Fall Break- part one

We took advantage of the fall break from school and went to the St. George area from October 19 to the 22nd. We left after school and got to our camp site three minutes before the gate closed at 9 p.m.The next morning was a beautiful day with the sun rising over Quail Creek reservoir.

In the morning we drove on the road to Kolob Reservoir. This road goes in and out of Zions Park and the scenery is spectacular.

Near the top of the drive the aspen trees still had some stands that had bright yellow leaves on them. The yellow leaves and the blue sky was an amazing contrast of colors.

We made it to Lava Point and looked out to Zions Canyon below us in the distance. We made it back a little after noon and met our friends the Lovelands who had arrived at the camp.

We determined to take an afternoon drive to Toroweap. This is a part of the Grand Canyon that is accessed by a 60 mile long dirt road from Colorado City. After the three hour drive we arrived at the ranger station and from there had another four mile drive on slick rock to the canyon overlook.

While it is not a wide part of the Grand Canyon  it is a 3,000 foot drop straight down. It is a breath taking view in all directions. Looking west is the Lava Fall rapids of the Colorado River and the roar of the rapids can be heard from where we stood. We took advantage to look all around but looking over the edge is one of those I'll do it once experiences.

  
We crawled out on our stomachs and looked down. It does take your breath away. Our friend Annette did not like heights and this was not one of her most favorite parts of the trip.

We then decided to go back a different route over Mount Trumbull which lead us into Ponderosa forests and then down a steep grade to a valley. In this valley was an old school house. We reached it at sunset but still walked around it and in it and looked at all the stories of those who had lived there years ago.

We then continued on in the dark. This route was a 90 mile dirt road to St. George. Around 9 at night we heard a pop and had a flat tire. The sky was dark, the stars bright and the air cold and we were in the middle of nowhere. Good thing for full size spares. Later on I read in the park service brochure that " 25% of visitors experience one or more flat tires." Good to be part of a special group.