Zion National Park 5/27/12

After dropping off my bear proof container at Bryce Canyon visitor center (the biggest reason I needed to carry my bigger backpack (actually an GoLite Daypack)), I headed over to Cedar Breaks National Monument and then onto Zion National Park.

Great weather, not too hot, probably in the low 70's

Great White Throne

The main canyon is very beautiful with huge stone walls on both sides going up hundreds and hundreds of feet.

 I love the contrast between the rust colored rock walls and the green trees.

I drove up to Beaver, UT to stay the night in a Motel 6 to get a better night sleep and a shower.

Desert backpacking

Foggy Bryce Canyon in 2010

While my housemate holds down the fort this weekend, I'll be heading off to Utah to backpack at Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.  The lack of water there will push me back to a bigger backpack from GoLite and my Mountain Smith Daylight lumbar pack.  Not much bigger, just enough to fit a 3 liter Camelbak and the larger 1 liter bottles that my Mountain Smith can carry.  This will add at least 5 lbs to my total loaded back weight.  I'll hike less miles because my muscles will get tired and start depending on my titanium repaired backbone sooner.  Bryce Canyon is one of my favorite places.  Zion National Park is amazing too.   I'll let you know how it goes.

Zion in 2011