The sky lightens and guess what - snow!! It's high up on the red rocks but it's there - I can see it between the still lingering clouds! Awesome!
I'm so excited. I quickly pack my car and head into the park arriving just before 7:30 am. I can't see the snow from the Visitor's Center, I need to get high. That leaves either getting on a crowded bus and traveling about 30 minutes to stop 7 - Weeping Rock, taking a few pix (hopefully with no humans in it) and loading back up on the bus for a return trip OR hiking the Watchman Trail again (quiet, no people and definitely no chance of humans in my photos). I'm doing the Watchman Trail!!! Off I go!
There's no snow on the valley floor; it's just wet from all the rain.
I'm moving as fast as I can because I want to be at the viewpoint before the clouds clear.
I start the up hill section. All the deer that were here yesterday are gone. Well almost, I see a good sized buck. Actually, he sees me first and there I hear ker-thump, ker-thump as he prances thru the sagebrush. Thankfully, he doesn't go far and he starts eating the leaves off a tree. Pretty cool!
Continuing up
As I climb, I see small patches of snow on branches, cactus etc but it's no very prevalent.
At the point of the trail where the climb is pretty much done and I turn right, there's finally snow on the ground (just a dusting) and crunchy ice pellets on the trail.
I reach the viewpoint in less than an hour. There's still clouds but peeks of snowy red rock.
The view towards Springdale looks incredible!
And the Watchman and fellow peaks are brightening as the sun continues to rise behind them.
Time to stand and watch and hope that the clouds clear over time. So there I stand in the 33 degree morning....waiting. Portions clear as others cloud up constantly.
I wait over 30 minutes --- the sun is brightening the valley slowly. But the red rocks are still battling the clouds for that totally clear view. I think it's going to be a while -- and I'm happy with the views I've seen
so it's time to start down. I'll have views along the way.
I reach the bottom and head to the Virgin River to enjoy some more snowy views down canyon
as I work my way back to the Visitor's Center.
That's the end of my Zion visit -- awesome ending!!!
I was heading to Bryce Canyon for some snowshoeing but heard there's no snow to shoe so I'm heading home. Great trip!
On my way east back to I-15, I get to enjoy the red rock mesas and the snowy mountains north of St George.
Heading north towards Cedar City, the all the brown that I saw on Sunday is gone replaced by snow on the hills/mountains but not on the ground yet. About 20 miles south of Cedar City, the snow's on the ground now! And the sagebrush, junipers, ... are covered. It's so incredibly beautiful!! Love fresh snow!
And that's the view I get all the way back to Salt Lake! Fantastic! And that small herd of Pronghorn that I saw on Sunday. Well, I see them again - this time there's has to be at least 100 of them! Best drive north ever!
Incredible day!
