It is going to be a beautiful day. A stunning blue sky greets me as I carry my backpack and bottles of water to the jeep. The sun isn't quite peaking over the mountain tops, but in addition to the beautiful blue sky, the sun promises rising temperatures. The threat of high temperatures is the reason for my early morning start today.
I live within a day's drive of seven national parks and monuments. Cedar Breaks National Monument is the closest, with an arrival time of about 30 minutes. I love to visit Cedar Breaks when I am driving through; however, at 10,000 feet elevation and only a few hiking trails, it is not conducive for backcountry exploratory hiking. The same can be said for Bryce Canyon. Bryce has many more hiking trails; however, the backcountry requires a time commitment of at least a full day. Zion National Park has always been my go-to area for short hikes, backcountry exploration, and peak bagging. Even with crowds approaching 7 million visitors a year, I can still find solitude in those rugged sandstone canyons.
I top off the gas tank before getting on the freeway, which seems to be a common practice in today's rising inflationary prices, fill up or pay a higher price tomorrow. I'm also curious about how much a short trip to the park will cost. I used to call these types of excursions a "cheap date." When a full tank of gas costs $35 and a couple of meals $20-30, I could enjoy the whole day for less than what it cost to watch a two-hour movie. That's not true anymore.
This early morning, I only have to wait behind a couple of cars before entering the park. An early morning start seems to be the day's theme as the visitor center parking lot is already at capacity. The wait to pass through the 1.1-mile tunnel is short, and I find ample parking near Pine Creek and Progeny Peak trailheads.
I'm still recovering from my knee replacement surgery. Although physical therapy sessions have ended, the muscles are weak and will probably require months of consistent training to get back to full strength. Sand, weird angles of ascent, and steep inclines are part of my training regiment.
Twin Pines Arch is probably one of the least viewed natural arches in the park. Visible from Hwy-9, few people know where to look to see this spectacular formation. However, Progeny Peak is a short hike (on good legs), and resting at the base of Twin Pines Arch is tradition. I won't be hiking the steepest part of the route today, but negotiating the slick rock dry falls will give my knees a good workout.
“First Tracks”
It rained last night, and there is nothing I love more than "first tracks" in the freshly renewed environment. Small pools of water have collected in the shallow desert pockets, and the air is fresh and clean.
I hike along the drainage until I reach a small flat area that separates the two waterways. To the west, the water drains into Pine Creek, and I peek over the edge into the sandy bottom below. I've always enjoyed the view from even this elevation as East Temple is dominant in this park section.
Rather than hiking back down the way I came, I traversed to the east ridge and followed the sandy ridgeline to the end. I'm somewhat surprised that I have never attempted to turn this hike into a loop before, but I'm usually tired when I summit Progeny Peak that I've never given it much thought.
The ridgeline ends with an almost sheer drop to the highway below; the elevation and location allow for a straight-line view as the road twists and turns in both directions. It is a stunning viewpoint, and I sit in the shade to drink some water and soak it all in. Unfortunately, my watch says I've been wandering for almost two hours, and my knee is starting to shake on steep descents, so it is time to head home.
“East Temple”
A small trail leads to the road, and I hike along the road back to my car. No side parking spots remain, and the freeway trail to the overlook is crowded. I leave the park around 11 am, and I am astonished that there isn't a single car at the entrance gate; typically, by now, a line of twenty vehicles would not be unusual. The town overflow parking is also empty. I'm not the only one wondering if the high cost of filling the tank is worth the trip. I top up the gas tank once again as I arrive home. Thirty-Three dollars gas money for a two-hour hike, almost 30 dollars for a late breakfast (and take-home carrot cake) before returning home; although prices have increased, two hours of hiking in Zion National Park is still priceless.
Hiked: June 24, 2022