Sunday Hike - Zion N.P. WoW!!

Win Heger

Win Heger

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Feb 29, 2000
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Living by Zion we've done a lot of the hikes both in and around the NP. I needed to do a tough hike to try get an idea of my abilities. I chose Observation Pt from the bottom up which is 8 miles round trip. This involves about a 2300 ft elevation gain over the 4 miles up.

My wife and I agree that it's one of the best hikes we've done even though it was a painful experience.LOL Going up was quite exhausting but the scenery is just spectacular.

Near the top the trail narrows with quite a bit of exposure, not something my wife likes. But she did it!!

Win

After climbing some switchbacks the trail enters Echo Canyon:

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Exiting Echo the climb continues:

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Looking back at the trail:

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These switchbacks were tough and narrow. You can see some smoke from a prescribesd burn, didn't help the breathing:

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View from the top, that's Angel's Landing below on the right:

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A narrower view:

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Those canyon shots are amazing! Wow. Those switchbacks look like real leg burners, but it looks like a great hike for sure.
 
Sweet! I havnt been to that area since I was a kid. I think I'll take my horse out there this summer.
 
Great set of pics WH. I love the shots looking forward and back at the switchbacks. That narrow view of the valley is also great. I'd say you'd have to be in pretty good shape to make a trek like that. :thumbup:
 
Beautiful scenery and pictures? How much water did the two of you go through, how much do you think is needed for that hike with a little extra benefit for wiggle room?
 
Thanks for the nice comments. We used 6 pints of water, half of it mixed 50/50 with Gatorade. When we reached the bottom we had about a 10 oz left. It would not have been enough on a really hot,sunny day.

It took us 3 hours up and two hours back down. About average from what I'm told. We got smoked by a few people but just did our own pace.

Interesting note: There were a couple of rock slides along the trail, on Sunday. We met a couple at the top and the guy was really shaken up. They heard a rumbling and weren't sure what it was until a slide went right over his head! Lucky guy. We saw another rock slide near the bottom that happened since we'd passed.

Win
 
Wow ! those pictures are great ,one thing about the trek..it was painful and tiring..but the pictures where worth it in a few years you'll really enjoy the pictures and know the pains it took to get them for yourself...Great job !
 
Awesome place. I hiked Angel's landing last fall. Not quite as long, but definitely a beautiful place to hike.
 
Zion is truly a breathtaking place. You've got some great pics! I was there years ago, but I'd love to visit again. Even though it was tiring, I'm glad it was worth it.
 
I've been there and these pics are great, but to really experience it....take the trip. You won't be disappointed!!
 
Zion is a cool park. Observation point is a good hike. You can also access the viewpoint from the east side of the park. That way you hike down to it instead of up. It lets you see some more awesome canyons.

I got to where I could boot up Angels Landing in half an hour. The key is to use no hands at all. People freak out when you run past them.

It's probably too cold for the slots right now.
 
Sure is a nice place. My parents live in Hurricane, so when I visit them I try to get over to Zion. I've already done the Angel's Landing hike, and I'd like to do the Narrows and Subway. And now I need to do the Observation Point hike, too.
 
I'd kept putting this hike off because I had done it from East Mesa as Ilbruch mentions. 1/2 hour out onto Angle's Landing is impressive, I will never see that kind of time.

I have a friend that did Angel's Landing one week and Observation Pt the next, both times in snow and ice. He built and photographed a snowman both times.:cool:

People are in the slots already. If you have interest in outdoors Utah here's a fun site: www.bogley.com Lots of Beta and a pretty fun group.

Win
 
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