August 11-14, 2024: Zion National Park trip

Sunday, August 11th: We had just returned from our Kansas City Missouri trip, had one full day to rest up, and packed our Jeep for our road trip to southwestern Utah to meet up with Jared's family at Zion National Park for a few days! The weather was great, the surroundings were gorgeous, and the hikes were challenging and beautiful.

I especially enjoyed my bonding time with Milo, but loved spending time with everyone. It was so good to see Jared, Jenny, Mario, and Milo, and to spend time in the great outdoors together--plus eating out at restaurants. Our first evening, we got settled into our hotel cabin and went to the Lodge diner for dinner. Early the next morning we took the shuttle bus to the place where we started our long hike up to Angel's Landing. Jared was feeling very weak and sick, so he could only go part of the way and needed to rest. He didn't feel well for a couple days, poor guy. I know he really wanted to do the hike with us. I'm glad that Jenny and the boys were up to the challenge their second time around!

Sunday, August 11th: Packed and ready to go!

Beautiful drive through the desert and part of Lake Powell

Zion National Park

Feeding deer family in front of the Lodge

Enjoying our first meal together

Monday, August 12th: Our long hike up to Angel's Landing

First we needed to climb the breathless switchbacks

Heavy breathing and sweating all the way. Poor Jared was feeling weak and sick the whole day and needed to stop and rest. He's been experiencing "long Covid" for months.

The views from the top were spectacular

Look how far we climbed from the bottom

The more rest and shade we could find, the better

Whoa! Look how long Mario's legs look!

Love this sweet boy

My poor boy was feeling so sick and exhausted (and I look like a tub of lard!). Jared made it part of the way and stayed behind to rest.

Jenny was our positive hiking queen

Lots of bonding time for Mario and Grandpa Hobbs

Milo feeding a chipmunk

Gorgeous views

So hot and tired

Milo in a little cave along the way

My sweet boy Jared

I was impressed with Mario's hiking skills

Jared was really taking a turn for the worst and needed to stop

Wow! So pretty

Mr. Cool Milo

Beautiful Jenny

Mario loves his mama

Best boy scout ever

Look what we climbed!

Milo is fearless and a bit dangerous

Spectacular views

Love these boys, but Jared is missing!

My beautiful grandsons, Mario and Milo

Mike and Jenny did a lot of bonding on this trip

Our generous room at the Lodge that Jared paid for

We went out for pizza after our rest and showers

And ice cream

Jared's sweet family

Mike and I with our beautiful Utah grandsons

Mike and I with our #1 son, Jared

We love our boy!

Jared's cool 2024 Cyber Truck looks unearthly

Our 2024 Hybrid Jeep Rubicon

Tuesday, August 13th: A hearty breakfast at the Lodge before our hike through the Virgin River creek to get to The Narrows. Wish I'd taken some photos of that hike, but we were in the water most of the time. I thought that second hike was harder than the first one due to all the large rocks and boulders we had to walk over in the river. Jenny and I had sore feet and legs and were tired of the rocks before arriving to our destination. Thank goodness the current was with us on our return hike, which made it seem shorter and less tiring.

THANK YOU Jared and Jenny for a wonderful, memorable trip! We loved our time together on our hikes and meal outings. And we also enjoyed playing games with you and the boys!

The stars were beautiful in the Park. See the Big Dipper?

Wednesday, August 14th: Heading home from the Park

There's the Lodge shuttle we took for our big hikes

Goodbye beautiful Zion National Park!

We spotted a Long Horn Sheep on the side of the road

We stocked up on groceries at Costco when we
got back into Albuquerque and gassed up