Monday, August 9, 2010

St. George and Zion National Park

(Please note: there are a lot of pictures!)
So, this weekend, my sister Sirie came and stayed with Devin in our home while Morian and I drove down to St. George for a weekend with some friends. We left Friday morning and got there in time for lunch. It was plenty hot down there, probably right around 100 degrees and very sunny! After meeting up with everyone else (David Yates, Ryan Kelly, Michael and Annie Beckstead) and hanging out for a bit, Morian and I, along with the Becksteads went to the St. George Temple to do a session. (I love that temple! My grandparents used to live kiddy-corner from it and when my family would visit in the summers, we always made sure to walk around the beautiful grounds!) We had a bbq that evening at the house where we stayed. Then we went mini-golfing and got frozen yogurt.
On Saturday we woke to overcast gray skies with a 30-40% chance of rain and flash floods. We decided not to hike the Narrows b/c of that and went with Angel's Landing instead. It rained off and on and as we made our to Zion National Park and as we started our hike. I was a little nervous about how I would do on the hike, it being a strenuous hike and I being 6 months pregnant. But I am proud to say I made it all the way to the top!
Morian, Kirsta, David, Michael, Annie, and Ryan with Angel's Landing in the background

Morian, Ryan, and David on the switchbacks called "Walter's Wiggles"

To get up to the very end, you had to go along where there were chains to hold on to and you had to climb rocks

Morian and I along the way

The 6 of us again with the path we had to take on the left, yes, with steep drop-offs on both sides!

And there we go!

The view down one of the drop-offs

A view from the top
When we got to the top, the sun broke through the clouds, which felt nice, and then we had sunshine the whole way down.

Morian and I up at the top

Another view

Morian and Ryan

That was the way back down!

Pretty crazy, huh?!

Morian on Walter's Wiggles
(I had had to use the bathroom before heading down, so Morian and I were way behind everyone else. Eventually Morian left me as well b/c it's too hard to go down to steeply without running and I obviously couldn't run. In fact, I had to go as slow as I could and hold up my baby belly b/c I was hurting so bad! But no damage done!)

It started raining again as we drove back to St. George and then we saw this beautiful rainbow!

When we got back to the house, there was some major problems with the water and A/C unit, so after we took quick showers, we had to turn the water off. All of us, minus Ryan, went to Brick Oven for dinner and then brought Cafe Rio back for Ryan. Then we spent the evening playing The Great Dalmuti and a couple other games. At midnight, we made a quick trip to the nearest gas station to use the bathroom and brush our teeth. Then it was off to bed!
Sunday morning we cleaned up the house as best we could and headed home. I had a lot fun, but it was so good to see Devin again! And to see how excited he was to see us again!

3 comments:

Esther/Mom/Grandma said...

Great trip! I'm proud of your making it all the way to the top, too! I don't think I could ever do that, especially not now, but probably not even when I was your age. We had fun with Devin when Sirie brought him up for Church.

meg said...

great photos, and great trip. you're not only cute when you're pregnant, you're tough--way to make it to the top!

Michael B said...

That was a fun trip! We are already looking forward to next year!