We left for our adventure around 9 pm on Saturday night. Neither of us had slept the night before.... really, I finally crawled into bed at 7 am for an hour or two and she made it a couple hours before that. We drowsily drove the 4ish hours to Zion park. Texting, singing, and pooring out our hearts to help keep us awake. (A special thanks to the male gender here, you were the biggest donator to the conversation, thus saving two very fun and attractive girls from becoming a smudge on the asphalt). We set up our tent on the special spot that we agreed upon and decided to hit the sack. All went well until a cougar started to lurk around our tent. I decided that I was not going to sit back and watch while a feline of the night ate me and my best friend. I started the alarm on the car and it did the trick, scaring both the cougar and Evelyn into a near state of panic. Well, the alarm also awoke the guardian of the near by ghost town. During the night the She Witch tried to send as many curses and spirits our way. It is a good thing that one of my dear friends is a Navajo and he has taught me some tricks about how to properly avoid shaman spells. Evelyn and I woke up to a bright, curse free morning.
Our first day into the trip we decided that we needed to hike Angel's Landing. We started the hike out in the most miserable time of the day. I was so happy that it was October and the most miserable time was only around 87 degrees. We happily hiked through the sand that was so hard
to walk through, up the switch backs that were so amazing to climb, through Refrigerator canyon, up the Wiggle Wiggles of Walter, to Scout point-where I must point out that I created a sand angel on Angel's Landing, and then up the amazing ascent of the final peak. This was my first time up Angels. I was in awe. As you climb you have cliffs on both sides of you. Looking down is humbling as it makes you realize how miniscule and small you truly are. I kept thinking, I would love to free fall off this at some point in my life. Today is not the day, but soon enough. As I climbed I couldn't help but stop and notice the view. It was marvelous. The canyon cut out by the Virgin River, the changing of the colors, the red and white sandstone and the spirit of the land were all things that I needed so much from this weekend. Sitting and eating my lunch up top I felt the power and love of a Father above. After the Landing we decided to end the day with the river walk. Well, I'm half way wanting to go and do the walk, but more than half way wanting to just bust out and swim and play in the Virgin River. As we are skipping (yes, literally) along the path I spot the most perfect little waterfall area. The river goes over some big boulders and creates
awesome swimming holes at the base. While Evelyn is scoping out the area from the top of the boulders I decide that there is no way to enter cold water but to dive in. As I'm locating the perfect spot to jump in I look around and I have drawn and audience. On the path avbout 20 feet above and 30 yards away I look and see that I have gotten quite the fan club. They start cheering me on. I mean, it is evening in the end of October in a cold river, people are excited to see the torment and gasps of breathlessness from me as I jump in. I can't let me crowd down. I jump. WOW! that was cold!!! 
That started it. Evelyn and I both started jumping in from the boulders. When we decided that our skin was sufficiently numbed we climbed out and started the much longer walk back. As we were shivering down the trail people stopped and talked to us and asked us all about it. So Fun, so worth it, and so refreshing, and so cold!That night we crawled up to a much needed and much appreciated fire as our dutch oven dinner cooked. As I was sitting being a little outdoor domestic and preparing dinner I had a visitor. A 5 or 6 year old girl from the camp next to us. She was so curious and wanted to become friends so badly. When I asked her name she could only reply "French, I no understand." Well, my little french friend was so cute, she came back a couple more times just to observe. I heard her talking to her parents later practicing "What's your name?" But, she never came over to enquire. Our bodies were so cold before that the only thing we can think of is that they kicked into hyperdrive to warm us up, because that night it was so hot that both of us were sprawled out in our skivvies on top of our sleeping bags.
The next morning we sorely and reluctantly woke up and started our hike to Hidden Canyon. As
we started up the trail my body was less than happy to be climbing steep switch backs again. We conquered the beasts though and a magnificent look out from the cliff side, able to look up and see our accomplishments from the day before. As we continued into the canyon though I was so awe stricken at the beauty around me. A narrow, sandy bottom (and no, not the tush kind of bottom) slot canyon. Red rock and changing leaves everywhere. I think Hidden Canyon may be one of the most beautiful spots I have ever been able to experience in my life. It was amazing. We had fun climbing up onto the cliffs, 
around rocks and arches, building a fertility goddess out of sand, and some much needed pondering time. As we climbed down the cliffs we passed many people. Many of who were passed the prime of their lives. It was inspiring to see a couple in their late 60s hiking and climbing, or a young family climbing and playing together. It reaffirmed to me that not all of family life has to be boring. It is what you make of it. I hope that I am always ready to go and conquer, explore and create adventures that will give me breath as I drown in the monotony of life :)
