And naturally, the storm began to abate about the time we reached our tent.

Thunderheads retreating

Luckily, our tent was still standing, and my car was unharmed by the hailstorm.  We changed out of wet clothes, and enjoyed dinner under dry skies.  Retreating thunderheads against nearby sandstone peaks made for some dramatic scenery.  After supper, I walked around the campground with my camera, capturing it all.

Foggy leftover clouds

I'd heard the National Weather Service had issued flash flood warnings for Zion.  Passing by the Virgin River I was amazed to see how much it had changed in just a few short hours.  The once placid stream had been transformed into a powerful, muddy torrent, its waters as dark as chocolate milk.
I stood on the roadway bridge and marveled at the river's sheer force.  Anyone caught in it's current would be a goner!

Swollen Virgin River

Heading back to our campsite, I noticed storm clouds again building over the mountains.  Oh no, not again!  It didn't take long before rain drove my hubby and I into our tent for the night.  At first the sound of rain pattering on our tent was kind of soothing.  But shortly after sundown another round of storms hit, with thunder echoing off the nearby cliffs, and lightning bolts flashing.

Looks like chocolate milk!

I huddled in my sleeping bag, hoping the storm would let up.  But throughout the night a continuous parade of thunderstorms hit in succession, each louder and closer than the last.  The thunder was deafening, and nearly continuous bright lightning bolts lit up the skies.  More torrential rain pounded the already saturated ground.  Finally, around midnight, a huge lightning flash hit so close, I swear it was right overhead.  Terrified, I made a beeline for the car, and spent a very uncomfortable couple of hours trying to sleep in the front seat.

Evening light on adjacent rocks (the calm before another storm!)

Would the storms ever stop?  We had plans to hike Angel's Landing in the morning.  If the lightning was still active, this hike would be out.  Would the large amount of precipitation make the sandstone trails too slippery for hiking?  Would flooding limit access to the  trails?  These questions churned through my mind as the storms finally began to fade, and I drifted into a few hours of fitful sleep.

Don't miss my next Zion National Park post, and see if Roger and I are able to tackle the famed Angel's Landing trail.


Sharing with:  Through My Lens

The Emerald Pools

(Continuing the recap of my mid-October trip to southern Utah...)
 

Already in love with Zion National Park, a short hike down to The Narrows  had me absolutely smitten.  After spending a few good hours exploring and photographing the Riverwalk Trail's lovely canyon, I didn't think anything else could top it.

Then I hiked the Emerald Pools Trail.

Virgin River view

A short, but very popular path, Emerald Pools Trail leads visitors up from the Virgin River's valley floor into a narrow canyon where seeps from the sandstone walls feed three unusually green ponds.

Fantastic light on the canyon

After spending most of the morning around the Narrows, Emerald Pools was our next stop.  Crossing the Virgin River on a sturdy footbridge, Roger and I followed a narrow trail perched on top of a tall ledge.  From the start, views up and down the river's canyon were incredible.  As I began lagging behind to take photos, Roger left me in the dust.

The trail followed a narrow shelf

Knowing he'd wait for me ahead, I continued snapping away.  Then, I became distracted by the sound of heavy footsteps tromping across the bridge below.  A party of four young couples, loudly yelling and laughing began approaching.  These people were totally obnoxious, clogging the trail and shouting crude jokes.  I'm not a prude, but loud, rude people in wilderness areas really annoy me.  Not wanting to be followed by these idiots the entire way, I stepped aside and let them pass.

As I climbed, the views kept getting better

The obnoxious hikers now out of earshot, I could again enjoy the jaw-dropping scenery in peace.  My trail continued to follow a rocky ledge above the Virgin River's banks.  The higher I climbed, the wider its canyon panoramas unfolded.

Green trees lined the river

As expected, I took way too many photos.  But with scenery like this, how can you not?

The Virgin River framed by mountains

Although heavy clouds obscured the sun, our hike continued to be dry.  I lamented the lack of blue skies, but did appreciate the even lighting these cloudy conditions created.

White-topped canyon

I was by no means alone.  Emerald Pools is one of the more well-populated paths in Zion.  A steady stream of people passed by heading in the opposite direction.  One lady ominously warned me "there's a tarantula ahead on the trail."

Tarantula sighting!

Ugh!  I hate spiders, especially huge hairy ones.  About this time I ran into Roger, patiently waiting for me to catch up.  I mentioned the lady's warning, and he said "Cool!  Let's go find it!"

Eeek!  (this is Roger's photo)

Uhhh.....I wasn't so sure about this.  As Roger eagerly trotted ahead, I timidly hung back.  It wasn't much farther until we came upon the spider, sitting off to one side of the path.  And, yeah, it was gigantic and scary.  Roger and another young man held their cameras practically in the tarantula's face.  But me....well, let's just say I'm thankful for zoom lenses.  The above photo is courtesy of Roger, and just editing it gave me the willies!

One more canyon view

Our giant spider encounter now thankfully behind us, Roger again rocketed ahead.  No big deal, I was enjoying taking photos of this wonderful landscape.  Then the trail led through a narrow crack in a  huge rock cliff.  And there in the middle of the crack, were the obnoxious idiots again. 

Through a crack in the rock

Four of the group were posing for photos smack dab in the middle of the passageway.  Because the canyon was so narrow, they effectively blocked the trail in both directions.  Hikers stacked up on both sides, and I silently steamed as I watched the group pose for one silly photo after another.  After five minutes, the rude folks appeared to move, but when I found them standing in a bunch at the opposite end, I very grumpily told them to quit blocking the trail.

Colorful cliff above Lower Pool

Shortly beyond the narrow crack I came upon a trail junction.  One path led uphill to the Middle and Upper Pools, while the other led past a tall rock overhang to the Lower Pool.  Roger, who up until then had been good about waiting for me, was nowhere to be found.

Middle Emerald Pool

Which way did he go?  Thinking maybe he'd show up, I waited at the junction for a few minutes.  But then I heard the obnoxious group's raucous voices echoing off nearby canyon walls.  Not wishing to encounter those jerks again, I made a snap decision to try the upper trail.

Wispy waterfall above Lower Pool

Although it wasn't far to the Middle Pool, the trail was steep and rough.  Not a problem for me, but I passed many folks who appeared to be having a tough time.  I arrived at the Middle Pool with no sign of my hubby.  The Middle Pool was kind of a disappointment.  Just a mere shallow dribble in the rock, instead of vibrant green it was a dull brown (don't know if the lack of sunlight had something to do with this).

Looking down into Lower Emerald Pool

I knew there was another path that led to the Upper Pool.  But the trail's continuation wasn't apparent and about that time, the rude people came stomping up the opposite side.  Time to move on!

Sturdy footbridge over the Virgin River

So I descended back to the Lower trail.  Still no hubby.  I followed this path past a tall sandstone cliff, where wisps of water dripped from it's very top.  Lush green foliage dangled below and I saw a very tiny green water body amidst the trees.  It was an amazingly gorgeous place, but worries about finding my husband overshadowed it's extraordinary beauty.

Muddy river from the footbridge

Maybe Roger got tired of waiting for me and hiked ahead to the bus stop?  Now quite annoyed, I hurried down the trail, hoping to catch him.  The rest of this path was glorious, with more tall red canyon views, but I wasn't in the mood to appreciate any of it.  The closer I got to the trailhead, the more I began to worry something had happened to my hubby.

Looking upriver at the cliff walls

I ended up at the bus stop - and still no Roger.  Now extremely worried, I turned on my cell phone and as a last-ditch effort, sent him a text.  To my surprise, not only did I have service, Roger texted right back, and said he was at the Lower Pool waiting for me!

Reuniting at the hiker bridge spanning the Virgin River, Roger enjoyed a snack while I prowled around the water's edge with my camera.  We determined our separation happened when Roger hiked on to the  Upper Pool, and I turned around at the Middle one.  Although we both experienced a few worried moments, we could now look back and laugh.

Serene river scene

Although the pools were not very green, and had very low water levels (surprising after the previous night's rain) and I had to contend with crowds, giant spiders, lost husbands, and obnoxious people, I still loved the Emerald Pools Trail.  An extremely scenic 2-plus mile loop, it provided a lot of bang for your hiking buck.

By now it was late afternoon, and the overcast skies still hadn't produced any moisture.  But that was all about to change......

Check back for the next installment of my southern Utah trip!


Sharing with:  Photo Friday and Scenic Weekends

Zion National Park - The Adventure Begins

The National Parks of southern Utah have been a bucket list item for years.  Many times I've tried to arrange a visit, only to have something get in the way.  But this year I decided come hell or high water, I was going!  When recuperation from a June foot surgery took me out of action, I filled the downtime by planning a trip.  I set a date, and made the necessary arrangements and reservations.  Four months later, my hubby and I packed our car, and hit the road.

We were greeted with a lovely rainbow

Zion National Park is a long journey from Portland, Oregon, requiring two full days driving to reach.  We spent the first night with Roger's sister in Sacramento, CA.  Rising early the second day, we braved a harrowing journey over Donner Pass in a torrential rainstorm, and then an endless drive across the desolate state of Nevada, via Hwy 50 (dubbed the "loneliest road in America").  I was never so happy to cross the Utah state line.  Even though rain showers followed us the entire day, on our final stretch to Zion, the sun came out and we were treated to a vivid rainbow.  Another gorgeous double rainbow led us to the park entrance.  A fine end to a long journey.

I finally made it!

After taking a few obligatory park sign photos, we had just enough time to erect our tent and cook a quick dinner before darkness, and more rain, descended.  Although it rained all night long, happily we awoke to dry skies by morning.

