Zion LVMC 208

pics by Harlan W. S.
April 11-12, 2009

Saturday was forecast to have snow and rain, so I opted for a route with minimal scrambling – the east rim trail with a side trip to Cable Mountain viewpoint (red on the map below). Christine dropped me off at the south end (off rte 9) about 7:40 AM, and I popped out at The Grotto not quite 6 hours later. This hike was a bit over 18 miles, with a small amount of extra mileage from a short backtrack in the heaviest rain (when I was looking at my feet, and took a herdpath back where I had been!).

The next day Christine and I went to Angel’s Landing (blue track below). She stopped at Scout’s Point; she’s been to the summit before, and didn’t want to face Easter crowds on the chains. (My solution: I didn’t use the chains.)

100k map with tracks.	Early on, I look back SW as a light drizzle begins	S from trail.
About 4 miles in, the trail became coated with an extremely slippery 1” of mud. I walked beside the trail for perhaps 3 miles.	Manzanita flowers.	The structure on the Cable Mt. viewpoint – which is actually about 500’ lower than the top of the mountain.
A view down. The Zion road is below; the double-white dash is one of the buses.	View SW from Cable.
Another view NW, with the road near and just past The Grotto.	View NE.	View NNW to Observation Point.
A pond on the way down Cable Trail.	Snow starts falling, turning into sleet.
Phlox		Raining…
	Vetch	Wallflower
Finally I join with the Observation Point trail.	Canyoneers below.
		Next day, we head to Angel’s Landing.
		View S from top.
		View ~N.