Lose Reception, Gain Perspective

Lose reception, gain perspective. That's the slogan for Zion National Park. I could not have chosen a better mantra for this trip. If I was home, this crazy run would have had me on edge. Don't ask me why. It happens every time. I was wandering through breathtaking scenery yesterday as fiat plummeted against bitcoin. No GPS, just an old style driving map within the boundaries of the National Park. No checking Stacker News every 11 minutes or so. Yes, I check in to SN at night, but I avoided most of the craziness I would be plugged into. I needed a little perspective.
Zion National Park was originally named Mukuntuweap National Monument. In 1918 the area's name was changed to Zion National Monument, adopting the Mormon word for the region.
Springdale, the town that borders the park where we are staying, still retains its Mormon identity. Our little lodge is a clear exception. There were Buddhist statues on the grounds, and I found this book in the nightstand drawer where a Bible is usually found:
It was a beautiful day for our visit to the park. After a quick breakfast eaten in our car outside a local deli, and under the watchful gaze of a few incredibly tame deer that wander all over town, we arrived at the entry gates. To our pleasant surprise we discovered that admission was free, since it was Veteran's Day, a national holiday. We planned a mostly driving tour, since we weren't up for any really challenging hikes. Still, we got plenty of exercise and fresh air, while enjoying some of the most beautiful landscapes imaginable. I have been to many National Parks. They each have their own character. According to Wikipedia, Zion's geography includes mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons, and natural arches.  As an added bonus, the cool, dry air of Zion is energizing. Here are some photos:
Less than an hour's drive from the park is the largest animal sanctuary in the United States. We saved some time for a visit.
The sanctuary is enormous, with large areas dedicated to dogs, cats, pigs, and horses, as well as smaller sections for other animals.
I was speaking to a worker who told me that recently there was a drive sponsored by a few corporate donors that waived any and all adoption fees. Someone could have come in and stocked a farm for free. We made a donation and bought some overpriced souvenirs to help the cause. We also visited many dogs, cats, and pot bellied pigs who were available for adoption.
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195 sats \ 2 replies \ @freetx 12 Nov
One of my co-workers from the UK office spent one of his summers travelling around US on holiday, afterwards he said "I now understand why so few US citizens have passports, you have everything you need in the same country".
I think about that every now and then....we can go from sunny beaches, to swamps, to big cities, to snow covered hills, to desert mountains, etc.... One of these days I need to do a driving trip out west....I've flown many times but would love to drive thru the areas in your photos.
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It's true. When I was a teenager I drove across the country twice, and those are still some of my best memories. I lived in California for a while. That one state has so much natural beauty. It's a shame it's being destroyed by politicians.
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10 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek 12 Nov
Same applies to Australia. Met a lot of Australians just traveling around their own country.
edit: Okay, but they don't have as much variety as the US I believe
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You are so lucky.
This is my vantage point at a quarry that is 31 metres tall. Nothing compared to your view haha
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Very nice. I can’t believe you didn’t take home a pet pot bellied pig.
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Don't think I wasn't tempted. Let me tell you, though. The adage that there's no such thing as a miniature pot bellied pig is true.
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Yeah those things are huge.
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Was Zion Canyon Road open to public traffic or was it shuttle bus only? Because it looks like you didn't get down into the canyon, or maybe you just didn't post those photos? If it was closed to public traffic, I highly highly recommend you park your car at the visitor center and take the shuttle bus into the canyon. The drive on the main road is nice and all, but I think the true beauty of Zion lies in its canyon. If you have time for other spots, great, but at minimum, ride to the final station Temple of Sinawava, and take the River Walk Trail, which is a flat and wide and paved trail that follows the Virgin River along Zion Canyon. The views down in the canyon will blow you away.
Also, if you plan on visiting 3 or more national parks within a year, buy the America the Beautiful national parks annual pass. It's cheaper to get the annual pass than to pay for 3 national parks separately. If you've already paid for one or two of the national parks, as long as you have the receipt, the ranger at the fee station can put the money you've already paid as part of the payment for the annual pass.
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No, only shuttles. Those photos were mine. My daughter took the other photos. I guess it's never opened to private vehicles anymore? Good advice on the pass. We will be visiting at least one more national park this trip.
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I think the canyon road is accessible to private cars when shuttles are not running, which is late Fall to early Spring. But most of the year, it's shuttles only.
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Excellent post, I love how you have reflected nature 🏞️ and how you have been able to enjoy this trip, thank you very much for taking us with you to every place you go, keep publishing.
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Zion is high our to-do list.
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Beautiful part of the world.
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Looks amazing. No raccoons up for adoption?
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Does it make you calmer when you are in nature or more nervous?
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More calm, definitely. Until I start thinking about the mountain lions and start imagining the heroic way I manage to save my family.
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Haha Some people feel really jittery when they are out in nature because they are so used to being in the city.
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As a child I lived in New York City. The street sounds gave me comfort when I went to sleep. We spent summers up in a little shack in a rural mountain area. The silence scared me. That didn't last long, though. Now I prefer the quiet.
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I used to live by a hospital tjat had a helicopter pad. I was so used to that noise. I always slept through it lol
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Wow! Breathtaking landscapes!
Do you know the sex of Buddha?
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No. Don't tell me they have special pronouns.
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