Three Nights in Zion

This past week we drove to Utah where we spent three days camping at Zion National Park. Zion has some stunning views and some incredible hikes and we were excited to have the opportunity to see it while we were still out West. We met up with a friend who had reserved a campsite at the park. Weather in Utah was quite different from what we have gotten used to in Yuma! Driving in we saw early signs of spring including budding trees and daffodils blooming. However, as evening approached the temperatures dropped pretty drastically and ended up below freezing throughout the night. 

We enjoyed good food cooked over a campfire and the fire felt so nice as temperatures dropped. We had a small tent and an air mattress for the night. While it wasn't the most comfortable sleeping arrangement, we managed to stay relatively warm but Luca was restless all night which meant I didn't get the best sleep. Liam slept like a rock all night every night. 

Our first morning in Zion we went for a hike on the Riverside Walk. The sun was up, but hadn't risen above the tall canyon wall beside the trail so the hike was a chilly one. We hiked to the end of the trial. Some people had waders on and continued the hike through the river but I was happy to turn around where the trail ended on that frozen morning. The Virgin River is beautiful though signs everywhere warned it contains toxic algae and drinking the clear water could be deadly.

A breakfast of bacon and eggs by the campfire on a chilly morning. 

We hiked up the Emerald Pools trails. The sun had risen over the canyon walls and we were soon warm at last. There are three pools, a lower, middle, and upper pool that cascade down the canyon. 

The views were stunning. The hike to the upper Emerald pool was somewhat strenuous with many rocks to clamber over but Liam took it like a trooper.

We had quite a few encounters with the scrawny but tame deer of Zion. Our first night in the park we were awakened by a ruckus just outside out tent. We unzipped the tent and peered out into the darkness to see several pairs of eyes staring back at us. We had left some grapes and rice Krispy treats unsecured and the deer were feasting upon them. They seem unconcerned by our presence and didn't budge, even when Alvin hollered at them. The next morning, all that was left of the rice Krispies were the mini M&Ms. Deer apparently aren't fans of chocolate. We continued to encounter fearless deer throughout our stay at Zion. 

Our second morning we awoke to a skiff of snow on the tent. Our third morning, we awoke to snow covering everything! It was so cold and I did not want to get out of the tent until the fire was blazing. Even then, the snow was still falling so thick and fast it was impossible not to get covered in it. We bundled the boys up in blankets and quickly ate breakfast before packing everything up and beginning our drive out of the park.

The roads were dreadful and the drive out of Zion has an intense one. However, we managed to escape the park unscathed and saw some beautiful snow while we were at it.