Zion National Park, UT: August 16, 2005Angels Landing is a 1400 foot high chunk of rock that juts out into the Zion Park valley. It has vertical cliffs on both sides that start at the top and drop on both sides to the valley below. The trail to the top is 2.5 miles long with a climb of 1,488 feet and is not for the faint-of-heart! It starts at the river below and winds through the narrow valley on the west side to a waiting point called Scout Landing. Along the way you get to climb up a set of 21 switch backs called Walter’s Wiggles. The switch backs allow you to ascend quickly up the mountain. Most hikers of the Angels Landing trail make it to Scout Landing, but only a few decided to go on to the top. It’s has something to do with the 1400 foot shear drop-offs on each side. It is not for anyone fearful of heights. Everyone that comes to the park talks about this climb.
We joined John and Bev Higbie at 8:00 am at the shuttle station for the ride up the valley. An early start is important because it can get very hot going up and down the rocks. We rode to the Grotto drop-off point. After departing the shuttle we crossed the river and started our climb up the valley. The first part of the trail has only a slight incline and is very easy. Then you get to a set of switch backs that gets your heart pumping from the climb. After that the trail goes to a more gentler incline until just before you get to the Walter’s Wiggles. From there it is a steep climb to Scout Landing.
When you get there you get a good look at what lies ahead. One-half mile of steep gutsy climbing lies ahead. Then you get to come back down, which is even more gutsy because you get to see what lies below. Only Delton and Bev decided to go on!
The climb to the top is mostly up and across vertical rocks that ascend one side or the other of the cliffs. Pictured are DELTON'S FEET from a very high point with a big drop! At one point of the trail there is a narrow section (about 30 inches wide) where the cliffs drop on both sides to the valleys below. At some sections of the trail there are chains that you can hold onto to keep from falling off. We were told that last year a Boy Scout fell from the top. He and a friend had ventured off from his Troup and they got a little careless.
Delton and Bev really enjoyed the climb and felt the rewards were far greater than the risk. John and Joni thought we were CRAZY.
Joni was expecting us to come back in about 30 minutes. She paced back and forth at Scout Landing and constantly looked up waiting for Delton and Bev’s return. It took us about an hour and a half to make the round trip. Joni was almost at panic-state by then. It was a good thing John was there to comfort her!
