This is my Church.
April 2023
Waking up to our final day of exploration in Utah the cabin hummed with excitement and anxious anticipation. Packs were repacked with knowledge that our climb would be longer and more difficult than those before. Extra food and water added, back up charges for our phones so we wouldn’t miss any pictures.
As we drove through Zion for the second time, the last time, there was mixture of nervous laughter and some heavy silence. You could sense the others reflecting on the path we had been on and the journey ahead. With butterflies in our stomach we made our way via shuttle to The Grotto and the trail head leading to Angel’s Landing. Although this was a group of 6 women, this hike represented a different personal Journey for each one of us.
Our lotto permit was for after noon so the sun was high and hot for our ascent. Because of the grueling incline we quickly split into two groups. Slow and steady we wound up the west rim mistaking it for Walters Wiggle. Following our first set of long switch backs we came upon a long flat stretch sandwiched between two mountains acting as our cooling station. A breeding area for Mexican owls that was marked as quiet. It felt like a sanctuary to us as well. We took time to soak in the beauty around us. The deep red wall rising into the rich blue sky above us, the wonder of diverse flora growing in stone. More than one of us shared the sentiment “this is my church” and feeling blessed to be able to share the beauty created that surrounded us.
Then we rounded the corner…Walter’s Wiggle was still ahead of us. We still had 21 switch backs to go! The short steep switch backs had us breaking frequently to rest burning calf muscles and hydrate. After what felt like an eternity but was actually less than an hour and a half, we reached a flat area with west rim jutting to the left and Angels landing looming to the right. We were able to meet up with the other half of our group to rest and rehydrate. Those attempting the climb worked to pump each other up. Before you know it 5 out of 6 of us were off to grasp the chains leading to Angel’s Landing. Shortly in I decided not all adventures were meant for me and I called ahead alerting the others I was going to slowly descend back to more level ground. Another one of us made it a little further before vertigo had her bowing out.
As we waited on our fearless friends conquering Angel’s Landing, we realized we still had opportunities around us to further explore and took off for the west rim. The hike had some broken ground but wide trails it made for a safer climb. The trail seemed to loop around but ran parallel to Angel’s Landing. Every loop we made took us high and showed us even more breath-taking views. We turned back about 30 minutes in so we wouldn’t miss our friends return. A third member of our group decided to turn around at Scouts Outlook and had a kind couple help her safely return to our basecamp.
We decided to split again and have half our group return to the shuttle pick up area so they could go slowly and enjoy the views. As I waited for our final two to return from their Angel’s Landing adventure I was entertained by the local chipmunks and squirrels. Hummingbirds also fluttered in and out of the shrubbery.
Instinct had me turn my head at the right moment and I was able to spot our “final two” descending. I shouted out at their shadowy figures and was delighted to hear them shout back and waving at me. The pride I had in this whole group of women seemed to culminate at this moment as I watched them descend. We did it. We accomplished something big here. More than a vacation. More than seeing a beautiful place. We were more individual at this moment and yet more part of a whole.
We celebrated BIG that night. Houston’s in Kanab again. Pie all around. There was laughter and community. There was the very best exhaustion with underlying sense of renewal. The drive back to the cabin was animated and bright. We were on a high for the rest of the evening as we packed to return to our regular lives no longer regular women.
