The Trip--Day Four

 By day four we needed a little down time. We slept in and then I went to the store to get groceries for the next couple days. Every else played games at the house. It was an emotional morning for me. I talked to Mom and heard the hard news that John would be entering hospice care that week. I had tears running down my face while I was shopping. I was truly able to feel all of that and then move back to family time and being completely present in what we had planned for the rest of the day. 

We planned just an afternoon excursion. We drove the Zion-Mt. Carmel highway that led to the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and the Canyon Overlook Trail. This is right outside of Zion National Park. The drive was beautiful in its own desert way.  

The trail that we hiked led to the top of that arch. We didn't realize that until we got to the end of the trail. Driving back down the scenic highway, it was fun to look up to where we were. 

At the trailhead, the kids read this sign--specifically the warning. Anna was not sure at all that this was a good idea. Josiah and Aliza were questioning my planning abilities. 

Zion was a very different kind of hot than Grand Canyon. It was in the 90s and it really sapped our energy quickly. We were not as high in elevation (like 2,000 ft) but I think we slacked on drinking water because this was a "short" hike and we were just out a couple hours. 

Most of the elevation gain was right at the beginning of the trail. 

The tunnel exit and road that we had just been on. 

*Some* of the cliffs had railing. 

*Most* of the time these 4 hiked ahead and waiting for Anna and I caught up. That means these 4 got breaks and Anna and I didn't because they were ready to go when we got to them. lol. 

Aliza and Josiah got to the bridge first. This may have been the one time they came back to me. Their first question was "Mom! Did you watch a video of this trail?" Yes, I had. "And you thought it was a good idea to bring us on it? There is a bridge. There is no way Anna is going across it." Secretly, Josiah and Aliza also not crazy about going across this bridge. 

Anna immediately froze and burst into tears. The other 3 kids went across. Jeremy convinced Anna to go across "elephant" style. Jeremy went first. She held on to Jeremy backpack handle. I held on to Anna's backpack and she was sandwiched between us. Anna made it!

Looking back at the bridge from farther down the trail. 

The view we were looking for. It was stunning. 

Aliza found a spot to just take it all in. 

Anna and Isaiah found shade instead. 

I made them take another picture together. 

Back to the house in time for supper! We had a townhouse in a vacation rental community. 

Isaiah could hardly wait to get to the pool.  

It was an ice cream and movie night. They watched Madagascar 3. I fell asleep before 10:00.