We climbed up to Angel's Landing in Zion NP today. It's 2 1/2 miles with 1500' of ascent. Quite a hike - a switchback up the cliff base followed by a walk through a slot canyon and a steep climb up Walter's Wiggles to the staging area. (OK, I was having Everest fantasies). The day was gorgeous - cool hiking weather, sunny and not too much wind.
The last half mile is along a rock fin jutting out over the Zion Canyon valley. In several places the trail is no more than a few feet wide and sometimes runs along the side of the cliff, with chains set into the rock for handholds. Two of the five of us decided to skip the last stage. Catherine, Anna and I headed out to the tip.
"White knuckles" doesn't do it full justice. And on the way back, Anna slipped and fell headfirst on one of the cliffside segments. She managed to arrest her slide with inches to go before the edge. I was right behind her and grabbed her leg, as did a guy coming up the other way (who may have been partly responsible for her slip, by refusing to give way on the chain), but she had already stopped by then. So the good news is that I still have a daughter. The bad news is that I'll have that image stuck in my head forever.
