ZION NATIONAL PARK: RED CAVE MT CARMEL

Virtual Vacation... Just For Today!

Many people in the Northern hemisphere would love to go somewhere warm and sunny for a winter vaca, but not everyone can afford to go to places like Hawaii or the Canary Islands. For a lot of us the winter vaca's is simply a road trip, and in the NW that usually means south to California, Nevada or Utah. Not much warmer, but def a little dryer.  Utah's always been one of my favorite places. So I'm headed out on a Virtual Vacation and escaping the winter - road tripin' it to Zion... with my two four legged girls (Fibi and Taxi). As I hit Route 89 listening to Days Like This by Van Morrison, feelin' happy - the morning was perfect... sun's beating down, car top down, warm air blowing just enough to keep me comfortable. Headed into Zion National Park... first stop Upper Red Cave in Mt. Carmel. Slot canyons! Imagine an impossibly narrow canyon with narrow curves and twisted wind-swept paths, lit with mysterious shadows and hints of light, that tempt canyoneers to wiggle, slither and climb to its finish. Add to that a fun 4WD right to the slot canyon entrance and you have Red Cave. Went spelunking through the lush canyons tightly enclosed by towering striated, sandstone walls... staring up at these grand walls marveling at how smaller than average I felt... leaving civilization behind, yet on some scale a sublime and peaceful feeling of contentment. Pretty kewl. But there's so many different hikes, so check it out b4 you get there. 


After Red Cave I headed West to catch a beer and bite at Bit and Spur Restaurant & Saloon located in Springdale, Utah, at the entrance to Zion National Park. They carry Southern Utah's largest selection of micro-brews and fresh fruit margaritas. Sounds Yum! right about now (the funk soul brother...) They're considered the watering hole and gathering place for locals. Cool art exhibits and an open patio with breath-taking sunsets an amazing view of the canyons. 

Driving back  up Rt 89 I heard a dog bark... and awoke out of my imaginary getaway... girls are gettin' restless - gotta go take them out xc-skiing. Just got a few of feet of snow in the last couple of days - def taking advantage of that.

Red Cave Mt. Carmel

Stay tuned for my next Virtual Vaca... Hmm, Whistler maybe?