Saturday, March 31, 2012

Views, views... more Zion

We sure are enjoying all the scenery we're seein' out the window, but it's even better when we can go tearing around in this cool landscape! C'mon along with us as we explore more of Zion...

Here we go up a windy road - and we mean UP! You can see the snows dusting the sides of this graceful looking mountain and we'd sure like to play in that fluffy white stuff!

Below: this is not a very pretty picture, but can you spy somebuddy hiding? Awesome camouflage, eh?


With a bit more elevation, we came around a corner and dug this! (Well... every corner has the most beautious views...)

Below: nowTHIS was where we wanted to play!

Soooo - Ma and Pa let us out to run in this ginormous meadow with the amazing backdrops -
We gamboled and chased sticks and heavenly smells -
We were all finally breathless - us from running so hard that high up and Mom and Dad from the views!
Then. If you can believe it - on the way home, we got to swim in a creek that runs down the valley; oh how cooling that was!
Avalon was brushed out by Dad - she was full of red sands from the river! (I got brushed too, although the dried silt didn't show up on my coat!) Next day, Mom and Dad took a couple of hikes, while we played to our hearts' content at a DUDE ranch for us puppers! We got a walk along the Virgin River too (and even waded into it - heheh!)
Mom here: all along the ridge on top of the arch is a viewpoint that was stunning in every way - so glad we did this short and easy hike as our first in Zion. As mentioned in our first Zion post, it's not very dog friendly unfortunately, but we knew we couldn't miss out on doing a couple of hikes here before leaving.
Pointing out the obvious - something down there; we could hear the voices of people in the slot canyons below us. It apparently takes some 7 or 8 rappels of 50 - 100 feet from about here to get into them - yikes!
Pretty steep
Straddling the slickrock
An overly friendly and eager critter who was trying to get into our backpacks while we were ogling the views - drop is 700 feet down.




And then we headed for the Zion Lodge, where the trail to Emerald Pools begins.
And... we found more glorious wonders - the falls were so cooling on an increasingly hot day that eventually reached 80+! We climbed up to the top of the falls...
...to watch the water slide across the rock and over the edge - very tranquil
And a very peaceful ending to our day!
Now back to your regularly scheduled narrators - yeah... whew! So later, we went to see a totally-like completely different part of the park in the way north, where Mom wanted to get pictures of the rocks with the sun setting - why? We have no idea, but again, we dug the smells and we love truck riding, so...
Here are a couple of the pictures - until next time, we're signin' off. Happy Trails!

25 comments:

Winston said...

Beautiful pictures of the magestic mountains and cliffs!

Sammie and Avalon , it looks like the perfect place to do zoomies!!

hsutopia said...

I felt like stepping back from the edge when looking at your picture of the steep canyon! :-)

Beautiful pictures! What an incredible place.

Christine

Ms. ~K said...

We've been there too...we think our peeps enjoyed it more than we did...
We prefer the ocean!
Have fun and stay away for the cliffs!
xoxo

The Army of Four said...

Oh, Sammie and Avalon! This is the most incredible adventure! The scenery is stunning - and oh, what fun it would be to zoom around in that meadow with you two! Our mom got dizzy looking down into that canyon! Ha roo!!!
Is that a deer playing hide and seek in the third pic down? It's hard to tell - it really IS an awesome camouflage job!
We just love your photos; thank you for taking the time to post them!
Play bows,
Zim

Bassetmomma said...

Those pictures are beautiful! Was that a coyote in the bushes? I can't get over how steep those canyons are. I must be so wonderful to witness all these gorgeous sites! I bet it makes for peaceful sleeps at night. :)

Barbara said...

Wow, what an adventure!

I have vertigo, so those high places are frightening to me, but the pictures are very beautiful!

Finn said...

BEAUTIFUL! What a fun adventure indeed! You guys are sure lucky to be a part of it!

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Wow, this is truly the adventure of a lifetime - wish we could travel along with you. The scenery and your photos are just so beautiful. And isn't it so wonderful that Mom and Dad get some time together while you two had fun at the Dude Ranch - lucky dawgs.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

KT and Easton said...

Wonderful, wonderful - I love Zion and Bryce. May stop by on the way back to Seattle. It's been a few years since I've visited. Your pictures are terrific, thanks for sharing them with us. Easton sends Rooooooos to the Goldies, He'll love romping too.

Molly the Airedale said...

I just love the pictures of the two of you sticking your heads out the truck window!
What incredible photos!

Love ya lots,
Mitch

Angus said...

Looks like dog , and human, heaven

Casper Bear said...

What a fun adventure you had! Beautiful pictures!
Lotsa Licks
Casper Bear

FANCY the Red Standard Poodle said...

Hi Y'all!

What a great time y'all had! That's my kind of fun!

Y'all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog

Sierra Rose said...

Fantastic!!! Just stunning! How can you leave this place?
I think we need to start a Doggie Dude Ranch in our Sierras, no?
SO glad Bill has a beer t-shirt on :) Great photo!
Keep the fantastic trip reports coming... Love to ya all!

Sierra Rose and family

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

All I can say is 'stunning!!!!' What a beautiful place to enjoy and explore!!! WOW!!!

houndstooth said...

What a beautiful view! It looks like a fantastic place to hike. Boo for no dogs, though! Something we've learned, most National Parks aren't dog friendly, but most State Parks are. If you see some along the way, stop to check them out!

Bunny

NCmountainwoman said...

Spectacular!!! It looks just like a western movie. I would do the hike, but no way am I rappelling even once, much less 7 times.

Glad you found the terrific meadow and the stream.

Wyatt said...

Sammie and Avalon-
What a beautiful place and how fun that you got to run in the meadow and smell all the great smells...we would have been in heaven. Can't wait to see your next stop...it's almost as good as being there...almost!

Wyatt and Stanzie

Rumpydog said...

What a fantastic looking place!

Elizabeth Bergesen said...

Wow- what amazing photos!!!!!!! Absolutely beautiful! :)

The Thuglets said...

Sammy & Avalon..what absolutely amazing views and photos. Fantastic trip you look like you having so much fun and seeing so much.
Love the photo of you two with your heads out of the window.
Big Nose Pokes
The Thugletsx

Asta said...

Dawling Sammie and Avalon

Oh my dog!
that is the most bootiful place, you awe sooo lucky to be able to go wun and sniff and climb all those gowgoos meadows and hills.
I know you must be having the time of youw lives..thank you fow taking the time to visit me, I've missed you
smoochie kisses
ASTA

Kari in Alaska said...

Zion is a beautiful place

Stop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com

Sage said...

I'd forgotten how stunning Zion is. Gorgeous pictures!! And glad Sammie & Avalon got to have so much fun running and playing.

Ellen said...

Wow what amazing scenery! Your photos were fantastic and someday I would love to go hike there.

The Doggy Dude Ranch is perfect for the poochies to hang out at while you hike the steep trails.