Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and explore. This year, the National Park Service turns 100 on August 25th, 2016. They have launch a social media #findyourpark campaign to encourage everyone to head outdoors and embrace what nature have to offer us. We decided to venture out to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. The trip was exactly what I needed. Time with people I love and in a place I couldn’t stop falling in love with. It’s so true that “when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.”
Zion has a lot to offer for all fitness levels, whether it’s hiking a few hours to an all day trek. There are approximately 18 marked trails ranging from easy to strenuous. I highly encourage planning out the hikes you want to do by reading about it and making sure you have all the supplies you need. You can find all the resources you need on the Zion National Park website. As a group, we chose to do two fairly difficult hikes over the span of two days. First and mostly anticipated one for me is Angels Landing. Angels Landing is a 5.4 mile hike with steep inclines, 22 switchbacks, and a narrow ridge to the summit. It is one of the most dangerous hike with long drop offs and definitely not for the faint of heart as far as fear of heights go. The top of Angels Landing at 5,790 feet is so high “only an angel can land on it” is true to its statement. You would think I’d change my mind, but it only excited me more. I love hiking, especially when there is an unforgettable view at the end waiting for me. The 360-degree view at the top was my motivation.
The trail for Angels Landing starts at the Grotto drop-off of the park’s shuttle system. Follow the sign to the West Rim Trail, which is a short walk across the bridge over the Virgin River. It begins on a dirt path, but transitions into a paved one. The first part is a slow ascent to higher elevation, but it can easily kick your butt. My calves were burning up and we took little breaks throughout the way until we made it to the switchbacks. Just make sure you are properly hydrated. We made our way to the trailhead around 8:30am and it was fairly warm already. Temperature for that day was going to reach up to 110 degrees so we knew it was important to get as early a start as possible. The summer months temperature can be quite brutal so it’s good to have tons of water and stay hydrated. It’s recommended to carry about 1 liter per hour, but should be adjusted based on the climate and the level of exertion.
The views from every step of the hike were breathtaking. I don’t think my pictures do it any justice. I couldn’t help but stop and look down into the canyon every tenth of a mile and letting it soak in. I can’t explain the feeling the outdoors bring me, but it is one of calmness I am constantly seeking for. Once outdoors, I feel like nothing matters. The stress of every day life cease to exist as soon as I step foot on that dirt path. Isn’t that the purpose of being out in the wilderness? To let go and be a part of nature is to allow yourself to hear your own thoughts in a rather noisy world. It is at this point I can hear myself louder and clearer than any other time in my life. Adventures like this one is the most rewarding and worth every single minute.
After the steep hike up, you enter Refrigerator Canyon, a section that lets you take a bit of a break from the incline and the sun. It’s not too long until we hit Walter’s Wiggles, a series of switchbacks that took us straight to Scout’s Lookout. The 2 mile hike to Scout’s Lookout took longer than we’d like, but how do you not take your time and stop to marvel at your surroundings?
At this point, half of our group decided to stay behind and explored another trail nearby while half of us proceeded to make the ascent up to the summit of Angels Landing, The last leg was only half mile up but due to the narrow ridge, there was only enough room for a single file line to either go up or down. We made many stops to let groups of hikers come down while we tried to maneuver around them.
There is a lot of patience involved in hiking up to Angels Landing. During the busy season, like summer, it can get crowded and may take up to an hour just to get to the summit from Scout’s Lookout. Each step was a thrill looking down to see how far up I am. There were parts of the trail that made my legs shake, but it was a great feeling. After what seems like forever, we made it to the top and the view was definitely worth it. I loved this hike. It was both mentally and physically challenging. If this is what you’re looking for, Angels Landing is a must then.
I’ve been craving Thai food for weeks and my friend finally said to me, “let’s go!” and we’re off! We normally go to Thai Gourmet to get our fix. It’s one of the popular Thai restaurants in Houston, but sadly they’re closed on Sundays. Then I remembered an article I read back in December via The Houston Eater about a new restaurant opening highlighting northern Thai cuisine, with Executive Chef PJ Stoops at the reins. Chef PJ lived and cooked in northern Thailand for several years and with this under his belt, gave him immediate credibility with me. This also excited me at the same time, as I just returned from a trip to Thailand which I spent a chunk of it in the northern region called Chiang Mai. Since the article, it’s been on my list of places I wanted to check out and what better timing than this. So, we ventured into the Heights and found Foreign Correspondents. At first look, the exterior did not suggest a Thai restaurant whatsoever. My friends looked at me and began to doubt my pick, but they were wrong!
