If You Could Hike to Kolob...

...Saturday would have been the day to do it.

I went down to Kolob Canyon (the northern entrance to Zion) and just as I was about to pay the twelve dollar entrance fee I was told by the ranger that it was free to enter any national park that weekend. What beautiful words! It was as if I could feel the pent up rage from driving hundreds of miles through work zones just lift from my shoulders! I almost gave him a dollar for being the bearer of good news but decided against this as I realized it could have been construed as a bribe. And if there's one thing I ever learned from scouting, it was this: NEVER bribe a park ranger.

In celebration of my discounted adventure I've decided to post pictures from the trip.... for free!

As you can see, Kolob Canyon looks very much like the more familiar, southern part of Zion National Park.

Green lichen. Red rocks. Blue sky. All tastefully adorned in pastels.

Somebody had carefully set up a bunch of cairns (technical term for "tiny rock towers") at the end of the first hike I did.

All lizards look the same, don't they? I'll bet they say the same about us, though.

I didn't realize it then, but I'd have to scale that distant peak in the latter part of the hike.
Not really, though. That peak was only for decoration.

Petrified Brontosaurus. Died angry, I guess.

This is part of a very old cabin on the trail. I love the contrast of texture and form.

Canyon wall.

This sign clearly states the final destination of the hike. The water stains on the rock resembled a massive pipe organ. The acoustics were incredible, too, with every footstep trembling off the walls in deep echo.

Timer shot from a log showcasing myself and the pipe organ.

Above the alcove, pines peak down from beautifully tiered gardens.

Driftwood cowlick.

Isn't Kolob beautiful?

Taylor Creek - now reduced to a trickle - but still charming.

Awesome rock formation: part one.

Awesome rock formation: part two.

And that concludes the free photo show. :)

After the hike, I drove down to Hurricane and stayed with my wonderful grandparents. I can't say enough how great it is to have them so close. We ate incredible steaks for dinner, watched pre-season NFL football (thank you, God, for this time of year) and an ENORMOUS slice of watermelon for dessert.

An excellent weekend.

-Barry