We had a great couple of days off of school and Jayson took half a day off Friday. We got up Friday morning and I cooked my guys a big breakfast. After breakfast Jayson finished up some stuff at work, I jogged, cleaned up breakfast, and did laundry. When Jayson got home we took a little nap while we waited for Teisha and Jayson, Teisha, Jayden, and I headed up to Zion National Park. We decided to hike Angel's Landing.

Angels Landing

The Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes in the national park system. Zion's pride and joy runs along a narrow rock fin with dizzying drop-offs on both sides. The trail culminates at a lofty perch, boasting magnificent views in every direction. Rarely is such an intimidating path so frequented by hikers. One would think that this narrow ridge with deep chasms on each of its flanks would allure only the most intrepid of hikers. Climbers scale its big wall; hikers pull themselves up by chains and sightseers stand in awe at its stunning nobility. The towering monolith is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Southwest.

Angels Landing at Glance Photo Album: Angels Landing PicturesMap: Trail Map - Backcountry Map - Overview Map
Day Hike: Yes Distance: 5-miles Average Hiking Time: 5 hours Equipment: Map to locate the landmarks surrounding Angels Landing. Difficulty: Strenuous uphill hike, but hiking is on a well maintained trail. Sun Exposure: Full sun Trail Usage: Heavy Permits: Not required. Trail Conditions: The first 2-miles are paved and well-maintained. Most of the path is sunny, but Refrigerator Canyon offers shade and often a cool breeze. This is a good early morning hike. Make sure to allow time to be off the trail by dark if starting late in the day. The last half-mile is across a narrow sandstone ridge. Anchored support chains are attached along some sections of the sheer fin. Sheer cliffs at high elevations while hiking on a narrow fin. Not suggested for children or those with a fear of heights. Avoid standing near the edge at all times! Do not hike the trail when it is wet, storming, or when high winds are present.
Trailhead: Grotto picnic area in Zion Canyon Trailend: Same as trailhead Trail Access: Usually from April 1st until October 30th Zion Canyon is accessed via the shuttle. Private cars are allowed in Zion Canyon the rest of the year. Park at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to ride the shuttle and get off at the Grotto shuttle stop. The rest of the year, when the shuttles are not operating, drive into the canyon and park at the Grotto. Best Season: March to October, but can be hiked year-round as long as the trail if free of ice and snow.
Elevation Gain: Long steady climb. 1488 feet
Peak: 5785 feet

We didn't do the last mile because it is chains and since I'm such a klutz and we had Jayden, I was too scared. It was so beautiful and a tough hike, but it felt so good. Afterwards we went to the Bumbleberry (Ryan's parents own it) in Springdale and we had dinner at the restaurant. The food was so good! We got home late and watched tv until in the a.m. Saturday morning we slept in and went out to breakfast and then to the movie The Maze Runner. Afterwards, we went shopping and then Jayson and I went out to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. Mine and Jayson's favorite thing to do is get in bed and watch tv, so we watched our new favorite show Airplane Repo. We slept in Sunday and I made pancakes and Jayson made scrambled eggs. We watched our favorite football teams. Packer's played at 11 and the Broncos played in the evening. We pretty much watched tv all day and Jayson barbecued ribs and made rice and veggies because I was feeling a little sick. It was so nice to be home with Jayson and Jayden all weekend just hanging out and being lazy. I even took the night off Sunday because I usually make a big dinner for all our kids. It sure was hard to get back in the grove today and wake up at 6:30.