Our son Jordon and his brother Joel and their friend Kurt took a hiking trip to the Southwest last year, the best part of which was in Zion National Park. Jordon knew he wanted to go back, and this summer got a job working at Zion Lodge in Zion National Park. He set up a blog, and when Max and I saw the pictures, we knew we had to go visit Jordon in Zion. We went in July. We kept singing the hymn, "We're marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion. We're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God." When we returned home to Texas the final verse meant even more to us. "Then let our songs abound and every tear be dry; We're marching thru Emmanuel's ground, We're marching thru Emmanuel's ground, to fairer worlds on high, To fairer worlds on high." 

This is Tuesday morning at theZion Lodge, where Jordon was working. It was a beautiful spot, just right for the lodge. We were waiting for Jordon to go and hike in The Narrows. Monday we had hiked up to Weeping Rock, tame compared to what we could get to do later in our trip. 

Tuesday morning, Jordon wanted us to take the hike up The Narrows, part of the Virgin River. I had remembered him talking about this a lot from last year, and how much it meant to him. Little did we know what lay ahead. It was a great challenge. Max and I ended turning back before we reached the forks, and Jordon and Lexa went on. Lexas is a Romanian young lady working at the lodge. She and Jordon were friends. But we still went a great distance. One thing we had to keep in mind was that we still had to go back, and we were hungry and very tired. The water was swift. I wore my ACG hiking shoes. I was so glad for them. They survived all that. Max and I also purchased walking sticks at the Zion Lodge. Ha-ha. I look at our niave, smiling faces. Little did we know. But still, when Jordon got back later on that afternoon, I told him that was one of the most remarkable experiences I'd ever had. It was life changing for me! I wouldn't have traded it for the world. Zion forever changed my life. 

Looking down before our hike. 

Starting out. Jordon looking out for me. I had a sprained wrist and was terrified of falling on it. I could not have done this hike without that walking stick. We purchased them at the lodge. It kept me from being swept away many times. My wrist held up well. Just beyond this turn, we had to walk to the other side through some swift water. I got so dizzy looking down at it, I got nauseous. Max and I both wondered about quitting, but of course we couldn't. I really learned to deal with vertigo here, and how not to look down when the water was rapid. I had to trust where I put my feet the whole hike. The river is covered with large rocks. It was a big challenge for me emotionally, but I did it. Heh-heh.  

Lexas with her pack still over her head after wading through the very deep water. I lost contact with the bottom here, and Jordon had to grab my arm and float me along until I could touch bottom again. OO-oo, that water was glorious! 

We were so tiny in here. 

Every so often we would stop to look up and wonder at it all. 

Guess who took this? 

Swift water to wade through. You learned quickly to try and figure where was the easiest spot to work through. 

Occasionaly we got off on dry land. 

Boy, were we glad for that wall. You'd be surprised how swift that water was. The next day I felt like I had Lance Armstrong thighs. 

Photo op. 

Narrows. 

Jordon resting. 

We came upon this deep area, and I just had to get in. The Zion River is glriously cold. This was one of my favorite times of the whole trip. 

Lexa after her swim. 

I like this photo. 

Jordon wanted to take a back drive to Cedar Breaks NP. This drive took us up through some high mountain country. Up, up, up we went. The park road disappeared eventually, and we had dirt road. We even came across a lady with a flat tire on this remote road and helped her change it. 

White rock. 

Now we know we've left the canyon below. 

One thing we noticed was the abscence of power lines up here. 

An old wooden fence with wild briar rose. I'm not sure what elevation we were at, but the change in scenery and air temp was very different. 

This is an amazing shot Jordon got of this eagle.  

The change in scenery was remarkable. This is a high mountain meadow.