North Kaibab Trail - A Real Stepping-Fitness Challenge

这条山路可以从大峡谷的北沿一直通到谷底。总长14英里。虽说一路风景如画，但这直上直下的路线对体能确实有挑战性。

The North Kaibab Trail is the only maintained trail into the Canyon from the north rim. It takes you 14 miles from its trailhead to its terminus at Bright Angel Campground and the Colorado River. The trail is well maintained and easy to follow throughout its entire length.

The trail is easy to follow because it only has two directions, either going straight up or going straight down.

中国一句古话说得好 - 上山容易，下山难。确实如此。

Like the other rim to river trails the top sections looks easy enough on the way down. Just pray that you are not coming back up this way. After a long day of hiking this trail is a killer of a way to end it. If you think you are so good at stepping machine in the gym, this certainly is not a piece of cake.

但风景宜人。是我在大峡谷最喜欢的一条路线。

The trail is quite pretty, filled with fall colors and lovely trees.

虽然我都算体能强健的那类。这条山路还是把我们折腾的够呛。累归累，这还是我最喜欢和最开心的一个。

Although it's challenging, it counts as one of my most favorite hikes during the trip.

柳暗花明，红军长征，终于盼到尽头了。

God, finally, the trail end is not too far away from us.

Grand Canyon Grand Canyon North Rim North Kaibab Trail

Net Knowledge Pr5 Free Directory

Playing Hide-and-See at Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon is a treat, in our trip to the three national parks, Zion, Grand Canyon and Bryce.

When I got to the rim of the Bryce, I were jumping with excitement just like a kid who was given his most favorite cookie after school.

Hiking along the trail with rocks with unique shapes at the bottom of the canyon made me feel being a kid again and playing hide-and-see at this perfect play ground.

We were bubbly happy and could not wait for each turn at the corner of the rock to see a hidden treasure.

Hiking down to the bottom of the canyon.

Actually, we almost missed Bryce, if not because of an Asian guy we met at the Point Royal of the Grand Canyon.

So, before starting on this trip, I have checked the pictures of the Bryce Canon and was not impressed by the pictures that much at all. After hiking the lovely trails at Zion and watching the magnificent subset at the Point Royal at the Grand Canyon, we could not imagine there was anything else on this trip that could even come close to what we had seen. So, while watching the rocks turning rosy red with the sunset at the Point Royal, we were contemplating the change of the plan of the trip. So, instead of visiting Bryce Canyon, we maybe should spend the rest of our vacation on exploring more of the lovely Zion.

Then here come an Asian man. I believed that he is from Singapore, guess from his accent. To our surprise, he is also from Sunnyvale, where I live. How small this world is! Just like us, he was taking his tour of the 3 national parks, and he was more impressed with Bryce than with the Grand Canyon. Judging by the camera he was using and the his knowledge of photo shooting techniques, we trusted him and stuck with our original plan. And, thank God, we did.

The sunrise, although unfortunately we missed, at Bryce is supposed to be out-of-the-world. When the sun light hits those colorful rocks at the bottom of the canyon, the view is something else.

Bryce Canyon
Net Knowledge Pr5 Free Directory

The Weeping Rock Trail in Zion

"The weeping rock" trail is a half-mile round-trip with a moderately steep climb. The name of the trail is enticing. I mean how much more romantic can it get for paying to a visit to a rock that cries?! The trail is well traveled due to its popularity and short length, but not for a serious hiker.

Zion The Weeping Rock Trail

Net Knowledge Pr5 Free Directory

The River Side Walk at Zion

I liked Zion so much, and I decide to go back there to spend one more day.

After seeing the pictures of the narrows at the Visitor's center, could not wait to go to the Narrows. And, the gateway to the Narrows is this 2-mile easy and yet scenic hike called "river side walk".

The paved trail follows the Virgin River from Temple of Sinawava up to the mouth of the Narrows, under hanging gardens, past pools, brooklets and towering cliffs.

At the end of the River Side Walk, a visitor must deal with some extremely cold water to get to the Narrow. The water is cold. I mean it's so cold that 10 seconds into it, not only just my feet, my brain start to freeze. However, if one can survive the torture, one will be generously rewarded by the view of the Narrow.

Zion River Side Walk

Net KnowledgePr5 Free Directory

Hidden Canyon Trail at Zion National Park

The Hidden Canyon trail starts from the Weeping Rock. The first 1-mile is kind of similar to the Angle's Landing trail because it's pretty much a one-way steep trail winding all the way up to the observation point.

The observation point offers gorgerous views of Big Bend, Angels Landing, Cathedral Mountain and the Organ on the return is impressive.

Then, soon the hike became really interesting. The trail becomes rather narrow and steep, the chains attached to the wall help the hikers pass through the dangerous parts.

The clincher for most hikers is the dizzying drop-off on one side.

This trail is the ultimate test of true courage between Chris and me. While I was having loads of fun passing along the narrows, the macho Absolute Goose did not seem to be that macho that day. :) Somebody just wanted to get out there as soon as possible. He,he, he...

The mouth of the Hidden Canyon.