Zion and the Narrows

This is the first of a three part post, reminiscing my experiences in Zion and Las Vegas over the past week. I broke it up according to different experiences and each one is unique in that respect although because I've been extremely busy, I'm writing them all at the same time.



It started in Zion. Surprisingly, I had an entire blog planned out for this post but need to condense it due to recent events (which I will get into shortly). Andrew and I headed out Tuesday (September 30th) for a week filled with hiking and adventure. We arrived mid afternoon and realized we had no lodging.

"I thought we were camping?" I complained as I had just bought a brand new top of the line tent, and brought my own mattress pads, and extra sleeping bags.

"I don't camp," Andrew replied almost as if it would lead to cancer.

"C'mon we said we'd camp and I brought sleeping bags and everything. Besides, it's $10/ night as opposed to $400.

"No hotel in Springdale (the city bordering Zion National Park) costs $400/night.

"The main lodge in the park does. Its really expensive and I checked availability before I came and they were completely sold out."

"All I know is the rooms aren't $400."

"Wanna bet?"



We passed through town as the conversation continued.



"What about that place? Looks nice and they have a Spa!" Andrew chimed.

"Look I don't care about staying in some nice hotel; we do that all over the world. We came here to go camping remember?"

"I went camping last summer and I hated it; I'm finding a hotel, you can camp. And no room in that place is $400/ night."

"Maybe not the standard ones but the suites definitely are."

"$250 says they're not."

"Hmmmmm. I'll bet you but lower the number to $350. And what types of suites?"

"The most standard, or the cheapest one they have. And $375."

"Tax included and you got a deal."

"Booked."





(Ring, Ring, Ring)



"Welcome to Desert Springs Spa how can I help you?"

"Hi, I have a bet I'd like to settle and I was hoping you could help me out?"

"Sure."

"How much are your cheapest suites?"

"Hmmm let me check…… $340/ night."

"Including tax?"

"No, not including tax."



I whispered to Andrew about our sick sweat we had going on.



"How much is tax."

"Well in the state of Utah its 12.5% so that comes out to $382.50 / night."

"Thank you."



SHIP IT!!



Alec: 1

Andrew: 0



I was still determined to convince Andrew to camp. Perhaps I should have changed the terms of the bet to camping vs. hotel but I didn't think of that at the time. After stopping at the visitor center to find out more information about our upcoming hikes we grabbed a bite in town and debated possible lodging situations. After much deliberation I realized Andrew wasn't going to budge. I didn't feel like camping alone so we ended up getting the Villa at Flannigan's; the nicest room in town. So much for camping. Fortunately, I freerolled for the night because of our bet. In a bargaining attempt Andrew wound up paying 2/3 of the room cost for the "master" bedroom as opposed to the "guest" which worked out well for me too. I'm not sure what his logic was; but it definitely wasn't worth the extra money. The rest of the night turned into an intense scrabble match, which I realized was a lot more fun of a game than I had remembered. We are both really competitive and have slightly above average vocabularies so that made it fun. After boning Andrew for my standard $250 in scrabble, I booked a $500 win and called it a night! Good start to a week in Zion.



Alec: 2

Andrew: 0



The next day we proceeded to hike Observation Point; an 8 mile round trip hike that included a 2000 ft. elevation gain and countless switch backs. That combined with 90 degree + weather didn't help the situation. It was absolutely gorgeous and we managed to do it in solid time; despite running out of water nearly a mile from the top. It provided a spectacular view which overlooked the whole park and allowed for one of the best panoramic views I have ever seen. The following day we went repelling with a private tour guide which was a blast. Andrew and I are both fearful of heights but mustered up the courage to repel down 80' crevices which was pretty intense. We got to see a different part of the park and didn't see another person all day. Peaceful. Oh, and I forgot to note; prior to our first repel we bet on the distance of the drop. Peering over the cliff we agreed on our usual $250. Our guide was the moderator. She was a bit confused (as most are when they see us betting so frivolously) but caught on quickly. 44' I concluded after some thought. 27.5' Andrew said. I knew he was drawing dead. What a monkey. The final distance was 47'. Not bad. Perhaps I forgot to mention I'm an Eagle Scout with a merit badge in rock climbing! Shhhhhhhhhhh.



Alec: 3

Andrew: 0



Day 4: The Narrows!



