Day 9 Zion National Park, Buckskin Gulch, Carl Hayden Dam

I was able to awaken in good time because I knew I wanted to hike trails in 2 separate parks today but then realized the shuttle to the trailheads did not start running until 0800.  I had a large breakfast at the La Quinta, which is the hotel I stayed at.  I had 2 malted waffles, which was a mistake, because I felt them in my stomach for the first 2 hours of hiking.  Anyways, I drove the rest of the way to the western entrance of Zion National Park.   I took the shuttle to the Grotto and started my hike up to the rim of the canyon on my way to Angel's Landing.  Everything in the park was apparently named by Mormons.  The hike wasn't bad because it was 1500 ft of elevation gain but it was really steep.  The trail was really busy as it is very popular.  The last 1/2 mile of the trail narrows and you are right on the edge of the cliff and sometimes it is a steep drop-off on both sides of the trail so there is a chain to hold onto.  There were a lot of people turning back because they were afraid to go on due to the height.  The trail should have been named the Petrified Trail because so many people (including me at some points) were petrified they were going to fall off a cliff.  Risking death was well worth it as the view was amazing at the rim of the canyon.  I then hiked back down and then the upper/middle/lower emerald pool trails.  These trails weren't as scary but they also weren't as beautiful.

Canyon Bottom River in Zion Canyon

On my way up to Angel's Landing

Nice wide paved trail up the AL.

View of the valley from AL.

Another view from AL.

Trying to show the treacherousness
of the trail.  Wanted to upload video
but wasn't able.

On my way to the Upper Emerald Pool.

Cliff water going to lower emerald pool.

More water from cliff.  I was
able to keep the camera dry
the whole time even with
walking through this.

View of River while heading back
to the shuttle.

 After I left Zion National Park I headed to Wire Pass which would take me to Buckskin Gulch.  The drive was neat because I was able to see mountain goats (one was nearly hit by vehicle ahead of me) and there were 2 mountain tunnels I was able to drive through.  To get to Wire Pass trailhead you have to drive 8.3 miles on a dirt road.  Black Beauty did well and didn't even lose a hubcap as there were several hubcaps resting on the side of the road.  It was 1600 when I reached the trailhead so I knew I wasn't going to be able to hike for long.  I quickly hiked Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch.  Buckskin Gulch is a slot canyon which means a narrow trail with really high walls on both sides.  This was something much different than I had ever done before and was really neat.  Angel's landing wasn't for the faint of heart and this trail wasn't for the fat of gut.  I hiked for 3 hours and it was getting dark in the canyon so I returned to my car and ate supper there while watching the sunset.

Start of the slot canyon (Buckskin Gulch)

An area where the canyon widens.

The sculpted beauty of the canyon wall.

A look from above to the trail in the canyon.
(not sure I was supposed to climb up here)

 I headed to Page AZ to stop for the night and came across another hydroelectric dam of the CO River so I stopped and took some pictures of the Carl Hayden dam which created Powell Lake.

Carl Hayden hydroelectric dam.

Top of CH Dam with Lake Powell behind.

I then finished my drive to Page and stopped at the first hotel which was a Best Western.  I didn't realize until now you could haggle about the room price with the front desk and the lady seemed surprised when I accepted the $ amount she gave me.  The rooms are nice and there is a Keurig in each room even though I hate coffee.  I had to wash my Vibrams again in the bathtub.  I used the conditioner this time and agitated them a few times and let them soak.  This worked pretty well even though I'm not a very good agitator as my parents can confirm.