This long weekend (in observance of Memorial Day), we planned to explore the unvisited national parks in Utah. Back in 2022, we visited Zion National Park in Utah on our way to Los Angeles. Such an amazing trip that was.
This time we planned to cover –
1) Arches National Park
2) Canyonlands National Park
3) Capitol Reef National Park
All three were unique and stunning. It was very hard to decide which one was the best among them. The Arches and Canyonlands are 30 minutes apart, while Capitol Reef needs an additional 2 hours drive from Moab, Utah.
Here are some pictures from those mighty 3
The first four pictures are from The Arches National Park.
The next three are from Canyonlands.
The last three are from Capitol Reef.
We will talk about them in great detail in the next posts.
As we are planning our trip this long weekend to Arches National Park in Utah, we couldn’t help but think about the beautiful Zion National Park and the hike to the Narrows we did there. During our time there, we hiked Riverside Walk, a small, 2-mile paved trail that runs parallel to the Virgin River. The end of the riverside walk marks the start of the Narrows hike, one of the park’s most famous attractions. We noticed a decent crowd coming from the river end, wearing similar kinds of shoes and tops. Almost everyone was with a wooden stick. Those gears appeared to be from some rental company.
Gateway To The Narrows
Immediately, we decided to hike this trail because it looked exciting. Once we returned home, we did some research and found everything about the hike. There are 2 famous rental shops in Springdale: Zion Guru and Zion Outfitters. We booked rentals online from Zion Outfitters, which included their Dry-bib package with an additional waterproof backpack.
There are two approaches to hiking Narrows – Bottom-Up and Top-Down. The Top-Down is a strenuous 18-mile backpacking/hiking trip that requires a wilderness permit. The popular approach is Bottom-Up, which starts from the Temple of Sinawava in Zion and requires no special permit. We opted for the same.
We planned our hike for Saturday, March 19th. The idea was to go to the Temple of Sinawava as early as possible, as it has limited parking. Another option was the park shuttles, which were closed for the season. We reached Hildale, UT, one day earlier, which was a 1-hour drive from the park. The ideal location would have been Springdale, but we couldn’t find any property for our stay there.
We reached Zion Outfitters, located near the visitor center, at 3 PM on Friday to collect the rentals. The rental pickup time was from 4 PM to 7 PM, so they asked us to wait for an hour. We requested them to provide the gears early to save our time. We tried on bibs, socks, and shoes there first, then chose the appropriate sizes. We were asked to choose sticks before leaving. The waiver forms were already signed during the online purchase. We went inside the shop and collected the backpack too. The shop is well equipped with hiking stuff and clothing. They informed us that Shuttles are starting from March 19th, the day of our hike, which was just mindblowing.
On the same campus, we purchased sandwiches, protein bars, fruits, and zip-lock bags from Happy Camper Market. During the shuttle season, private vehicles are not allowed on Scenic Drive, so to reach the Temple of Sinawava, you either need to use the shuttle service or rent bikes.
We returned to our stay and, after dinner, went to bed early. The first shuttle was at 7 AM from the visitor center in Springdale. This hike is so popular that the visitor center’s parking lot gets full even before 6 AM. So we planned to go early to avoid the crowd and to have a parking spot.
We woke up at 3 AM the next day and left for Zion at 4 AM. Since it was an hour-long drive from Hildale to Zion, we reached the visitor center at around 5 AM. Unlike the daytime, there was no traffic on the road. There were still 10-15 cars parked in the lot. It was windy and cold outside; we each wore 2 jackets, collected our gear, and went to the shuttle stop.
Parking Lot
The shuttle stop is just in front of the visitor center’s gift shop. We were second in line; before us was a group of girls going for Angel’s Landing hike (another famous hike in the park). Soon the line behind us gets longer, and we all were struggling with the bone-chilling wind. There was no shed or anything, so we were sitting there in the open. Still, it was a nice experience; everyone looked excited.
5-10 minutes before 7 o’clock, a park ranger arrived and, after greeting the crowd, removed the barrier chain to allow everyone to move forward in line. The shuttle came at 7 sharp, and many of us boarded. The masks were mandatory for the shuttle ride.
