Hi Everyone,
After several days of beautiful weather and great camping in and around Canyonlands National Park it turned cold when we arived at Zion National Park. It was well below freezing and were happy to be in a hotel room when we met our friend Steve just outside the Park. We spent four days with Steve. He and I (Brian) took a one night backpacking trip and all three of us took several day hikes. The overnight backcountry trip we took was not the one I thought we might take. I had wanted to go through "The Narrows". It is a 16 mile hike downstream a river that runs through narrrow canyon walls. It is a fantastic hike but the water is 57 degrees and the air was around freezing in the morning. We decided a dry hike sounded better and it was terrific. Some time in warmer weather I hope to get back to "The Narrows." As the pictures show it is a beautiful place. It was wonderful to be with Steve and enjoy camping with him again. Our families have camped together since our children were little and we have always had a great time together. We hope to catch Steve again after we return from Indonesia. Zion is a very popular park. 2.4 million visitors come each year and Spring and Fall are the most popular times. They manage the crowds well by using a shuttle system rather than allowing cars through the park. In this way it is similar to Denali. One difference is that the buses in Denali are old school buses while in Zion the buses are what you would expect in a city bus system.

Thanks for your interest in our trip - we love keeping in touch! Brian and Ruth