Singing in the Lifeboat

August 18th - Mirror Lake and Provo River Falls

Jeff and I spent the day together. We went to Provo River Falls and Mirror Lake. Then we headed down into Evanston and had a nice visit with my friend Heidi McCombie Baxter.

It was really nice to have the time and to be able to tell Heidi about how we chose each other.

It really is a miracle.

And he really is my favorite.

Cedar Break

So I found out a few things. One, a break is just a smaller version of a bad-land. Its a space that earlier settler deemed unusable for their very practical needs and purposes. It didn't mean it didn't have aesthetic value or that it wasn't cool. It just mean that they couldn't live on it or grow anything on it.

Cedar Break is just that. Pretty cool looking and geographically meaningful, but otherwise useless.

When we got there it was hovering right around freezing. There was 2 feet of snow on the grounds, although the road was well plowed. We saw places in fields where people had stopped to make snowmen in October.

Cedar Break itself is over 10,000 feet above see level.

Another interesting thing I learned; the difference between a national monument and a national park. A monument is a SINGLE interesting place or feature and can be related to geography or history or some other important aspect of preservation. A national park encompasses MULTIPLE features and is commonly based on geographical uniqueness and a need to preserve an eco-system or unique features. There are often historical human aspects to these because humans interact with the land; shape it, destroy it, preserve it.

Southern Weekend - Zion Canyon - Weeping Rock and More

After the River Walk, we went back to the lodge and grabbed some lunch together. We browsed around the shop and bought our ornament and cards. Then Jeff took Conner, Ashlyn and Holly on a short hike to Emerald Pools while I laid on the grass in the sun.

I felt rejuvenated.

All I focused on was the warmth of the sun and the soft wind. I could hear the people talking, but I could force those into the background and hear other sounds. My eyes were closed and it was perfect.

We also enjoyed a quick steep hike to Weeping Rock. Then we headed out on the old scenic freeway through the tunnel to see the Checkerboard Mesa and enjoy the subtle beauty of Dixie National Forest as we made our way back to Cedar City for dinner at a diner.

Weeping Rock

This is another of my favorite pictures. My family is weird.

Checkerboard Mesa

This is the tree that provided a bit of shade for me while I rested on the lawn outside hte lodge

Southern Weekend - Zion Canyon - River Walk

I vaguely remember being a kid and coming to Zion Canyon. It seems like back then not very many people visited. Now its incredibly crowded. They have to use buses to travel to road to keep it free and preserve the space.

Holly and Jeff hadn't ever been, so we took the chance to go and view the beauty. I went about half way on this walk and then went back and waited (in as much sun as I could find) while everyone waled to the start of the narrows and back.

I am discovering how much I like being outside, how the smells, sounds and feels of the outdoors fill and replenish me and soothe my soul.

This is just about my favorite picture ever

The red of the rock against of the green of vegetation nestled against the river was stunning

The river and the bluff create an amphitheater, the Temple of Siniwava

Southern Weekend - Snow Canyon - Sand Dunes

As a matter of course, Snow Canyon is not named for snow. It's named for the brothers with the last name snow who were prominent citizens in the settlement. I guess the area was "discovered" chasing some stray cattle.

There are both regular sand dunes and petrified sand dunes. The sand dune sand is very soft. The wind was enough the almost as soon as we made prints or marks in the dunes they were swept away and covered.

I wasn't feeling well so I didn't do the petrified sand dunes. But everyone who went seemed to enjoy it.

Southern Weekend- Snow Canyon - Jenny's Canyon

There's a tiny slot canyon as you come into the south side of the park. There are tons of nooks and crannies and shelves to climb on. Ashlyn needed a boost to get up onto the ledge and the coaching to get down. But she managed!