On my way home from Boise last week, I intended to take Highway 14 from Interstate 15 over to Route 89 so I could go south through Kanab, Page and Flagstaff instead of Las Vegas. Well, I somehow missed the turnoff for Highway 14, so decided to take Highway 9 through Zion National Park. It’s been over 20 years since I’ve been there, but I remembered it as a beautiful site, one our family enjoyed immensely.
After traveling about 10 miles on Highway 9, I saw a sign saying the national park was ahead: entrance fee required. I hesitated, but thought how much could it be? $6? $8? I knew it was pretty, so it would be okay. About 10 more miles, and the entrance sign appeared. Cars – $20! Wow!
I asked the ranger if it really was $20 just to drive through; I was traveling to Phoenix. He explained it was, and said my option was to turn around, go back about 20 miles and go down through Hurricane and Colorado City (can you say Warren Jeffs?). I decided the 20 miles was not worth the $20, so forked over my bucks.
I grrr’ed for about a mile and then decided that was ridiculous! Fussing to myself was not going to get my money back and I might as well enjoy the view. So that’s what I did! It is even prettier than I remembered! I was forced to stop at the tunnel to wait for some wide vehicles to come through from the other end, so I turned off my car, got out and took some pictures like everyone else was doing.
The road through the entire park is only about 20 miles and took me less than an hour, tunnel stop included. But it turned out to be the best part of the drive. Well worth the $20, and then some!
But you didn’t stop to go swimming in our favorite swimming hole. Is that because your older brothers weren’t there? 😉
I remember that swimming hole.
“Grab her!”
Or was it “Grab him!”? I forget who started drowning first, Donna or Don.
Don, I think…
We visited Zion a couple years ago with our grandkids. It brought back a lot of memories. Too bad you did not have time to take a hike up the narrows. It is a special place that all of us have fond memories of.
Don started it, and Dad shouted “Grab him!”. So I grabbed him! Then I fell off the same rock he had fallen off of, and Richard and Dale had to grab us both.
Richard, I was actually wishing I had time to stop and take a hike. I would have loved that, and maybe Glenda and I will go back up there sometime and do just that!
I think the “Grab him” was under the bridge near White River, going south to Globe. I know that’s where Don cut his foot nearly through, and it was still numb the last I asked. Or maybe the two incidents have combined in my mind.
I remember it like Donna says, but I thought it was Dale that cut his foot near Globe.
Nope, it was Don who cut his foot. Like Mom says, his little toe stayed numb.
Those narrows were a life saver. It was so hot that day – 108 I believe. We really enjoyed getting soaked on our hike. That trip was when we found out Deidra gets a heat sickness just like I do – no fun at all.
As Donna stated it was me that went under first in Zion and I didn’t hear anyone say anything after that. 😉
As for the foot, I’ve still got the scar and it’s not hard to see. Surprising it would last for 45 years. And yes, my little toe doesn’t have quite as much feeling on the outside of it.