April 26, 2007: Zion Nat'l Park, Utah.

Zion was re-discovered by Mormon settlers in the 1800s who thought they had discovered the promised land. Brigham Young said that they were wrong, that it was not Zion, and the name stuck. It was called "not Zion" for a good long while, but eventually people relaxed and started calling it Zion again.

The porous Navajo sandstone cliffs here drip hundred-year-old water from underneath alcoves.



Like Yosemite, the park is particularly attractive to climbers, who come to scale some of the sheer peaks. We set out (or up) for a spot 2,000 feet above the Virgin River.

After a few miles of relatively tame switchbacks up the mountain, we reached a plateau. From there, we had to climb another half-mile up a ridge with steep cliffs on each side. There were fixed lines most of the way up to make it a little easier, but it was really really scary.



But worth it. The peak is called Angel's Landing, so named because it was thought inaccessible for a long time and that only angels could get to it.






We were tired when we got down. We headed down to Springdale and over to the Mormon-church-turned-pub for replenishment. The place is a sign of slow progress for Utah.