Angels Landing is the most popular hike here in Zion National Park and a very strenuous hike. Rated as a class 3 in difficulty. Probably the hardest hike I have ever done. There are steep sections of rapid elevation gain in full sun exposure, and occasional scrambling. The total elevation change is 1,488 feet.
To get there we first had to walk from basecamp to the Visitor Center where we caught bus a that took us to the Grotto bus stop out in the canyon. This time of year the only way to get there is by bus. The canyon is just to small plus there is no parking lots to hold the volume of cars.
The reward comes with the most spectacular views of the canyon and the most vivid colorful landscape one could imagine. Just breathtaking!
This hike is 5.4 miles roundtrip with some serious switchbacks. Walter’s Wiggles contains 21 of these switchbacks right before Scout Lookout. Located at the two mile mark is Scout Lookout. This is surprisingly a fairly large chunk of real-estate. Here you can visit a privy and contemplate the last half mile but not at the same time hopefully. The last half mile is on a knife-edge ridge with chains to hold onto. And it’s one-way traffic! What’s most difficult about Angels Landing is the psychological challenge.
After hanging out for awhile on Scout Lookout and watching others ascend and descend I thought I had it. You need mental and emotional fortitude—for that last half mile of narrow, slim pathways over deep canyons, it can be intimidating. At its scariest, the trail is only a couple feet wide, with steep dropoffs of over 1,000 feet on both sides. If you have a fear of heights, like I do, you should turn around at Scout Lookout.
Once I finally decided to go for it, I made it past the first two large trees (with a death grip) and past four sections of chain. Then there was a section of no chain! And it was jagged slices on a steep incline to the left. I just couldn’t do it. That’s where I sat down on the trail. Scooted over so others could pass and decided that this was my turn around point. Tim turned around as well. Not that the height was an issue but the amount of people there and their stupidity was not worth his effort to continue.
I hear the end of the trail at Angels Landing is a beautiful rock overhang above the Zion Canyon with the most amazing views. It would have been great to do the entire length but I realized my limitations.
What we saw and did was incredible and the sense of accomplishment (even though not complete) was still incomparable to any hike that I have ever done. On our return we decided to hike to the last bus stop back and have a cold beverage adult beverage at the lodge to celebrate the hike!
And then to end our day even nicer this little girl showed up at our campfire. Thank goodness Jett was inside!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment