Angels Landing (especially if you fall)
Forrest's Thoughts:
Cliffs, switchbacks, a canyon, cliffs, cliffs, and more cliffs describes Angels Landing fairly well.
Angels Landing is a 5.4 mile round trip to one of the craziest views in Zion National Park. It's no ordinary overlook trail.
You start off on a basic paved hike that starts by the Virgin River. This section is easy. You continue up slightly harder switchbacks, but it's still paved. Not too hard. You turn around to see where you are, and with a face like "what the hey?" you realize just how high up you are. Yikes!
Next comes Refrigerator Canyon. Kinda weird name, but it's true. The canyon feels cooler than the brutal switchbacks of earlier. Also, it's flat! (Mostly)
Walter's Wiggles! Yes, they exist too. They are extremely small switchbacks that were very difficult to make. Strangely, the place is still paved.
"Come further up, come further in!"
Mostly just up. You climb to Scout's Landing where you find trailheads, restrooms, hordes of people, and sand.
Continuing on, you find the first major cliffs. Using nothing but a thick, greasy chain, you shakily climb up to bigger and bigger cliffs.
"Oh, shoot!" you think as you realize that there are thousand-foot drops on either side of you. "EEEEEK!" there is only a narrow path and a single chain railing.
After crawling inch-by-inch to the other side, you climb to the top. Not too bad, eh?
The view is indescribable. Really. Go hike it if you can. My little sister, she's nine, did it. She's a good hiker.
If you are willing to try this hike for yourself, I recommend talking to a ranger first. They will size you up and get you going in the right direction. (It is rated 'strenuous')
It's a fantastic feeling to do this hike. It's just great. At the top, you feel pride and lots of fear. At the end, you feel pride and awe. Kinda both ends of the spectrum. Whatever.