First Shuttle of the DayWe made it!Co-passengers
It was a 40-minute ride to the temple of Sinawava. The driver also showed us the famous Angel’s Landing during the trip. Most of the passengers hopped off for the Angel’s Landing hike at stop 6th. Just before our stop, we put the bibs on top of our jackets and got ready for the hike.
Trail Map
We reached the temple at 7:40 AM, then divided the snacks and other items among us, used the restrooms, and started the hike at 8:15 AM. To reach the narrows, you have to hike the Riverside walk (1 mile), which we did last time too, so we finished it quickly without stopping.
Riverside Walk TrailIn A Hurry
Soon we completed the Riverside walk and came to the same point- Gateway To the Narrows, which we visited last month, and where we noticed those hikers. I removed my gloves and put them, along with Harmit’s iPhone (safely packed in the zip-lock), in the bag. A nice fellow took our picture, and we started the hike. At the beginning, you have to cross the stream of the river, which is cold. It took some time for water to enter the shoes. At least we were comfortable.
Journey Begins
The only reason for removing the gloves was to hold my iPhone properly. I wanted to bring my Sony mirrorless, but it’s not waterproof, so we completely relied on the iPhone. Hamit refused to carry her mobile phone during the hike, so it was my responsibility to take all the photos and videos. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so one hand was occupied with my mobile while the other was with the walking stick. I managed 🙂
Mystery Falls
In some places, the water was knee-deep, but the suits were good enough to keep it out. Nearly 1/2 an hour into the hike, we noticed a thin waterfall known as Mystery Falls. Of course, there are no markings or signboards there, you just have to guess the places.
At one place, the ice was still melting, creating a small waterfall that looked amazing. I really wanted to drench myself under it, but everything was so cold. Soon, big boulders and deep canyons started to appear. Everything was far better than we expected.
Little Rest & Pose
Now the water level rose to our knees, and since the water was a little muddy, we had to be extra careful. The river surface was uneven and filled with stones. We maintained our balance with the help of sticks and sidewalls. In some places, the flow of water was too fast, and you really struggled to pass through it.
Against The Wall
It’s not like you have to be in the water during the whole hike. There were some dry places in between, too. Now there were even more amazing patterns on the walls. I was hoping the iPhone’s battery would last until we completed this adventure (although there was a power bank in the backpack too).
Entering To The NarrowsWall Patterns
There is no chance of getting lost since the trail is pretty straight (no turns). After hiking about 3 miles, we noticed another path on the right that led to Veiled Falls. I just took its picture as a landmark and continued the hike. Many fellow hikers returned from this point. This is the start of Wall Street.
Wall Street Starting Point (Path To Veiled Falls In The Picture)
Even if you come this far and want to make a return, it will still be worthwhile. But we wanted to see more, so we continued. Beyond this point, the canyon narrows, and the water level rises. It was risky to keep my mobile in my hand now, so I kept it inside the bib near my stomach (it was tight enough to hold it). I had to take it from there every time it was needed.
Amazing Patterns & CavitiesMaking her wayAlways Cheerful
The next noticeable landmark was the Floating Rock, again there was no marking or anything. But it was looking fascinating, lying there between the giant walls. We took a small break there, ate veg sandwiches, and drank some water; we were carrying this the whole time.
As I mentioned earlier, many hikers returned from the Wall Street starting point. We had the place almost to ourselves multiple times. There were like 10-12 guys like us who came this far. There was a place where the water level was waist-high.
Harmit was a little tired now, so she asked how much farther we were planning to go. I assured her that if the water level increases further, then we will return. I argued that we have a full day for this hike, so why not complete it? She simply agreed 🙂 (poor girl).
Lead MeNarrow Walls
After some time, we noticed 2 large boulders (giant, actually) that were blocking the path. You actually need to climb on them to continue the hike. A hiker coming from the opposite side told us that from this point, the water is chest level, and he decided to return from there. We also followed the same approach (as with Harmit). We took a final break there and ate another pair of sandwiches. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of that place (full focus on eating). After coming home, we realized that was the official end of this hike, and that point was Big Spring. After this point, you need a permit to go further.
Convergence WetnessColorful Stones
The return was easier. We didn’t stop much, took some shots and selfies, and hurried to finish this adventure. Now the hike was more crowded, and we saw many hikers coming our way.
