Wrapped in Love on the West Rim Trail

I'm baaaaack!  The SLCC semester ended, so I finally have a moment to breathe.  Over the next few days, I'm hoping to catch up on a LOT of blogging.  Fair warning--photo tsunami forthcoming.  

Before I go back and try to catch up on the months I've missed, I wanted to share this past weekend.  On Sunday, May 9th Jason and I celebrated our eighteenth wedding anniversary.  We were so young and so in love!  I may have more wrinkles these days, but I'm more in love than ever.  If I'd had any idea what a truly amazing man I'd met, I would have proposed to him first.  Jason is witty, optimistic, talented, compassionate, and kind.  Between being a bishop and boss, his responsibilities are weighty.  Frankly, they are often far more than any one man can handle.  Still, he manages the stress with grace.  While he may work long days, he comes home to our family with a smile.  Every evening he reads Harry Potter to Annika before bed.  Exhausted though he may be, he still creates the best character voices, giving Jim Dale a run for his money.  Many evenings the other kids trickle into the room so they can listen as well.

This weekend, Jason carved out time to backpack the West Rim Trail with our family.  A couple of months ago, we managed to secure a Wilderness Permit and were thrilled.  As the time grew near, I started to doubt whether we ought to go.  The logistics were so complicated and Jason had so much to do.  Was it really worth it?

Yes.  Yes, it was worth it.  As I reflect back on the weekend, I am filled with overwhelming gratitude and love for everyone who helped it happen.  Papa Kay drove all the way from Nebraska to stay with Annika while we hiked.  Christy was originally planning on hiking with us, but sadly broke her toe just a week prior to the trip.  Even though she couldn't backpack, she and Ben drove up from Phoenix to camp with us at Ponderosa Grove and shuttle us to the trailhead the next morning.  Our amazing kids, two teens and a preteen, cheerfully unplugged and loaded their packs.  And Jason, well, he was there.  We knew there was plenty of stress by the flurry of texts, emails, and phone calls every time we got into range.  However, he stepped away from it all.  For thirty six hours, we were each other's entire world.

Wow.  I have no words.  I feel wrapped in love.  Wrapped in love by family near and far.  Wrapped in love by family on earth as well as by Heavenly parents who created this incredible world.  All I can offer is my gratitude. To all who made this happen, thank you.

Our adventure began Friday morning as we drove south.  At one point, we looked off to the left and saw Bryce Canyon was right there!  On an impulse, we flipped the van around and started down Scenic Highway 12.  After realizing that Bryce was still another seventeen miles off, we opted for a closer adventure and did a bit of hiking at the Red Canyon Visitor Center instead.  It was great to stretch our legs and appreciate a few hoodoos without having to go all the way into the park.

Brooklyn, Talia, and Eli were so good to each other for the entire trip.  These three musketeers hung together the whole time.

Always more fun with a frisbee!

Southern Utah, you make our hearts happy!

We camped at Ponderosa Grove, on the east side of Zion, near the Coral Pink Sand Dunes.  We've stayed there a couple of times before and found it to be a great hopping off point.  Newly remodeled, the facilities were sparkling clean, with each campsite costing only $5!  Just remember to bring your own water. 

Talia and Eli, exploring the dunes.

Talia takes such artistic photographs.

Aunt Christy joins our sandy foray.

Playing baseball until dark.

Back at camp, Aunt Christy made her amazing dutch oven chicken marbella while we contributed a yummy pineapple cherry dump cake.

How lovely it is to love your family!  Thanks so much for joining us Christy and Ben.  Even with a comfy mattress, camping isn't Ben's favorite gig.  Especially frustrating was the gaping hole that the exhaust pipe melted into his bike tire en route.  And yet they came--thank you!

The next morning we broke camp, dined on pastries at Forscher's Bäckerei (yum!), and drove through Zion to Springdale.  Not surprisingly, the park was crazy busy.  The contrast made us appreciate the solitude of the West Rim trail even more.  We saw about seven hikers the first day and five the second, at least until we drew close to Angel's Landing.

In Springdale, we dropped off Ben at a bike shop, then Christy shuttled us the rest of the way up to West Rim Trailhead, near Lava Point.  It's a long trip, so by the time we got there, some of us really had to pee.  Here's Jason pulling a Kara.  I'm an infamous thimble bladder, at least post-kids.

Thanks again for the ride, Christy!  We can't wait to hike this again with you.

Excited backpackers.

The kids snorted when I told them that the first step is the hardest, but I was actually quite serious.  When you are the organizer, just getting everything and everyone ready to go really is the most challenging part.  I felt a delightful mixture of relief, anticipation, and joy as we all set off down the trail together.

The first four miles were mostly high forest.  Can you spot our group amidst the foliage?

