FJ60Cam an' Fam Get High AF

[FJ60Cam]

So, for day two, to try and reserve tickets for Day three (our final full day), Stephanie also created an account, and we both tried to reserve tickets. I also pulled the site up on my laptop.

Once again - SUCCESS!!! Also, again, I only had one ticket thanks to the clumsy gov’t site. This time, however, I was able to bump it up to (4) and make it to the checkout.

Whew! Day 2 was off to a great start.

 

[FJ60Cam]

Whew! Day 2 was off to a great start.

Well, mostly. In addition to having to wait til 9:00 for shuttle tickets before leaving, I had to log some computer time to whittle down the mountain of work that was growing in my absence, so it was later than we hoped when it was time to get out.

We planned on a dope slot canyon hike, but when we mapped to it, it was too far away to squeeze into the day. So we found another, closer, half as dope slot canyon and took off.

 

[FJ60Cam]

On the way there, as we passed the Duck Creek Village, we were distracted by the sight of side-by-side rentals at this picturesque 8500’ location.

Ten minutes later, we were signing our life away to rent a Deluxe 1000cc Polaris General four seater for the rest of the day. This beauty included GPS and a premium sound system so we could wreck the serene surroundings at breakneck speed. Hell yes

 

[FJ60Cam]

We got some trail recommendations from the rental guy and peeled out...

...and, Holy dust, Batman!

They had all kinds of dust warnings and recommended goggles and dust shields (which we picked up), but I did not wear mine at first because I looked like a dork. I got over that quickly, and put on my integrated goggles/face shield which made it look like I was going to either play paintball or attend a riot in Portland. No matter, it made the wind/dust faceblast nonexistent.

 

[FJ60Cam]

 

[FJ60Cam]

After an hour or two of driving, we made it to Strawberry Point where we ate lunch and hiked out to the overlook.

As with all big views, pics don’t do it justice, so check out the interactive 360 pic:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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[FJ60Cam]

We probably put at least 70 or 80 miles on this thing checking out the area. Most of it was tighter forest driving, but here was was one place we could bomb down the road:

 

[FJ60Cam]

Dinner was from Pizza Cart, a wood-fired pizza joint that started out as a pizza oven cart in a parking lot.

We had the pepperoni

and Meat Lovers

Paid for with an experimental currency being tested in Utah:

 

[FJ60Cam]

Our last full day, we left for Zion N.P. first thing in the morning. We had shuttle tickets for the 8:00-9:00 window, which means we had to be on the shuttle by 9:00. After that, we could stay as long as we wanted within the shuttle system.

The parking lot gets packed very early, but there were still a few spots left at 8:30.

We boarded the shuttle and took it to the last stop for the River Walk, which leads to the Narrows slot canyon, which we would not be doing since it was cold and you have to wade through nuts-deep water to get there.

 

[FJ60Cam]

This was an easy 1 mile out & back paved hike with rocks to climb on and a river with flesh eating bacteria they asked you not to get in (unless you were going to the Narrows)

 

[wngrog]

We did the overnight hike into the Narrows. One of the best hikes ever. Worst part is the end when you go from peace to all the pilgrims that hike in from the bottom.

 

[FJ60Cam]

 

[FJ60Cam]

We did the overnight hike into the Narrows. One of the best hikes ever. Worst part is the end when you go from peace to all the pilgrims that hike in from the bottom.

We want to go back and do that when it’s warmer, stay inside the park, and do it first thing in the morning. It was about 40-45 when we got there. The crowds showed up promptly at 9:00.

 

[FJ60Cam]

It was coldAF for a bit, but like the rest of the West, as soon as the sun rises over the mountains, it warms up quickly.

As usual, the clouds were non-existent and the sunshine plentiful:

 

[Bomar]

Man I need a place out there.

 

[Bomar]

Great pics

 

[FJ60Cam]

I REALLY wanted to do the Angels Landing hike, Andrew was up for it too, but the chicks said no, and it takes up too much time in the day to have split up.

I’m coming back for it tho.

 

[FJ60Cam]

We picked the next best thing, the Canyon Overlook. For this, you leave the park and head up the Zion-Mt. Carmel highway to higher ground.

The drive is super cool and scenic, and you get to go through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, which is over a mile long.

Super dope

 

[FJ60Cam]

This trail was scenic AF, but only a mile each way, so easy to squeeze in. There shade here & there early on, but as you continue, the sun starts to cook you. Temps were only 75, but the sun was intense. We were getting roasted.

 

[FJ60Cam]

The view at the end is super cool: