April 1, 2017
After visiting Zion and being thoroughly soaked by the constant drizzle (but in all honesty a fantastic visit!), I made the drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. I’m of the opinion that if you are within 2 hours of surrounding National Parks and don’t stop, you’re most certainly missing an opportunity for adventure.
While I was driving to Bryce Canyon I passed through Dixie National Forest and it was buried in, what looked to this Floridian, like 4 feet of snow (probably more like 1 foot in the deepest areas of snow drift). However much snow there was, I knew I was woefully underprepared for any type of snow, since my only shoes were simple running shoes and I didn’t have a winter coat, only the ability to layer my running jacket and a long sleeved t-shirt.
I braved the elements and the snow with only my running shoes (a poor choice for hiking, I know), and started my hike!
My first stop after the visitor center was to the rock formation “Thor’s Hammer.” There was a steep incline to the view point of the rock formation, and I was NOT prepared for the slippery slope and neither were my shoes. I nearly fell multiple times, but I made it a great spot to take photo and the noped right out of there.
Then I took my time to walk the rim trail around the canyon, viewing the hoodoos that are unique to the park. I was very cold and sort of a disaster.
I was in the park for maybe a total of 2 hours and then I had to leave to make my way on the long drive to the Grand Canyon. In my planning process I had a good friend who is from Utah who suggested that on my way to the Grand Canyon I should stop at Horseshoe Bend. Horseshoe Bend is a view point along the Colorado River in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area. At the time of my visit in 2017 it was a free for all for parking in the nearby lot and a hike over a berm to the cliff edge to view the Horseshoe Bend. Now visitors pay for parking and there is an established walkway and railings for safety. Just 6 years ago there were seemingly no safety measures in place and I watched as more than one group of visitors took risky selfies along the edge of the drop to the river below. **I am incredibly afraid of heights and specifically cliff edges or drop offs, so as the other visitors were casually standing and taking selfies I was belly crawling with my camera for a good shot, and I was still significantly away from the edge with fear in my heart. If you are wondering, I was very conscious to lower my center of gravity so there was less chance of a catastrophic fall.
After getting my shot it was time to make my way to Grand Canyon National Park – the final National Park stop for my first solo trip.
Daring, Dangerous, and Defining 