The best cure for a Watchman hangover is slow riding Zion Canyon Drive and people watching your way through the easy and accessible hikes. It’s kind of like taking a break at Disneyworld. Sometimes you have to hang out in The Hall of Presidents.
Our hall was the Court of Patriarchs, named for three Old Testament dudes. The Mormons used biblical and Native American references to name the most prominent formations. These four spanish speaking girls popped off the tram and go-pro’d themselves like they were at a rock concert. Get it? ROCK concert?
When you want to escape the heat at Disney, Swiss Family Robinson Tree House is the way to go. The Weeping Rock is a vertical half mile equivalent – above the trees in the Hanging Gardens. Both the gardens and people watching were sparse, but it was a nice spot to sit down and read the news.
At the Big Bend we got dizzy watching the Angel’s Landing hikers summit from our position on the canyon floor 2000 feet below. Angel’s Landing did not claim any victims today, but a short hike down a steep slippery grade to a river view claimed a hiker which mobilized the ranger rescue team.
Up at Temple of Sinawava we refilled our water bottles and talked to some inflatable kayak riders getting ready to white water 15 miles back to the entrance. We were chastised for riding e-bikes by a tram operator, which he says is a Zion No-No north of canyon junction. Since all the rangers were busy with the hiker with the nasty sprain 3 miles south, we pedaled on in e-bike defiance.
Lower Emerald Pools was the last stop on the slow boat to see the hidden waterfalls. Both Middle and Upper Emerald Pools, along with 4 other desirable trails are closed for maintenance, repair or high water conditions. No worries, we still have Angel’s Landing and The Wilderness Guide to back country hikes. That’s what we’re talking about – some Space Mountain action!
