Springdale and Zion National Park, UT May 24th, 2011

We landed in Las Vegas, obtained our rental car (Jeep Patriot) and immediately headed on our way to Springdale.  We wanted to get there in time to see Zion at sunset if possible.  As we drove along I-15, I was blown away by the rock formations and was blowing up the camera taking shots from inside the car.  My little Sony is a truly amazing little camera and I got some wonderful shots moving at 75 miles an hour!  This pictures shows how the rocks just seem to swallow you up!

The Majesty of the mountainous rock formation is such a humbling thing to behold...









We arrived in Springdale in the evening of the 24th and were filled with anticipation.  Once we found our hotel, The Red Rock Inn, and checked in, we started snapping away at the amazing landscape that this little town nestles down into.  With the setting sun, the rocks just come alive with brilliant color!

 

We checked into our room and were happily surprised at how nice it was; complete with a jacuzzi that Jay specifically requested.  We decided to leave the unpacking to later, go and grab a quick bite and head to the park

To get up to the park, we had to take the shuttle that runs every 10-20 minutes from several stops in Springdale. From spring to fall, private vehicles are not allowed on Scenic Drive.  It was nice to just sit back and watch the scenery and marvel once again at the brilliant rock formations jutting to the heavens. I recall just wanting to back time up a few hours so we would have more of it to see and enjoy everything this marvel of nature has to show us.

Since our time was limited we decided to take the easy, 1/2 hour hike to Weeping Rock. Since Weeping Rock is the 3rd to final stop along the route, we had time to enjoy the view.  It  was awe-inspiring!  The majestic rock walls were amass with vivid colors in the setting sun. Yellows, ivory, tans......

brick, clay, emerald greens.... like we've never seen. What a gift to the eyes and the imagination. Zion really is an Eden.  Trees and plants and flowers grow and bloom in places that defy gravity; clinging to crevasses and rock overshoots. The lushness of it all depicts the power of the will to live and the bounty of the Virgin River.

We arrived at the Weeping Rock stop and read about the history of the geology of it.
"A dripping spring feeds the hanging garden of ferns and mosses at Weeping Rock.  Seeps and springs are part of a pattern in Zion Canyon; hanging gardens flourish along the Emerald Pools and Riverside Walk.
Because the cliffs' Navajo sandstone is porous, it acts as a vertical reservoir.  Snowmelt percolates down through the sandstone.  When it reaches an impermeable layer of siltstone, the moisture travels along cracks until it emerges from the canyon walls, punctuating the cliffs with damp micro-habitats. Life concentrates in those green niches."





And concentrates it does! The photo below is the ledge that is Weeping Rock.  The water marks and the green growth are very apparent.

...the bridge we crossed over to start the hike.  What a nice walkway down to the creek and a cute little overlook!

Weeping Rock

The underside of Weeping Rock.  The seeping water looks like rain and again, the green growth is abundant.  What you can't see or hear are the sounds of the bullfrogs in the little pond down from Weeping Rock and the numerous mosquitoes that we were totally unprepared for!






Unfortunately, the darkness came quicker than we were ready for and the above mentioned mosquitos were relentless!  We cut our photography session short and hurried to make it back to the shuttle pick up spot.  The short amount of time spent here has just increased our excitement about returning tomorrow. Where will we go? See the Emerald Pools? Hike Angel's Landing?  Only tomorrow will tell!