Breathing InThe Last CourseHarPiyTravel
Till the time we reached Sinawava, the atmosphere became a little hot. We were wearing jackets and warm hats inside, which were not necessary now. At the Gateway to the Narrows, it was like Disney World, with everyone taking selfies and pictures. It was really a wise decision to come early.
After another 1 mile of walking, we finally reached Sinawava, and luckily, there were no lines for the shuttle. There was even a shuttle waiting. We wore the masks and boarded the shuttle.
Overall, it was an out-of-the-world experience. We started the hike at 8:14 AM and returned to the Temple of Sinawava at 4:00 PM, for a total of 8.9 miles according to the AllTrails app (GPS stopped working in between, so it may be a little more than that).
AllTrails Tracking
If you are an outdoor person, this hike MUST be on your list. We will create a separate post for Tips and Recommendations for this amazing hike. Please post your queries in the comment section.
Now, since the heat is increasing day by day and it’s getting humid in Omaha, we couldn’t help but go down memory lane to revisit our winter memories. Don’t get us wrong, we love Spring and Summer months too, as they allow us more outdoor activities and our favorite hobby, gardening.
This year started with us going to Colorado, when there were fewer crowds and more chances to hike in solitude. The Bear Lake area in RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park) always has this parking problem. The parking lots get full very early there, so it’s very hard to get a spot there, especially when you have kids in your party.
This time, everything was smooth, no rush in the area, and we did some great hikes. Here are some pictures from that amazing trip.
Places: Cub Lake loop trail, Viewpoint in Bear Lake Area, Sprague Lake trail, A place near Bear Lake, Sprague Lake trail, Cub Lake loop trail, Sprague Lake trail, Sprague Lake trail, Cub Lake loop trail
When I was a kid, I had a phobia of insect worlds. I remember being very scared of grasshoppers, earthworms, and crickets. In my maternal grandmother’s house, we used to spend our school break, and she had a big backyard with lots of plants. I would call it a mini-jungle. Every rainy season, countless earthworms used to come out of the ground, and the toilet was at the end of the backyard, which meant you had to cross all those creatures to reach it. OMG, it was a nightmare that time.
Now, since we love being in nature and have learned to respect nature and its beings, I love capturing these beautiful creatures (for some, they aren’t, but come on, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder) through my camera. And now I am teaching my kid not to be afraid of them or to despise them; being cautious is good, though.
Today, I am going to share some insect pictures I captured over the years. It’s completely OK if you don’t like 🙂
Now, when I am too involved in gardening, I feel overjoyed after seeing an earthworm, as it tells me the soil is in good health. They are called farmers’ friends.
It’s been a while since we posted anything. We missed our blog and the community. Now rebooting the blog with this post. Since we love to be in nature, why not start something with nature itself? Over the last few months, wherever we traveled, we took pictures, and this post includes a few.
Let us know which picture is your favorite and why. If the picture can transport you somewhere, we would like to know where.
Due to a family emergency, I had to leave for India on short notice. I didn’t get enough time to plan my trip. Right now, I am with my parents and relatives. We couldn’t go to our native place and live with our relatives. Some treatments are going on right now, which sometimes drain the energy of the entire family. To maintain my sanity, I try to find solace in photography.
Below are some of the chosen pictures from March:-
There have been multiple tornado warnings over the years, but nothing has come close to a serious situation. It’s been close to six years in Omaha, and we are used to those warnings, asking you to take shelter as soon as possible or reach a safe place.
Friday, 26th April 2024, was just like any other day. We were busy with our remote jobs. In one of my team meetings, someone mentioned the possibility of a tornado in the area. We thought it would be similar to the past, so we continued our work.
At around 2:30PM, sirens went on. We also had notifications on devices. We didn’t take it seriously and thought it was like a normal warning. I continued my office work, but when it started raining heavily, I peeped outside, and dark clouds formed, which looked very aggressive. It didn’t feel good. We decided to go to the basement immediately. The whole time, the siren was on, and we spent 20-25 mins in the basement. Harmit was following live updates, and when it was reported that a tornado had passed our area, we came upstairs.
Just a few minutes later, I received some videos and pictures from my friend. To our amazement, the tornado-hit area was a 7-minute drive from our house. It was not even a single tornado; there were multiple reports. We followed the news and got to know about the destruction caused by this natural calamity in the area.
