Where the Angels Land ...

3rd September 2009

Zion National Park is a land of cliffs and canyons. Whoever goes to Zion National Park wonders about a hike ... all the national park personnel talk about it ... and most of the visitors would like to hike it ... and that is Angels Landing! It is an exciting hike indeed until you start hiking the last 1/2 mile to the top. As everybody started I too did, but I started late.

The trail goes all uphill, steep uphill and winding switchbacks, like walking on the back of a worm. Felt like path of pilgrimage ... never-ending. Not sure how many stories behind this trail. How many casualties? ... I knew people have died here but, then people have died hiking up Half Dome in Yosemite National Park too. I didn't have a faintest idea what it is ... I came to know only when I saw it! As I scrambled up I felt the width of the entire cliff was same as of my own hips! I am not saying I am 5ft wider but, the trail felt so narrow :)

And there it was ... the dead-end! felt like I was flying, scarry and open. This side or that side, it is more than 1000ft fall. I couldn't stand there for long. The view was great but not making me comfortable. I was seeing the bright white-silvery clouds changing to black and purple in an instant as if they had some personality disorder. Last thing I wanted to see was that cruel smile of nature again ... the lightening. I had to start going down ... and I did. Scrambling down that 1/2 mile was much more scarier than going up. I slid at one place and I froze for a moment. I sat there for some time to breathe normally again. Love for life is great I thought. And also death is scarier. I felt left out and pushed my way staggering carefully down. For the first time in life, a short lived thought of loneliness passed my mind ... My spirit of "I am alone but not lonely" shook a bit ... till I reached the Scout's Lookout. Then, what the heck ? I did it! Woo Hoo!

I sat there to drink some water. And I heard "hey stranger, you made it ?" I turned back and I see the stranger who got off the bus with me for this hike. A tall, fit, fat-less, heavily sweating, no shirt ... so on ... he was really HOT ... I said "yeah, I did". He had finished the hike a while ago and was relaxing ... He asked me back "still alive?" and I replied "I guess so, I am talking to you". Even later, on the hike, twice again he passed me and every time "hey stranger" conversation went on ... nice huh ? :) See you are not alone ... there are many others too who are alone :) And such strangers bring us out of emptiness to a stable ground.

Coming back was very interesting ... every other turn there was at least a couple or a family asking about "How was the hike?" or "How difficult it is?" or "Is it true what others say?" ... so on ... Yeah ... Life ... I took the shuttle back to the Visitor Center and started walking to the Watchman Campground. By now the clouds were dark and their dark shadow was all over. And so there was that tungsten line of electricity ... which melted the dark coulds over the National Park. It rained and rained all the night. My small tent was shivering against the blowing wind and the rattling sound of rainfly wasn't pleasant. Over that the heavy relentless rain-drops hitting on the nylon. The light of the lightening was intense and sound of thunders was very loud. But, the performance of my little MSR Hubba Solo tent was great. Not one drop of rain water inside! Even though it rained so heavily it was warm!

Whole night I was wondering the last 1/2 mile to Angels Landing. Did Angels really land there ? weren't they scared ? Or just crazy we climb it up ? ... unapproachable piece of Earth! ... now in my memory!