Ramblin Stoweaway: Zion- The City of God

Ranger Mike

If you never listened to Amy Grant singing “We’re Marching to Zion” you have missed a beautiful melody. It made a fitting background as I played it as we entered this wondrous valley.

Ok readers so you get your dose of educational background today I must tell you that Zion National Park gets its’ name from the early Mormon settlers who “discovered” and settled this valley around 1863 (never mind that the Paiute had settled the area before them (and before them the Anasazi 12,000 years ago!). They felt they had discovered a place so pretty it rivaled “Zion”. Our guide “Ranger Mike” who took us on an interpretive tour this morning told us that Brigham Young on a visit to this valley stated it was “Non Zion” as many of the Mormons were growing tobacco. Now I know about the evils of tobacco but most of you know I love a good cigar. Therefore I have to disagree with Mr. Young, this place regardless of what the locals have planted, is truly a place that was blessed by God.

Morning Bus Ride Up Canyon

A Geologists Dream

After our bus tour my Faithful and Obedient Companion and I did three hikes today. The first was up the Virgin River (which carved this canyon) along the riverwalk. I have a couple of pictures below from this “stroll” which ended when we could no longer navigate the stream. Note Faithful and Obedient Companion had her sandal rescued by a nice young man. As we were walking back to catch the shuttle for our next destination (lunch at the Zion Lodge) we encountered a Park Ranger (she was about 25 or 30 years old) who had various “dead” critters of the valley on display. She looked “lonely” so we stopped to chat. My eyes went immediately to a tarantula she had on her table. So the conversation proceeded thus:

Yours truly, “I see you have tarantula’s here”. She replied “Yes, in fact it is their mating season right now, isn’t that exciting!” To which I cleverly stated “I bet especially for the tarantulas!”. I then went for the set up. “Is it true” I asked, “that the female of the species, like some human females, suck the life out of their mates when they are done mating with them” (I am not so sure My faithful and Obedient Companion appreciated my humor). Nonplussed the nice Park Ranger responded “Yes sometimes they do”. She then picked up two dead hummingbirds and said, “Here is a better example of animals acting like humans- the male hummingbird which takes no responsibility for child rearing once the babies come along”. Well score that one US Park Service one Murray Rider zero! Faithful and Obedient Companion was also quite pleased.

Virgin River

This really is a "Riverwalk" Barb loves to play in puddles

Did Mrs Murray Lose a Sandal? Where are your new hiking boots?

Stop and smell the flowers!

Nature's Majesty

After lunch we decided to hike up to “Lower Emerald Pool” described as a short easy hike to a beautiful pool with waterfalls. We reached it and thought it was very pretty. So we decided to hike further to “Middle Emerald Pool” described as moderate but only another 3^rd of a mile. It was uphill and steep. The pool, not much to get excited about. Undeterred we heard some people say “You should see the Upper Emerald Pool it is very nice”. The English language is pretty clear that “upper” refers to a direction-up. After some discussion we decided we got this far why not!. This was a more strenuous up hill hike, but worth it. Pictures below.

Water flowing into Lower Emerald Pool

View from Upper Pool area

Our final destination was another shuttle ride and hike to the “Weeping Rocks”. There actually are many such spots here. Geologically speaking these sandstone peaks absorb water (The sandstone is 16% water) and it seeps out when it reaches shale. This was also a steep but short climb but the hanging gardens they create on the canyon walls are beautiful.