40tude
Adventurer
Day 5
June 17, 2012
We woke up bright and early and headed for breakfast in the Pioneer Lodge Restaurant. Mrs. 40tude sustained the first known injury of the trip. She had to get chapstick from the car, and decided to jump over a waist high fence, but was unsuccessful. Her shin hit the fence instead of clearing it. A large hematoma formed with a gash, but some blood was not going to stop her from hiking the narrows-the hike she had been talking about nonstop (or eating pancakes).
After breakfast we took the bus from Springdale to Zion, and headed straight to Sinaweva Temple, which was the last stop. The bus had a nice little audio tour guide and we learned some new information about the park. About 15 minutes later, we walked along a paved trail which took us straight to the Virgin River and the start of the Narrows. It was an amazing hike and required hiking in the river up the canyon the entire time, wade through freezing waters (had I been an inch shorter it could have been worse).
We didn’t rent the walking sticks or canyoneering shoes (MISTAKE! they recommend these things on this hike for a reason). We just wore our chacos and it worked out OK, we just couldn’t fly through the Virgin (ha) as quickly as the individuals who had the two pole set up and ankle support, they flew through the Virgin (snicker). We hiked 3.0 miles in and hiked 3.0 miles back.
Mrs. 40tude wanted to do Angel’s Landing as well, but time was of the essence (I was tuckered out) so we went back to Springdale to hit the road again. By far Zion was the best of the populated NP we have been to. On our future trips to Utah, a longer stay in Zion is a requirement. The hike was breathtaking the entire time. I spotted a deer and some turkeys along with a bobcat later in the day.
Next up for the day was Elephant Cove Rd. (we continuously got a kick out of what are referred to as “roads” in Utah). There are never any signs ANYWHERE let alone signs telling travellers that 4wd is required. This section was SANDY,
I called on my Scandinavian roots for insane rally driving skills. This section was soft sand for 20-30 miles. I did not know this at the beginning and therefore didn’t air down, keeping speed up was key. All was going well until....my famous last words, “Hey look at those pretty flowers....” FORWARD MOMENTUM STOP...SIDEWAYS MOMENTUM ACCELERATED... UH OH! We were stuck...precariously stuck. The picture doesn’t do it justice (as usual). We needed to go uphill, but with any spin of the tires the Cruiser was sliding sideways of the hill in a bad bad way. (Yes I should have aired down_)Hmmm... assess the situation. Nothing to winch to...unless I want to bury the spare tire...no. Early birthday present of MaxTrax from my beautiful wife, seems like as good a time as any to test them out. I stuck them under the front tires first in an effort to at least get the truck pointed back uphill. IT WORKED...well still stuck but pointing uphill and feeling much safer. Threw them under the back tires and voila we got right out. BEST PRESENT EVER!
Not long after this the road follows a dry river bed for several miles (I do not think there are any real rivers in Southern Utah, those blue lines on the map are just to tease you). Just as we were nearing the finish we came to a fence stretching across the entire trail. Dangit...I did not want to backtrack 30 miles of sand. But tada, we only backtracked about ½ mile and found the way around. If you travel this way do not be discouraged.
Next we hopped onto Glendale Bench Rd./Skutumpah Rd. which had fantastic views of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
While out taking pictures I noticed a small exhaust issue, the tailpipe had gotten smashed up into the rear bumper the day before probably from one of those wrong turns on the Trail of Tears (aka Honeymoon Trail).
Later at camp I stuck my axe handle up the exhaust and bent it back down. No big deal (Right?)
We found a little campsite off of the side of the road which was fantastic. First and only fire of the trip. We soon found out about the fire ban. Shame on us for that night’s fire.
June 17, 2012
We woke up bright and early and headed for breakfast in the Pioneer Lodge Restaurant. Mrs. 40tude sustained the first known injury of the trip. She had to get chapstick from the car, and decided to jump over a waist high fence, but was unsuccessful. Her shin hit the fence instead of clearing it. A large hematoma formed with a gash, but some blood was not going to stop her from hiking the narrows-the hike she had been talking about nonstop (or eating pancakes).
After breakfast we took the bus from Springdale to Zion, and headed straight to Sinaweva Temple, which was the last stop. The bus had a nice little audio tour guide and we learned some new information about the park. About 15 minutes later, we walked along a paved trail which took us straight to the Virgin River and the start of the Narrows. It was an amazing hike and required hiking in the river up the canyon the entire time, wade through freezing waters (had I been an inch shorter it could have been worse).
We didn’t rent the walking sticks or canyoneering shoes (MISTAKE! they recommend these things on this hike for a reason). We just wore our chacos and it worked out OK, we just couldn’t fly through the Virgin (ha) as quickly as the individuals who had the two pole set up and ankle support, they flew through the Virgin (snicker). We hiked 3.0 miles in and hiked 3.0 miles back.
Mrs. 40tude wanted to do Angel’s Landing as well, but time was of the essence (I was tuckered out) so we went back to Springdale to hit the road again. By far Zion was the best of the populated NP we have been to. On our future trips to Utah, a longer stay in Zion is a requirement. The hike was breathtaking the entire time. I spotted a deer and some turkeys along with a bobcat later in the day.
Next up for the day was Elephant Cove Rd. (we continuously got a kick out of what are referred to as “roads” in Utah). There are never any signs ANYWHERE let alone signs telling travellers that 4wd is required. This section was SANDY,
I called on my Scandinavian roots for insane rally driving skills. This section was soft sand for 20-30 miles. I did not know this at the beginning and therefore didn’t air down, keeping speed up was key. All was going well until....my famous last words, “Hey look at those pretty flowers....” FORWARD MOMENTUM STOP...SIDEWAYS MOMENTUM ACCELERATED... UH OH! We were stuck...precariously stuck. The picture doesn’t do it justice (as usual). We needed to go uphill, but with any spin of the tires the Cruiser was sliding sideways of the hill in a bad bad way. (Yes I should have aired down_)Hmmm... assess the situation. Nothing to winch to...unless I want to bury the spare tire...no. Early birthday present of MaxTrax from my beautiful wife, seems like as good a time as any to test them out. I stuck them under the front tires first in an effort to at least get the truck pointed back uphill. IT WORKED...well still stuck but pointing uphill and feeling much safer. Threw them under the back tires and voila we got right out. BEST PRESENT EVER!
Not long after this the road follows a dry river bed for several miles (I do not think there are any real rivers in Southern Utah, those blue lines on the map are just to tease you). Just as we were nearing the finish we came to a fence stretching across the entire trail. Dangit...I did not want to backtrack 30 miles of sand. But tada, we only backtracked about ½ mile and found the way around. If you travel this way do not be discouraged.
Next we hopped onto Glendale Bench Rd./Skutumpah Rd. which had fantastic views of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
While out taking pictures I noticed a small exhaust issue, the tailpipe had gotten smashed up into the rear bumper the day before probably from one of those wrong turns on the Trail of Tears (aka Honeymoon Trail).
Later at camp I stuck my axe handle up the exhaust and bent it back down. No big deal (Right?)
We found a little campsite off of the side of the road which was fantastic. First and only fire of the trip. We soon found out about the fire ban. Shame on us for that night’s fire.
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