Angel's Landing and the Narrows.

Sometimes... maybe when I'm having slow times, or rough times I like to have a list to help me get things done. Sometimes I put things on the list that I will definitely do in the day-- get out of bed, shower, etc. And sometimes I add things on the list after I've done them, because I think they would have been a great addition to the list.

I kind of have an unofficial bucket list of adventurous things that I need to do before I get old? Die? 'Settle down'? There's not really a time limit on the list, but I pretty much add things to it at will. Checked off the list has been running the half marathon, skydiving, driving across the country, hiking the Y, halibut fishing, and a few other things.

On Sunday I did something and though it was so great! I decided to add it to the list after I'd done it!

Saturday I left to go down for a long weekend at Zion National Park with some of the people from my ward. Actually, some really awesome people from my ward. I went along as something fun to do, not really realizing what I was in for. They told me we were hiking Angle's Landing on Sunday after church (and boy!, Church was quite the experience in Hurricane, UT-- be sure to pronounce it right "her-uh-kin" oh it was exciting but that's another Story). Saturday night, after a late start we arrived at our campsite around 11, it was probably the farthest thing to the middle of nowhere I've ever been. It was a good thing we had jeeps, it brought a whole new meaning to the word 'off roading' for me. I think it might be a thing that mostly the driver enjoys...

So we slept on the ground (camping, the joy of waking up cold!) had breakfast, went to church and then changed and headed out to go hiking. I wasn't sure what I was in for... I heard snippits- "2 1/2 miles" (ok, that's do-able), "afraid of heights" (I'm alright so long as things aren't shaking), "beautiful views" (I like beautiful views). As we ride the tram through the park I hear bits of the pre-recorded information like "strenuous" and "evaulate the abilities" and "bring lots of water" I started getting nervous, but it was too late to back out. So up the Mountain we went!

It was such a cool hike! I think that that part of the country is so beautifully different than anywhere else! That last bit, where you hike/climb... it was crazy! At the end you had to use a chain to get up. It wasn't super scary, just nerve wracking... Here's a picture of Ben doing it:

And when we finally made it to the top it was GORGEOUS!! Here's a picture of our awesome group:
From left to right: David, Me, Lauren, Sean, Nik, Jason, Jana, Sara, Celeste, Josh and Ben (hiding in the back)

It was beautiful! Here's a view from the top (that I did not take)

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After the descent that made me realize exactly how steep the hike up was. The rest of the group decided that another hike was a great idea! (Crazies! I was ready for a nap!!)

But a one mile short hike was something I could do. So we went to the Lower Emerald Pool-- which wasn't emerald at all-- it was brown. Like this:

We entertained our bus driver and fellow passengers by singing songs on the way back to our cars. Most of them had Na-na-na's in them Hey Jude style...It was great! I think I slept the best on Sunday night than I have in a LONG LONG time! It's amazing what physical exhaustion will do for a good night's sleep!

On Monday we were in for more hiking! Again with the snippets! We decided to hike "The Narrows." And pretty much what I knew about the narrows was that my feet were going to get wet. MY FEET!!!

That's me... TRUDGING up a riger... against the current. Up to my knees (sometimes my waist). It was GREAT! SO beautiful! Such a nice day, not too hot, not too cold. Wet feet weren't such a terrible thing... It was actually really great. 

So so so fun! I'm so glad I went. 

And Now I can (add and) check hiking Angel's Landing and the Narrows off the bucket list!!