We did, however, have occasional company.  These tiny lizards were nearly as wide as they are long.  I did a little research, and think that this is a mountain short-horned lizard, but I'm not positive.

Despite the dry landscape, the flowers were stunning.  I love springtime in the desert!

My perfect mother's Day bouquet.  Truly, this would be my mother's Day dream come true.

Our first day's hike didn't include a ton of vistas, but this one was spectacular.

Happy anniversary, mi amor!

Before we knew it, we were at our campsite.  Seriously.  We reached Potato Hollow Springs way sooner than we'd anticipated--probably around 4.5 miles in.  While it was nice to have such a relaxing first evening, we also knew that we needed to rest up because the next day's hike was going to be loooong.

First order of business--play frisbee.  Just be careful not to trip.  Not only were there plenty of pinecones--the terrain was littered with prickly pear cacti as well.

Plenty of time for whittling as well before setting up tents.

The ladies lounge under a tree while Jason and Eli collect water.  To be truthful, Potato Hollow Springs seemed stagnant and smelled of sulfur.  We were grateful for a good water filter.  Southern Utah is in desperate need of rain.

Exploring the area around our campsite, we discovered an impressive gorge called Imlay Canyon.  It's amazing how a tiny spring can carve out such an immense chasm over thousands of years.  

This tree on the opposite rim was doing it's very best to hold on!

With nary a soul in sight, it was a pretty idyllic spot to enjoy the evening.

Dinner was chili and fry bread.  Brooklyn may have gotten a bit messy making the dough, but it was worth it. 

That night we all crashed early.  It got plenty chilly, and Jason didn't sleep very well because his mat kept deflating.  On the positive side, we could see a sky full of stars every time we awoke.  Once the sun came up in the morning, everyone was smiles.

Being Mother's Day, the kids spoiled me with cards.  This one was just too perfect.  "I need a snack.  Are we there yet?  I have to pee!"

Being our anniversary, we also honored the day with some PB&J.

Knowing that we still had 10-11 miles ahead of us, we enjoyed some oatmeal, then bid farewell to the deer and got back on the trail.

The climb out of Potato Hollow was steep, but our path was flanked by flowers. plus it was fun to look back on where we'd camped.

At the top, we were rewarded with amazing views over the canyon that lasted for miles.

The gals pause to take in the views, followed by similar appreciation from the men.

Pausing for a snack and to study Come Follow Me together.  It feels so good to take off your pack!

The kids said that this is the probably the most beautiful place we will ever hold Come Follow Me.  I suspect they are right.

Plus, we could see the "D" all the way out in St. George.

At one point Brooklyn marveled, "It just doesn't stop!" referring to the vistas.  The kids all say it's the most beautiful hike they've ever experienced.

Pausing for lunch and fresh water at Cabin Spring.

While physically demanding for everyone, the trip was probably hardest on Eli, who has the shortest stride and had to take the most steps.  We all tried to help by taking some weight out of his pack.  In the end, he handled the long journey with a great attitude.  Over an over I just felt this overwhelming gratitude for my family and the beauty of this earth.  I felt wealthy beyond measure.  No amount of money can purchase this deep-rooted joy.

If you ever doubt your ability to thrive in harsh conditions, take a lesson from Mother Nature.

I know, I know, so many photos.  We just couldn't help ourselves.  We wanted to remember every moment.

Just be careful as you near the cliff edges.  It's a LONG way down.  These pictures make me feel a bit panicky just looking.

As we neared Scout Lookout, we got to see Angel's Landing from a unique perspective.  All in all, you lose 3600 feet over the course of the West Rim trail.   While our night may have been chilly atop the plateau at 7500 feet we were very grateful for the slightly cool weather as we descended down into the heat of the canyon.  

The crowds began after Scout Lookout.  We got a lot of strange stares from people who couldn't quite understand why anyone would bring giant packs all the way up there.  Most visitors have no idea the West Rim trail even exists.   We didn't worry too much about their looks thought, since for the most part we were moving faster than they were, packs and all.  With grades this steep, the kids decided that it was easier to jog than walk.  Gotta love Walter's Wiggles!

At long last, the bridge taking us over to the shuttle stop by the Grotto.  What an epic journey!

Good thing we remembered our masks or we might have had to walk back to the Visitors Center.  Even with faces covered, everyone's eyes were all smiles.

Thanks to Christy and Ben dropping the minivan at the Visitors Center, we were able to head straight home from the shuttle, making it back to Salt Lake by 10:30.  Papa Kay was waiting up for us, eager to tell about the fun adventures he had with Annika.  Meanwhile, we all relished in hot showers and sunk into our mattresses, exhausted but happy.  There's nothing like camping to help you better appreciate the comforts of home.

Once again, many thanks to everyone who helped make our journey along the West Rim possible.  We love you!