Zion National Park

Bryant is so great! I had mentioned earlier that I wanted to hike "The Subway" at Zion National Park and he took initiative and made it happen. He is so cute because he planned the whole trip. We had reservations to stay at Zion Ponderosa which is a resort about 40 minutes outside of Zion National Park. At the resort, they had a zip line, paintball, pool/hot tub, a barn dance, giant bon fire, and lots of other fun stuff, all of which we did. He even surprised me with something I've always wanted to do...horse back riding :).

In the park, we went to Weeping Rock (mild hike) and Angel's Landing (moderate hike). Angel's Landing was so cool because the hike was steep enough to require chains going up to the peak. It was my goal to use the chains as little as possible. Success! haha (it really wasn't that difficult). It is a 1,488 ft climb in about 2.5 miles. Beautiful hike!

And then there was "The Subway"!!! We planned a whole day for this hike and we also had to get back country permits to hike it. We worked out a carpool plan with a few other people that Bryant had met in line when he got the permit. The deal was to leave our car at the bottom, have them drive up to the top, hike to the bottom, and drive them back to their vehicle. Which worked out perfectly! Minus one major detail...Bryant accidentally left HIS keys in THEIR car at the top and he only realized it after 7 hours of hiking! I'll never forget his face when turned around to me when realized he had left them. Priceless. He was panicked though! We were just about done with the hike so he ran ahead to catch the group in front of us and hitch a ride with them to the top and bring the car back down. No worries. Especially since he was back before our group even made it up from the final accent. So steep! The actual hike was soooo BEAUTIFUL though! We hiked through slot canyons, swam through freezing water, slid down slick rock like a slide, repelled down boulders and all kinds of crazy/fun stuff :). I am always so grateful and feel at peace when I'm out in Nature like that. Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

There is pleasure in the pathless woods;

There is rapture on the lonely shore;

There is society, where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

I love not man the less, but Nature more...

-Lord Byron