Mach 8, 2023

We are at the Zion River RV Resort in Virgin, Utah and will be here until March 26th. 

On Monday we took a drive thru the Smith Mesa Canyons located on the northwest part of Zion. The drive took you to snow covered mountains and ended in yet another road closure due to deep snow. Spectacular canyons and red rock lined the roadway.

Tuesday it was into Zion National Park. First up was Bryce Canyon heading East. Switchback after switchback takes you to the top of the mountain. Around every corner there are breathtaking views. Diane took over two hundred pictures today throughout the park. On this road is a tunnel that spans a mile thru the mountain. 

Once in a while the Garmin camera just doesn't want to listen to me. 

The Zion lodge area of the park with its many hiking trails has a limited capacity of 300 vehicles so when we arrived in the morning we could not get in, so we did the Bryce Canyon trip and on our way back they motioned us into that section of the park. It was after noon so some must have left. Good news for  us.

Our first stop was at Weeping Rock. This hike was only .4 tenth of a mile, short but very steep. We could feel it in our legs as we got to the top. Because of the snow cap, the side of the mountain was like standing in a shower, constant water flowing down it side. At the top of the trail you are standing in a carved out section of the mountain behind the water. Great for picture taking. 

From here we headed to The Temple of Sinawava with its paved trail following the Virgin River upstream through narrowing canyons to The Narrows. The hike is a one mile long path which at times was covered with snow or ice. It ends at a river crossing and continues on into the Narrows. We saw hiker after hiker with waders on as they all were crossing the river into the narrows. The water will come up to your knees and it was very cold, not for us with just our hiking boots on. 

Diane up ahead on the snow covered path.

"Puff  the magic dragon"

This guy is crossing the Virgin River to hike the Narrows.

Toward the end of the trail, I came upon a gentle area of the Virgin river and decided it would be a beautiful place to spread some of Daryl's ashes. The water was clear and about 4 inches deep and flowed into the main river. Daryl's ashes floated to the bottom, remained there for a while and little by little was taken away by the current. It just so happen that there were several benches a short distance from here allowing you to sit and think about the beauty around you. I think she would have liked it here. We were supposed to come here the summer she passed. It took a few years but she made it. Rest in Peace.

 Today we drove to Grafton, a ghost town not too far from Virgin. However, to get there you need to circle around and drive maybe 20 miles. The town, a Mormon settlement, once had 30 some building but today just 4 that have been maintained. A flood in 1862 and Indian attacks in 1866 helped lead to it eventual abandonment. There s a cemetery also and many of the grave stone have deaths listed as 1866, including an entire family.

This house was used on a set in the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Katharine Ross rode on the handle bars of the bicycle in the front yard in the movie.

  

staircase leading to second floor in home.

Doorway just big enough for Diane, I had to duck.

No metal fencing, we see a lot of fencing made out of scraps of tree limbs through Texas, Arizona and Utah.

Large timber used in the house.

Grafton Cemetery with approximately 80 graves.

This is the sky from the RV park tonight.