Clearing skies

While in Zion National Park, I'd hoped to hike the Narrows.  This slot canyon of the Virgin River's North fork is a popular trek.  But this trail doesn't follow a earthen path - in this case your "trail" is the river itself.  Hikers wade up the knee- to chest-deep water as far as they desire, before turning around and sloshing back.

Fabulous view from Watchman Campground

But narrow canyons of the southwest are not the places to be during rainy days.  Runoff concentrates in these confined spaces, creating fast currents and flash floods.  Everything I'd read recommended avoiding the Narrows after rain events.

No hiking the Narrows today

After hearing rain pound our tent all night, I knew hiking the Narrows was not gonna happen today.

Riverwalk hike into the Narrows Canyon

But Roger and I were in a beautiful National Park, and there were lots of things to see.  A short walk from our campground brought us to the visitor center, where we caught a shuttle bus into the park.  To help alleviate traffic congestion, all visitors to Zion National Park must use their shuttle bus system.  Buses were frequent, convenient, and I enjoyed not having to jockey for parking spaces everywhere we went.

The Virgin River

Even though a Narrows hike was out for today, my hubby and I decided to at least go check out the canyon.  The last stop on the Zion shuttle, it was a 40 minute ride.

Beginning of the river trail

A paved one mile trail, called "The Riverwalk" takes park visitors to the Narrows' very beginning.  After departing our bus, Roger and I set out through the canyon on this delightful path.

Lots of left behind shoes!

Oh it was fantastic!  Tall walls of red rock towered above our heads.  Green trees lined the river banks.  And the lovely Virgin River burbled in its rock-lined channel below.

Fantastic view up the Narrows

After meandering through this wonderful canyon (me taking copious photographs, Roger marching ahead and then waiting for me) we came to the trail's end.  Several dozen pairs of shoes lined a low wall, left behind I assumed, by some of the river waders.  Then I spied a set of steps leading visitors down to the river's edge.  This must be it!

My hubby enjoying the view

Oh was it impressive!  The canyon walls rose nearly vertical from the river banks.  Looking downriver, I could see the canyon opening already necking down into a narrow passage.  Although the river was flowing strong, it didn't look that threatening.  But I wasn't about to risk it.

Foolish people decided to hike anyway

My hubby and I hung out here for a good hour, taking in the scenery.  Not only the natural landscape, people-watching was also quite interesting.  Some folks timidly inched their way to the water's edge, while others plunged right in.  One group actually began wading upriver, despite the warnings.

Lots of great river viewpoints

The longer we stayed at the Narrows beginning, the more crowded the riverbank became.  Finally Roger and I got tired of the masses, and decided to find a less congested attraction.

Fall colors just starting

The walk back was just as wonderful.  I admired the tall canyon walls, comprised of colorful red sandstone.  The lovely green trees lining the river were just beginning to change into fall colors.

The Riverwalk was a beautiful trail

Yeah, I took just as many photos on the return trip.

Checking out more of the river

Back at the bus stop, I wasn't quite ready to move on, so I followed a user trail to the river's edge.

Bright green trees

The scenery here was especially nice, and I spent another half hour trying to capture it all (much to my poor hubby's chagrin!)

Tall red cliffs

But more attractions beckoned, and Roger was finally able to tear me away from this gorgeous place.

Bus Stop at Weeping Rock

Our next stop was to explore a short trail to a natural phenomenon called "Weeping Rock."  A junction between layers of porous sandstone and denser shale cause water to pour out of the rocks.  Water trickling through the sandstone can't penetrate the shale layer and moves laterally to the cliff face.

Watching the rainstorm come in

As Roger and I climbed the short trail to Weeping Rock, I noticed the clouds had thickened, and a white mist hovered in the sky.

Hanging out under Weeping Rock

We barely made it under Weeping Rock's tall overhang before the rain hit.  A good place to hang out and wait for the storm to pass, I busied myself taking more photographs.

Amazing canyon views

The scenery wasn't too shabby either!  Weeping Rock's viewing platform provided some nice views of the adjacent canyons.

Good place to escape the rain

When the rain finally began to let up, Roger and I returned to the bus stop.  The river below the road looked so inviting, I couldn't resist climbing down and checking things out.

Tall canyons eroded by the Virgin River

It was amazing to stand beside the rushing Virgin River and gaze up at the tall canyon walls, thousands of feet above.  It was even more stunning to think this river was responsible for carving this deep canyon through the park.

Can't get enough of this scenery!

So far so good, we'd only endured a brief rainshower all morning.  But the day was still young, and there was more of this magnificent park to see.  Next on our agenda was a hike to the Emerald Pools.  Would the weather continue to behave?  Well, you'll have to wait for my next blog post to find out!


Sharing with:  Through My Lens and Our World Tuesday.