April 27, 2014.  The rain disappeared overnight and we awoke to a fantastically sunny cool day.  The newly arrived Airstreamers did an admirable job of getting organized, taking showers, eating breakfast, and getting set to tackle Zion all by 8:30 am!  I am really impressed.  We all walked the 1/2 mile to the entrance to Zion National Park and took the super-easy Pa’Rus Trail, a 3.5 mile stroll along the banks of the Virgin River at the foot of the canyons.  Although it was quite beautiful, it was not nearly enough of a challenge for the athletes in this crowd.  It is the only trail that allows dogs, however, so at the end of that trail, all the others took the park shuttle on up the canyon to scope out which “real” trails they would take this afternoon — ranging from a death-defying trek up an impossibly steep and narrow path to the knife-edged top of Angels Landing (so named because before they made the path, only angels could land there) to a fascinating but equally perilous (maybe) hike/splash into The Narrows where distressingly common flash floods have been known to accelerate quite a few estate plans.  Brad and I walked back into town with Doris, stopping at the Human History Museum, which seemed like a pretty broad topic, but about our speed from a physical exertion standpoint.   We all met back at the campsite for a picnic lunch.  Vickie and Rufus graciously offered to keep an eye on Doris while Brad and I rode the park shuttle to the top of the canyon, which takes about 2.5 hours.  It was a great speed-read of Zion.  Depending on bravery and athleticism one could really spend several days here hiking though the unbelievable beauty of the canyons, meadows, rivers,  grottos and aeries of Zion; provided one is not a dog.  They don’t really accommodate dogs at these national parks — perhaps because they are not taxpayers, as a general rule.  Doris, she don’t say nothing (see evidence below of her good-natured disinterest).

Vickie and Mara hit the trails at Zion.

A pleasant path at Zion

A stroll in Zion

Zion

Zion

The Virgin River

The Virgin Riverr at our campsite at Zion

Doris shadow dancing