Zion

We just returned from the annual Young (now also Vaughan/Lanting/Fitt) camping trip in Zion National Park, UT.  Every year it gets a little more crazy, if that's possible, especially with the addition of kids!  This year we had 15 adults and 8 kids!  We hardly did any hiking/biking this year and spent most of the time in the river.  There was a swimming hole right off the campground.  We also brought giant tire tubes and floated down the river (outside of the Park).

Kale'a LOVED the water!

Elijah on the very popular alligator

Peter going off the rope swing

The initial 30 second shock of cold water, but OH! the squishy sand!

Kale'a was considering becoming a vegetarian for a short while

 One day most of the group biked up to the Narrows (or took the shuttle up and biked down).  Here is what the beginning of the Narrows looks like.  Caleb and Gary hiked it (it's almost all in the water) this year.  I've done it before and it's a great hike, even if I do trip a lot!

Several of us hiked to The Lookout our last evening.  We got there right after sunset but it was still beautiful!  This is at the east entrance to Zion and underneath us (which we couldn't see) is a large arch and to the side is a mile long tunnel to enter the park.

Cooper and Katie bravely hiked the notorious Angel's Landing.  It is not for the faint of heart!  It is a very steep hike with steep drop offs!  I don't have a picture of it but here is what the cliffs look like throughout most of Zion.  Angel's Landing would be as high as the white peaks.

On our way back to Flagstaff one of the vehicles in our caravan experienced a transmission problem (all the fluid leaked out!).  This sunset shot is from the town called Gap on the Navajo reservation where we sat next to a gas station (that was the extent of public facilities) until help arrived!