Hiking in the heat of the day

Today, we (well, really me- because Joe asked what I wanted to do today) decided to do some of the hikes that were rated "easy". Two were called Upper and Lower Emerald Pools (and involved a waterfall in the description)... and then there was a more strenuous one that ended at the Virgin River in the Grotto.

Sadly, we got a later start today- so we didn't hit the Visitor Center until 9:30. There was parking (though not in the shade) luckily, and the shuttle wasn't very full at the beginning, so off we went to the Zion Lodge. By then, it was after 10:00, so the heat of the day had already started building... and lots of the trail was in direct sun, though there was some shade.

First we headed toward Lower Emerald Pool (a hike of around half a mile). There were trees, greenery (so not all sand and stones) but an abundance of heat and sun, too. There was lots of whining, too. "It is so hot." "Can't we stop for a minute?" "Do we have to go as fast as yesterday?" (Side note: yesterday, when we got out of the river, we still had the mile Riverwalk to get back to the shuttle. Did I tell you there are no bathrooms out there? All the information said that any human waste needed to be carried out. So- I needed to get to the bathroom and I hustled to do it. Kira kept up- which kind of surprised and impressed me- because she was hot and cranky!) And, yes, all those questions were from Kira.

We ran into a couple and two children (one in a Snugli and the other about 4 years old). They said that the hike to the Upper Emerald Pool was worth it- hot, but worth it. We were going to go anyway, but it was good to hear that someone had thought it worth the trek.

We made it to Upper Emerald Pool- and it was pretty. The waterfall was basically the water that has filtered through the sandstone over months and eventually squeezes out where it can, creating a spring or waterfall. There were some nice drips, though, to catch and rub on hot faces and necks. We stood under it for a while, just enjoying the moisture!

From there, we headed toward Upper Emerald Pool- a more strenuous hike (according to the map information- and definitely true in the heat.

Here we are, just across the gorge from the drips that are a waterfall in the winter. (Love the tripod, by the way- it grips onto things for shots like this one. There is almost always someone willing to take a photo for us, but it is great to be able to do it on our own, too.)

The Upper Emerald Pool was not much to see, really. It was cooler there, and there were squirrels that were begging at your feet, but the steep climb in that heat made it a difficult sell to the girl! There was a pretty awesome cathedral wall behind the pool, though.

 There were tadpoles in the Middle Emerald Pools... all different sizes... Koen said they were probably the tree frog that looks like a toad.

 This was a set of steps that were really cool- and where we decided to take the Kayenta trail back to the Grotto, before catching the shuttle bus for the Zion Lodge and lunch. Notice Kira's happy expression!

 I told her it would be mostly downhill, which it was. It was also partially in the shade, so not as hot in those places.

There were some gorgeous views, prickly pears in bloom, and as I had promised, mostly downhill.            

 Here you can see the valley with the Virgin River meandering through it- hard to believe that it can be so dangerously high when you look at it here!

And at the end, Joe and Koen hit the river just across the road from the Grotto. 

 Lesson learned: when planning a hike in the desert of Zion National Park- GO EARLY!