Day 16: Zion National Park

First off, thank you, Jean, for recommending that I make this stop on the way from Santa Fe to Las Vegas! What an unbelievable adventure today!  I hiked the 5.4 mile trek (roundtrip) to Angel's Landing, which, though it is one of the most "popular" hikes, was fantastic.  It took just less than 4 hours and involved some  serious mind-games on my part to keep going.  There are chains that I held on to for dear life and missed when they weren't there...

The scenery was fantastic and I actually look like I'm having fun, which, in a perverse way, I was!  This was taken on the way down by my new friends (names unknown) who were training for a 3 day hike in the Grand Canyon.  I didn't tell them that Steph and I hiked the G.C. last year!  (of course, they will be carrying tents and food, etc.)

So far, I haven't mentioned some of the fantastic people I've met on this trip.  And I have to acknowledge the very kind and generous folks who picked up my pedometer very early on the trail (I lost it when I took off my coat) and carried it up to the mid-way point to find me and give it to me!  That's how I know it was 5.4 miles!
Exhausted, I then hit the Weeping Rock Trail, where I saw my first tarantula of the trip.  He seemed quite comfortable with all the people snapping pictures of him!
Then, safely ensconced in my car, I drove the next part of my adventure, through the 1.1 mile tunnel carved in 1930 to take visitors to the other side of the park.  What a different type of scenery:

She's been good to me, taking me on this adventure, so I thought I'd include a picture of my faithful companion, my 2010 VW Jetta TDI, we rock!