Zion in January--The Tradition Lives On

Jason is in St. George right now for work.  He's got a pretty sweet gig going on.  ASSIST is designing a small museum/visitor's center for the town of Springdale, right near the entrance to Zion National Park.  Here's the view from the lot looking one direction...

...and the other.  

Craziest thing.  Jason ran into this guy he knows (Tom Dansie) while running across the Grand Canyon with Justin.  Tom told Jason about Springdale's plans, encouraged him to put together a design proposal, and voila.  A project at the portal to paradise.

Okay, so Zion might not actually be paradise, but it's pretty close.

Jason has a couple other projects going to in St. George as well.  This Switchpoint Daycare center will provide 24/7 care for low income families.   

The natural light coming in through these windows will be pretty fantastic.

Switchpoint is also enlisting Jason's help do an expansive remodel of their soup kitchen.  Here's Eli helping with an initial measure-up.

 While Eli and Jason were off working, we ladies went to the park.  Brooklyn and Talia remember playing here years ago.  Annie, not so much.  

Riding scooters here was a fun first for everyone, even if one of the scooters did run out of battery.

Time to go when you are this tuckered out.  Just beware the mud, as Talia knows.

After Cottonwood Park we took a drive over to Tuacahn.  I wanted to show the kids the gorgeous performing arts high school that would have been an option if we had stayed in St. George.

Annika liked climbing on the retired sets hanging out in the parking lot.

We'd planned on hiking in Snow Canyon, but changed our plans once we figured out that I'd left my purse at the park.  Yikes!  Thank heavens it was still there when we got back.  Definitely a tender mercy.

By the time we'd recovered my purse, it was too late to hike so we went to Town Square Park instead.  It was so fun to reminisce about all the time we spent there when the kids were little.  

2013

2022.  Notice how neither of Annika's feet is touching the ground.

I don't remember these sculptures being there a decade ago, but they make a fun addition to the park.

Our family was reunited shortly after five.  It was dark by the time we drove out to Springdale and checked in at the Marriott Springhill Suites.  Did that stop us from hiking?  Nope.  At Jason's suggestion, we took a night hike out to the Canyon Overlook trail.  Here's the view using my camera...

...and here's the view using Jason's.

At first I thought Jason was crazy to attempt the trail in the dark, but it was fun given the full moon.  When else can you hike that busy trail without passing a single soul?

The next morning we got up and pinched ourselves because of our good fortune.  Marriott had upgraded our room to a suite, so this was the view from our private balcony.

Tasty breakfast...

...and a fantastic run into the park for Jason.

We then set out to explore Pine Creek on the east side of the park.  Brooklyn looks excited to get started.  It's tricky to get away for the weekend, especially with older kids, but the memories are totally worth it.

The frozen ice sheets along the creek were amazing! 

Nature's window panes.

Wow, that's a big one!

 I am infatuated with the ephemeral beauty of ice.  The crystalline structures were awe-inspiring, yet disappeared completely in the afternoon sun.   I'm just grateful we were there to enjoy the beauty while it lasted.

This waterfall was another delightful surprise.  There was just enough spring runoff to make it glisten.

From here, we left the wash and started winding our way up the canyon walls, all thanks to Jason's navigational skills and the webbing he brought for us to hold onto when the terrain got too steep.

LOVING the adventure.  

So many ear to ear smiles.

In his happy place.

Scratch that.  In our happy place.

Zion in the winter is the best.  And to think!  We almost didn't make our annual January pilgrimage.  Our schedule was so busy that I cancelled our hotel room and then repurchased, deciding that a one-night stay was better than none.

Time for a lunch break.  Nothing like a cinnamon bear to top off your cheese and crackers.

Continuing our journey up.  I'm grateful Jason is so good at knots!

We decided to turn around at the saddle since the afternoon sun was starting to sink in the sky.

But not before Jason took a few amazing panoramas.

Oh, I adore this family.

Winding our way back down.

Amazing day in Zion--quite possibly my favorite hike yet.  I know Zion seems super crowded, but we didn't pass a soul the entire time.  Sometimes you have to be willing to venture out on the road less traveled.  I'm grateful to Jason for doing the research and taking us here--I never would have dared on my own.

Final treat--Oscars.  It's tradition!

We loved this salad so much that we begged for the recipe.  After we guessed two, our waiter gave us the rest of the ingredients in the dressing: olive oil, rice vinegar, dill, basil, cilantro, jalapeno, and honey.

Burrito for days.  And there you have it!  Our trip to Zion, and we even got the bishop home in time for church.