| Hope and a Future |
Days 8 to 12I think it’s only been about 4 days since we posted, but I cannot believe how much has happened since then. Here’s a recap of the past few days.
ZION NATIONAL PARK – We arrived at Zion after our drive from the Grand Canyon. We have now been here something like 5 times, and its still a place that we just do not grow tired of. We have come to the conclusion that we probably ought to spend 2 weeks here sometime, and just exhaust all of the trails for hiking and biking. There is so much to see.
Here’s a picture of one of our favorite areas in Zion near the east exit. The area is a maze of sandstone slabs and long aprons that go all the way up to the top of the peaks in the area. These slabs can be walked up for long distances with amazing traction on the sandstone. Here’s a shot of our gang hiking back down from the top.
 … and here’s another shot on the slabs, Rachel with Eva.
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… and here’s Brian, practicing for the US Olympic gymnastics team.
 Did I happen to mention that we were doing some mountain biking? Oh yeah, I think I did. For those who know much about Utah mountain biking, the reason that people come here from all over the world to ride is because of the sandstone. Imagine a huge concrete skateboard park (created by God), with paint spots on the rock that mark where the trail is supposed to be. Imagine rubber tires riding on a “sandpaper” surface, with so much friction that you have the ability to go up (and down) insanely steep surfaces. That’s the magic of Utah mountain biking. Our first major biking stop this trip was the sandstone near Zion.
Here’s a shot of Brian up on the Rockville Bench trail just outside of the town of Springdale (remember this, Walkers…).
 … and here’s a shot of me, powering through a short section. The paint spots on this section of rock was so old and faded (like me), that route finding was really difficult. We actually got lost on part of the ride.
 Later in the day, we took a hike up one of Zion’s infamous trails. The uniqueness of the trail at the end of the canyon, the Zion Narrows trail, is that after the first mile – the trail disappears. The trail starts out paved, at the base of the huge walls at the east end. The virgin river runs to the left between the walls. As you continue to walk east on the trail, the canyon walls continue there journey closer and closer to each other. By the end of the first mile, there are steps that head down to the sand near the river’s edge. This continues on, as does the creep of the canyon walls towards each other. About 100 yards later, the sandy edge of the river vanishes, and all you’re left with is the Virgin River as the trail, that spans wall to wall in the now very narrow canyon. The rest of the hike is walking upstream, sometimes crossing from one side to the other to avoid the faster-moving water. Here’s a picture of the kids in the water. Rachel has just noticed that an alligator upstream, Lindsey has obviously also seen it. And KC is hiding behind Rachel to avoid the gator.
 Another picture on the “trail”
 BRYCE CANYON, UTAH. After a day and a half in Zion, we headed for the mountain biking capital of the world: Moab, Utah. Along the way, we passed Bryce Canyon and stopped by. Here’s a shot of the amazing canyon behind the gang. The trails here are so much fun. If you ever get a chance to come here, spend a day or two Hike the Queen’s garden trail. Bryce is best visited late Spring or early Fall. The reason is that because of the elevation, it really does get cold up here (especially for Jennifer. Any shocks with that little factoid?...).
 A shot of the Brady Bunch from the back.
 MOAB, UTAH. Moab, Utah: definitely one of the most unique areas in the United States. Near to three national parks, and near to 1,000 miles of some of the most unique mountain biking in the world.
One of the national parks is Arches National park. Here we are in the park. If you squint your eyes, looking directly above Paige (second from the left for those who have never had Paige tap you on the shoulder, and then look the other way like she doesn’t know what you’re talking about when you ask her if she tapped you), you can see the most photographed arch in the park, Delicate Arch. This is the arch that is on the Utah license plate. By the way, many of you will notice a new face in this picture, the guy on the left. We had the great pleasure of having one of the covenant sons from our church, Thomas Hector, hop on a plane and meet us here in Utah to join in the fun of the biking.
 In the park, our favorite place to visit is a little-known and even less-visited arch called sandstone arch. It is an area protected by high sandstone walls that you have to walk through to get to the arch. The floor of the little canyon is filled with sand as fine as powdered sugar. Also, because of how the canyon is protected, it is 15 to 20 degrees cooler inside of this little canyon.
Here’s a picture of KC, trying to see what it felt like to be Samson on his last day.
 At the end of the canyon are a series of walls and steps that you can climb to access a canyon a little higher up. Here’s a shot of the kids up in a sandstone bowl above Sandstone Arch.
 The next day, we headed over to the most famous mountain bike trail in the world, the Slickrock Bike trail. The uniqueness of this trail is that it’s a 10.5 mile ride on a series of petrified sand dunes. While the minimum and maximum elevation of the trail only differs by about 150 feet, you end up grinding between 2,000 and 3,000 feet during the ride. Imagine a series of sand dunes in the shape of camels humps that have petrified, some of them VERY steep. The trail dives down these humps, and then shoots back up the other side, repeatedly over the course of the ride.
Here we are, getting our bikes ready to ride. You can see the start of the ride in the distance, the large petrified mounds of sand.
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Here’s a great shot of Brian and Thomas as they’re about to dive down the trail. You’ll notice the white paint spots on the trail to mark the way.
 Here are Brian and Thomas at the overlook point. Down below, about 1,000 feet, is the town of Moab. You’ll note the torrential downpour taking place in the background. We had threatening rain the whole trip (and even got a little wet). Lightening was all around, but the Good Lord protected us through the entire ride.
 The ride is truly a grueling event. By the end, you’re just begging to die to have it all over with. Here I am thanking God for a bottle of water with about 2 miles left to ride.
 At the end of the ride, the Fam was waiting for our return. Here’s a shot of Rachel and Kirsten on top of a boulder near the end of the ride.
 … and here’s Brian, trying on one of Frodo’s rings.
 Tres amigo after the dusty, long, sandy, tiresome, mostexhasutingthingintheworld, ride (this caption was compiled in a combined effort by Bri Si and Tom Tor)
 Say goodnight to a beautiful day on the Slickrock trail in Moab, Utah.
 Tomorrow, we’re off towards San Antonio. We’ll try to post then to keep you posted on the trip.
God bless all of you richly.
11:22 PM - Aug. 5, 2007 - post comment
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Description "For I know the plans I have for you," Declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 My Church Home My Profile Archives Recent Entries -Yet another tag... -Tagged, again... I am one of those strange people who like being tagged... -Moving again... -Tagged Again... -Days 8 to 12 |