The finale had arrived. After several days of extensive hiking, betting, chinese poker, repelling and relaxing; the time had come. The main purpose for our trip; the Narrows were a 16 mile two day hike that entailed wading through knee high (and sometimes waist high water) through the Virgin River. Autumn was supposed to be the most beautiful time to go because the leaves are changing; the temperature of the water is warmer and the outside temperature is cooler. Special walking shoes, socks, dry bags, and a hiking stick was required to complete the journey. Our shuttle was set to depart at 9:30 am for the 1.5 hour trip to the drop off point. We arrived at the story early (8:55 am) to get fitted for clothes and make sure we had everything. The store was packed. After spending several minutes watching the informational video we proceeded to check out only to find that the shuttle had left us there. No announcement in the store or anything. Just up and left. They also informed us that there was no later shuttle and they didn't advise driving ourselves because it was a dirt road and they were expecting flash floods the next day at which time the road would be closed for as long as a week. Pretty standard. We made a quick decision to do the "up and back" day hike which entailed starting at the bottom and hiking up the river for as long as possible and then coming out the same way you entered (as opposed to starting at the top and hiking downstream the entire time). We ended up having an absolute blast and hiked for nearly 9 hours before getting back to our hotel. The hike itself was among the most beautiful thins I have ever experienced. With over 300' sandstone cliffs towering over us on both sides and the walls converging as narrow as 22' it was amazing. We encountered some of the most photographed places in the world with waterfalls, cliffs, rocks and streams. Most hikes you can see things from a distance (such as Observation Point) however this was a hands on experience. 80% of the hike was spent in the river, walking over bowling ball sized rocks. Slipping, getting wet and even completely falling down was the norm (hence the waterproof bags). It was easily worth it though and we got some great pictures as well as video. I will be making another video compilation in the future when I return from traveling and will post pictures as well. While they don't do justice; they give insight into the beauty of this place. I highly recommend doing this hike and experiencing Zion. It is said of the park; "Do not visit Zion until you are old, for after you do you will not appreciate the other places you go because the standard is now too high." I've been a lot of places and I can only say this is true of several. Perhaps Yosemite and Zion are 1 and 2 and I'm very grateful that I got to go.



The trip ended abruptly as we got back from the Narrows. We discovered that the entire town (and two closest) were completely sold out because of the local Marathon (apparently a big event for a town with a population of 500 or something) and an annual event called the "Red Bull something or other" which entailed people mountain bike racing down huge boulders and rock structures inside Zion. Now these aren't ordinary rocks or boulders. They would be difficult for the most experienced hiker to climb and these lunatics are racing down them and doing tricks off jumps, etc. It was a huge event and it's too bad we didn't get to experience it. We were forced to leave early but not before making one last trip to our favorite local restaurant, Spotted Dog. Before going for the first time I had to remember not to judge a book by its cover. It sounds terrible but was actually fantastic. We went there twice in one night once and got fairly acquainted with the staff. Somehow we got involved in a conversation about the conservative nature of the town and Utah in general which led to some disagreement and hence a bet was starting to ensure. We came up with betting on the two hostesses religion. Andrew was convinced that they were Mormon. I disagreed. I ended up betting him that neither of them were mormon for $250; meaning that if either of them were Mormon I lose. We asked the first waitress at which she replied, "why?"

After telling her we had a bet on it she said she would be whatever religion the highest bidder would offer or if she could have 25% of the bet. I took that to mean she wasn't Mormon.

So far so good. Onto the second waitress. Here's where it gets interesting. When we asked her she said she was raised Mormon but excommunicated herself a year ago; meaning she is no longer Mormon. After some debate we concluded that I won the bet on these grounds. I explained to Andrew that religion is a choice (unlike a nationality) which is unalterable. If one asks me "what nationality are you?" I would reply Italian. It really tilts me when people confuse this and say something like, "oh I'm Jewish (nothing against Jews obv; Im using this as an example). However many people convert from Catholicism to Buddhism or Judaism to Christianity or "A" to "B". This particular waitress happen to be raised or baptized Mormon but for whatever reason decided she didn't want to practice it and hence excommunicated herself (i.e. doesn't associate herself with Mormonism). This would be impossible if we bet on her ethnicity. Sick beat for Andrew.



Final Score

Alec: 4

Andrew: 0





For part 2 of this 3 part post continue to "Bink to Bink."