To sharpen my appreciation of the time spent in the outdoors in some of our countries beautiful National Parks, I had only to end in Las Vegas. Our flights to get us to Utah, took us to Vegas, where we rented a car and headed North for a week. We did not look around, drive on the strip, or eat anywhere—just got on the Interstate and headed toward Brian Head, Utah. The Jeep registered an outside temperature of 111*. You read that right, one hundred and eleven. We saw a dirt devil swirling off the road. Through various landscapes we made our way, finally higher and higher to the ski resort (at 9800’ above sea level) that would be our home base as we explored the area.
After a night of good rest, we decided to search the local area and headed to Cedar Breaks National Monument, our first view overlooking red rock canyons. At Brian Head Mountain Peak, where it seems you can see forever, we found ourselves working hard to breathe at 11,312’ above sea level. You could say that the views were breathtaking! :) We looked at marvelous weathered wood, exposed to high winds and hot sun. We climbed into creek beds to look at types of rocks, encountering lizards and lots of chipmunks that didn’t seem particularly concerned about us.
The double archway tunnels of Red Canyon, along with the quiet trails through red rock lands with wide water washes, a million rocks, weathered trees, and stunning viewpoints were quite a welcome to our vacation. So many pictures were taken to try to capture it all. On our first hike we saw exactly zero other hikers. I got a National Parks Passport so I can collect stamps at the parks I visit… you might be surprised how much joy there is in stamping the book in each park visitor center.
We walked the trail to Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. It was scary, challenging, worthy of respect, and absolutely beautiful. I’m so glad I walked it, but it was a once in a lifetime walk. Let it be said that angels can land in LOTS of beautiful places that are lower and wider.!!! The rock mountains in Zion stand so very tall, are rugged, layered, strong, and even dizzying. To look straight up at the sides I had to stop and hold on to something. But stop, hold on, and stare in amazement at the surroundings I did. The Emerald Pools trail and the long trail along the way to the Narrows provided such beauty and quieted my insides down in their presence. We watched a heron patiently fishing for a meal for quite a while before we left him to his hunt.
The slot canyons displayed nature’s art that left us speechless. Horseshoe Bend allowed quiet space to watch the sunset and discover the moon risen already behind us. Waiting in the stillness, I could feel the very moment the sun sunk below the distant mountain. The air changed. As we took it all in from a high vantage point, I didn’t want to leave the twisting river that was far below and her tall walls that were carved across millions of years. Somehow they speak in the silence—they speak of the power of water, expansive time, and perseverance.
Bryce National Park is entirely different from Zion, yet amazing in all of it’s own way. Instead of being IN the canyon, we started above the canyon, making our way down to investigate the many hoodoos that cover the land. Tall towers of sandstone that have been carved though millions of years of erosion and weathering, bring such appreciation for the opportunity to be alive, to be born onto an unbelievably amazing planet, to be in the presence of such strength and wisdom of the land. Words fail.
After exploring and marveling for a week, we packed our bags and headed back to Las Vegas for our final afternoon, evening, and morning before our flight home. Since we’d never been to Vegas before, we wanted to see what there was to see. Might as well. Lights and screens like Time Square overwhelmed my senses. Partially dressed women, mostly in feathers, greet passersby trying to interest them in some local businesses. Invitations to shows, casinos, restaurants, and who knows what else, were everywhere. Traffic was heavy. Tourists and vacationers were everywhere. Casinos flashed. We lost a few dollars in a casino. Do you know how much faster you can lose money at a slot machine these days? You don’t have to pull a handle down or load change. Just load some money initially and push a button a few times. Swish, it’s gone. We ate way overpriced food from restaurants with the faces of famous TV chefs. Underwhelming. We did enjoy AMAZING Giordano’s deep dish pizza that is only in Vegas, after we spent an hour looking at the options around us, struggling to make a decision. I think we were surrounded by too many options, distractions, lines, and people.
The contrast between our week in the parks and our final hours in the city was immeasurable. One place prompted awe and reflection, provided opportunities for physical challenge, the joy of success, exposure to our wild, living world, and begged us to stay for the sheer pleasure of it. The other place overwhelmed all of the senses, provided opportunities to get lost in the indoor maze of smoky haze and buzzing machines and stupidly expensive stores, and begged us to stay with the invitation to lose more money in the hopes of getting back what we already lost. No, I’m not sorry we experienced what is Las Vegas but I don’t want to Viva it. However, my National Parks Passport still needs lots of stamps and there are a million trails I haven’t walked. My love and appreciation to the Source of such beauty.
