weekend in ZION! 7.31.15-8.1.15

11:43 PM

The OG Crew- Holden, Kennie, Daniel, Chad, and I

COME TO ZION, COME TO ZIIIOOON! But for reals, I highly recommend you to come to Zion National Park, if you haven’t done so. It is easily one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It has always been a dream to come here, and this weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to do so with the greatest people ever!! Beyond the four hour car ride and strenuous hike, there was much more that happened in between that made this trip so much more of an adventure of absolute joy, excitement, and happiness and slight instances of pain and misery. Pictures to not do justice as to how breathtaking Angel’s Landing is. Pictures do not do justice as to how hilarious, fun, and dysfunctional this trip was either..

Our journey first began on Friday, July 31. We met in the lobs around afternoon time and departed onto our journey to Zion. WOO Road trips!! We jammed and danced the whole car ride, ate dinner, and then finally got to the campsite where we encounter our first problem of the trip..The open site we were gonna stay on was filled with rattlesnakes.. No thank you! So we drove towards a different campsite, hoping to find a place to stay. Our worst nightmare appeared before our eyes as we got there: a flashing sign screaming, "ZION CAMPSITE FULL". Here goes our second problem..Well CRAP. This will be fun! Thank goodness, my friend Darren saved our lives and helped find a place for us to stay on the campgrounds.. As in we found a random spot away in the trees and bushes, set up our tents and sleeping bags, hoping that a park ranger doesn't catch us. We spent the night telling scary stories and bonding big time. I am so freakin thankful I got away with no bug bites from camping. it's a real miracle.. Anyways, we made it through the night, thank goodness!

The next morning, we got up at 5 am, cleaned up, and my car filled up and took off to look for a breakfast place. We couldn't find a place, and suddenly as we were driving back, we encounter our third problem of the trip: Geoff's car slowly but surely broke down. His battery died on us. AH. Then our fourth problem: we were late! It was 5:50 and the shuttle for the trailhead to Angel's Landing leaves at 6. We sprinted our butts off to the shuttle stop but.. WE MADE IT!

The sunrise was absolutely incredible and I was so pumped for the day. The hike started off super tough. There was a dirt trail, then paved switchbacks, then a cool walk through a canyon, then more paved switchbacks called Walter's Wiggles. Finally, we reached the plateau and it was SOO beautiful. We ended up taking way more pictures and rests than expected because everywhere we went got more and more stunning.

Finally, we got to the chains that led up to the actual Angel's Landing. This part was so sick. You can literally oversee the whole canyon and the world looks so so big. It blows my mind away seeing these incredible creations Almighty God has created for us to live with and enjoy. The hike was SO worth it. The view was indescribable. We had a blast taking pictures up there and enjoying the view. I love my sweet friends and for how hilarious and fun they are.

After the hike, we tried to jump Geoff's car. It worked, then died. Then worked. Then we drove a mile down the road to go to an auto shop, 20 miles away. Then a mile after we drove, the car breaks down again. Hahahah. It was actually the funniest, worst, but funnest experience. Geoff went with Taryn to get a new battery, and dropped us off on the side of the road. Holden, Chadley, Kennie, Daniel, and I ended up having a dance party on the side of the road, along with snacks and laying out our hammocks and blankets. We had speakers and blasted music, hiked up the hills, and took pictures. It was hilarious. I couldn't think of better people to be stranded with. So that was problem number 5 and 6: car breaks down and we end up getting stranded on the side of the road in the heat.

Then..Geoff finally got a new battery and the car works! At least thats what we thought..We ate lunch and drove back to Provo because we were too exhausted to go on another hike and because the car was having issues. About two hours in, his car starts to die...again. The next exit was a gas station and was literally 30 seconds away.. and WE MADE IT!! Also, we are in the middle of nowhere basically and this random gas station ALSO has an auto repair shop. Seriously, it was a tender mercy from God. So that was problem 7 and 8: car breaks down again and we are now stranded at a gas station.. We waited an hour for Geoff's new car part and then alas, IT WORKS!!! We blissfully drove home, finally, in peace. We got home and it felt so good to be back at BYU. What a life man. What a trip. Funnest trip ever though, with the greatest people and I am still so amazed as to how beautiful this world is!! Go out and ENJOY it! Basically in a nutshell, this trip was worthwhile because of all the fun we had and the difficulties we conquered. It was definitely a trip to remember and I am so grateful for such a crazy, hilarious, and beautiful weekend spent at Zion National Park.