15 years later ......

We stopped at the Cathedral Gorge before crossing over into Utah. What a really great place. Campground was ugly so we didn't want to stay but the hoodoos were great.

It has been that long since we were camping in Southern Utah and things have really changed. First of all St George, Utah. What is that all about??? Last time we were through there it was a sleepy little town to restock, get gas, and get out. Now it is mega houses on the edges of the canyons and in the surrounding hillsides and wall to wall malls, freeway stop shopping, and high end sporting goods. Wow ... Anybody knows what happened to make St George so popular let us know. We know it is scenic but what are all these people doing for a living so that they can build these artsy half million dollar homes?

So we zoomed through there after a quick grocery stop and headed up to the Zion/Springdale entrance to camp. Got there about 3:00pm and all the campgrounds were full. We hate this new reservation system. We never used to have a problem getting in there. So we had to back track about 30 miles and stay in a State Park campground at Quail Creek. It was on a reservoir just above a dam. Crowded with RV's and boaters and crammed together in non private sites and the wind blew all night. We ate and went to bed as soon as it got dark. Got up early the next morning and went back to Zion to the first come first serve South Campground (Watchman is ALL reservation only now) and we drove around and had our pick of about 15 unattractive vacant sites out of the 120 or so that are there. By 11:00 that campground was full too. This is ridiculous. Without a 'reservation' at most parks, state and federal, you need to be there by noon to get any spot. Takes a big cut out of enjoying the journey and stopping along the way at interesting places. (We better not stop ... we need to get to the campground before it is full).
We did figure it out that afternoon. If you want to stay another night you walk around and find someone that is leaving the next day at a nice site and then you ask them if they mind you putting your receipt under theirs on the pole and then you pay for that site at 7 am when the NPS opens the following morning and move all your stuff there when the other folks leave. So we got a really nice private view site after that first night.

Zion now has shuttle buses to go up the canyon and after using it the first afternoon we love it! The last time we were in Zion it was not possible to hike some of the trails because there was no parking at the trail head. The place was jammed with cars and RVs and tour buses and was frustrating and a madhouse to try to get somewhere. Now the buses are quiet and peaceful and we got to see a lot more of the park.

It has been in the 70's here and sunny and we love Zion. It is one of the most spectacular places we have ever seen. The colors and light changes throughout the day and it is magnificent.
We both did some easy hikes, we me using my new trekking poles (Thanks Tim). They really helped my knee on the downhill stretches. I am sold. Steve then went up to Angels Landing. A 1500 foot climb to the top of the ridge. There are chains in place in a few of the dicey spots to give hikers something to hang onto and to keep folks from slipping off the cliffs and it's narrow ledges and rock steps with sheer drop off on both sides. Glad I missed it. Wind has picked up again and we are heading east tomorrow.