Video Shared By My Friend
Drone Footage Of The Impacted Area
It rained the whole day, and we were informed about the possibility of another tornado the next day. We followed the updates about the situation through a community group app – NextDoor. All volunteers were asked to gather at a given place at 7:30AM. I decided to go there with my friend, but the next morning I got up late. I thought of going there anyway, but my friend told me about another gathering at 9AM. So we had our breakfast, and I went to the place with my friend.
No one was allowed there except the volunteers and rescue workers. We were stopped by the sheriff, who asked us to proceed once we told him about the volunteer work we came for. The debris and collapsed houses were showing the impact of the powerful tornado in the area. It was heartbreaking.
Video taken from our car
We started helping there. We mostly helped put debris into waste containers and package household items in boxes and bags. There were nails coming out of the planks; I was without gloves, so one nail pierced my hand. After putting the debris in the waste box, we moved to the next house and spent time there emptying the cabinets and drawers and placing them in the boxes. Once that was complete, we put some of those boxes in the trunk of our car and followed other volunteers’ cars to move the items to a storage place. We continued similar work till the afternoon and helped four families.
Here are some pictures from the site:-
It’s really hard for the families who suffered, but many volunteers are helping in every possible way. Volunteers like us did fieldwork; some provided food services and collected necessary items for the victims. It will take many days to restore everything, so we will be helping the families as much as we can. Prey to the god that affected families can reboot everything soon.
I just realized this morning that today is Earth Day. I always feel connected to nature in some special way, so I thought of going back over the past couple of months and sharing some beautiful pictures that glorify nature in the best possible ways.
They include our India trip, Glacier National Park visit, and local Omaha parks. I wish we do our best to keep the earth as clean and beautiful as it is supposed to be so that our future generation can also admire its beauty.
Bike Trail in OmahaCrop Field in IndiaValley in Glacier National ParkLake McDonald in Glacier National ParkPath to HomeTrail in Glacier National ParkA Beautiful LakeJust Another DayAmazing YellowstoneEvening at Lake McDonald
Leave in the comments which picture you liked most. Sharing your favorite picture would be a great idea to celebrate this day.
The fall season is lovely due to leaves changing their colors in beautiful green, yellow, and red arrays. Everything looks so enchanting that you just want to forget everything and be a mute spectator.
The major downside of the fall season comes when trees are stripped of their beauty, charm, and dignity. It feels hurtful to see annuals die and perennials go to hibernation. The hostas, coneflowers, daylilies, and all other plants in our backyard went down post-freeze, which was sad to watch.
Anyway, that’s part of life, isn’t it? The good part, though, is the little area near our deck, which was overcrowded with daylilies, looks neat now. We can also see the entry and exit points of the rabbit family living underneath it.
It’s true that beauty lies everywhere, and it’s in the eyes of the observer. Even in the ruins, It was quite beautiful yesterday; I took some shots from my iPhone and shared them with you.
There are so many things I want to do more; if I had to choose the top 3 from them, my picks would be:-
Hiking/Traveling – it’s not a secret that we love to travel, and our travel preference is always outdoors. Most national and state parks come with the perks of photographic opportunities and lots of hikes. We enjoy hiking as it’s one of the best ways to explore some hidden treasures, and of course, health benefits follow, too. We recently did some excellent hikes in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. One of the best hikes in recent times is still The Narrows in Zion National Park. Check out the hike:-
Photography – Although photography can be done anywhere, whether it’s your backyard, neighborhood, or some nearby public park, traveling to national parks gives ample opportunities to get some fantastic shots. I still have 2000+ photographs to process from my Yellowstone- Glacier trip. I can’t imagine leaving for any trip without my Sony mirrorless. When without the camera, a mobile phone comes in handy, and honestly, mobiles are not behind; one can get superb shots from them.
Reading – Reading is my passion. When I go to the library, I get overwhelmed like a kid at a toy store. I just want to read as much as possible and read almost anything. I don’t have any preferred genre; I just like reading, whether it’s Fiction, Non-fiction, Philosophy, courtroom drama, Horror, Self-help, thrillers, or subjects like Quantum. I couldn’t read as much this year as I wanted, but that happens. Currently, I am reading Bones and All by Camille DeAngelis.
HarPiyTravel 