Faced the Challenge of Angels Landing

Got out by 10:30 this morning with a purpose.  The shuttle brought us to the Grotto with access to the 5.4 mile trail called Angels Landing via the West Rim Trial.  It's not the 5.4 miles that kills you, it's the long drop-offs and steep narrow paths.  To get to Angels Landing you need to traverse back and forth on the switchbacks of Walters Wiggles.  The switchbacks were steep but tolerable.  It's when you get to the cliffs with chains to hold on to that it starts getting interesting.  Silly me, I thought I reached the top when I got to Scout Lookout but someone told me to look straight up where those tiny people were standing and said that's Angels Landing.  I'm thinking "are you insane"?

The elevation change from start to finish is 1,488.  I knew Denis wanted to go to the top so I told him to go on without me.  There was a tour group of Australians, all in their 20's, and Denis joined them for the rest of the climb.  Which come to find out was only and additional 20-30 minutes.  But it is hair raising to say the least.  I sat at a beautiful observation point and chatted with one of the Australians that had stayed behind.   About a half-hour later I decided to climb a little further taking each step at my own slow and steady pace.  I met Denis coming down about 15 minutes later.  He was extremely excited about his accomplishment.

When he got to the top, he had 3G and called his mom on ooVoo and had a video chat.  All the people on the top, Germans, Asians and Australians, all said hi to Jeannine.  Isn't that cool?

Somehow we managed to drag our "jello" legs down to the bottom and catch the shuttle to Zion Lodge.  Hungry and tired we managed to climb the 10 or so steps up to the Bar & Grill and got a seat on the outdoor patio with a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains.  Ordered a nice cold beer, black bean burger with home made potato salad and a fresh mixed green salad with balsamic dressing.
What a wonderful way to end the day.  Cheers!

The beginning - finished 5 hours later

Big Deal - just a total of  5.5 miles

A lonely flower - but very pretty

The beginning of the chain rails

Magnificent

Victory

Another bird's eye view

Funny, this photo doesn't look very steep

Return trip - notice the knees are beginning to look weak

Ahhhhhhh!

Thanks for stopping in.