02.10. Zion National Park

After a very good night, we started the day feeling refreshed. Until 9:00 AM, there was coffee and fresh pancakes. We certainly didn't want to miss that.

Moritz immediately hit it off with the owner of the establishment and asked if he could fry some ham to go with the sweet pancakes. She laughed and said, "No one has ever thought of that!" This made us smile, and so we could indulge ourselves not only with the tempting sweet pancakes but also with savory variations of cheese and ham.

Nico and Franci, unfortunately, were not quite as enthusiastic, but they could finish off our remaining baguette, so they were also strengthened for today's hike.

Around 11 AM, we set off in our hiking outfits. But it soon became clear that we had been a bit too optimistic with our time planning. The parking lots were overcrowded, and unlike the Grand Canyon, parking here was not so straightforward. We had to limit ourselves to one of the official parking lots in front of the national park entrance and then ride the shuttle buses further.

After a ten-minute search that felt like an eternity, we finally got lucky. Franci spotted some hikers who were on their way to their car. So, without wasting more time, we quickly hopped on the shuttle from the parking lot, as the midday sun was already beating down on us.

Since we had pre-selected a hiking route, we knew exactly where to get off the bus and where to go. The nature in Zion National Park was quite different from the impressive, rugged rocks of the Grand Canyon. Here, lush green forests and vibrant plants dominated the scene.

Our route initially took us quite a way uphill. The temperatures were high and sweating was inevitable, but we bravely persevered. Once we reached the top, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view that made us instantly forget the strenuous climb. From this viewpoint, the legendary Angels Landing hiking trail also began. To hike there, one had to obtain tickets months in advance or participate in a sort of lottery in the evening. And since the path was not without risk, registration was required, and a ranger checked both the personal ID and tickets at the entrance. Jokingly, we remarked that we probably also had to sign a waiver online stating that we went at our own risk, as this path posed a challenge for inexperienced climbers.

Moritz made his way to the "entrance control" and noticed that apparently no one was taking on the oversight role anymore. With a mischievous grin, he returned, and Julia and he quickly decided to explore the path even without official permission. Since Nico was struggling with his fear of heights, he and Franci chose an alternative route, and so our paths temporarily diverged.

The Angels Landing path proved to be a true adventure. Often enough, we had to hold onto rocks and chains to make progress or reach the other side. For Moritz, this was child's play. Thanks to his roofing experience, heights didn't bother him; he moved with the agility of a mountain goat from rock to rock. Julia, on the other hand, looked a bit clumsy as she carefully balanced over the steep spots, impressed by the breathtaking view but also by the respect this path demanded.

The view from the platform was unforgettable. It felt great to have conquered this path, until the thought hit that we had to return as well, just now with our heads facing down instead of up, which made it even more apparent how precarious our height was.

Despite these thoughts, we had no choice but to start our return journey. After a short while, we made our way to the agreed meeting point to wait for Nico and Franci. While we waited for them, who cheerfully waved to us from another platform, little chipmunks scurried around us. Obviously thirsty, we gave them something to drink.

When Nico and Franci joined us, we quickly headed to the bus stop. We wanted to ensure that we arrived at our accommodation before sunset. Fortunately, the shuttle bus arrived just as we reached the stop. On the way back, we made a brief stop to shop and gather enough provisions for our sociable barbecue evening.

Back at camp, Moritz immediately started to light the fire for the grill. The other three could hardly wait and hungrily pounced on the snacks, as the hike and the small breakfast had given us a big appetite. Unfortunately, we had some difficulties with the charcoal briquettes, so Moritz had a bit of a struggle lighting the grill. Thank goodness we still had leftover pasta with Bolognese from the night before, which we could warm up in a pan as an appetizer. After about an hour of gentle cooking, the meat was finally perfect and tasted delicious. 🙂