squatters and team red

Sometimes you go in without a plan

- just a tentative schedule
with common sense -
and it turns into an awesome vacation.
I had never been to Zions National Park before
And I don't want to look at OTHER people's pictures...
{Oh, but I'll assume you do}
...............................................................

So #1 Rule - Don't drive into the desert without a full tank of gas
You'll freak yourself out and it could be avoided.


Pit Stop #2 to fill up a different kind of tank...
Dairy Queen is always the bomb


How about THIS. We get the LAST spot
Just drove in. Turned down the right road. Did the right thing
(hardly ever happens to me)

ME: Knock Knock Kock "Hello! Do we just take the open spot and pay in the morning?"
HOST LADY: "We call you squatters. Do you have a tent?"
AMY: "Who does she think she is asking us a question like that?"
ME: "It's by the bathrooms but hey that's perfect"

2.2 seconds and we have a roof, walls, and floor
10:30PM - lights out

---------------------------------------
7AM scratch that - 8:30AM
The Canyon Overlook began our journey of red rock

They called this area Emerald Pools. We traveled upper-middle-lower
Life's always a little better with a cool breeze
And walls covered in slim and apparently tiny little slugs

Nature doesn't lie.
That's what I like about it.


My favorite color is green.



Hidden Valley? So people were acting all petrified.
As if you could fall to your death in just a couple of steps
But I think it's just as dangerous walking south of campus
with drivers like me
SOO we took our chances
and apparently we have awesome skill & luck
More skill because we were like "please I can do this in my sleep"
but not - because I would wake up shaking.



This is us venturing on the other side.
If you dont' make it around the curve. You don't get the adventure
Or the two men who follow you continually asking when the footsteps run out
They run out when you are tired. weak. or chicken
{okay okay, it was good that they (3) were there, just because they're men}
- it wasn't like that

Barricade 1 of the 10 we hopped over
Yes, we did eventually get stuck
Some barricades are meant to end the footsteps



The River Walk - a leisurely stroll even the handicapped can manage
and if you like friendly squirrels and wild turkeys = perfect


The Narrows blocked by Global Warming.
I mean really, water-water go away, come again in-less-walkable-amounts
another day.

You see that awesome tent?
Yeah well this was right before the wind and squirrels killed it
Just kidding - they just killed our sleep

It only took what seemed like 5 years for dinner to cook
Oh but we got it. and it rocked.
However, we would have eaten dirt
it was getting to that point

Camping is an excuse to let yourself go. Nature is the beauty.

*insert video if it ever uploads*

1. No shower
2. Remember back up deodorant for when yours melts in the sun
3. No point to bother with make up
4. The goal is to hide your hair as best as possible
5. Your hands are dirty. Always

Another 7am attempt turned to 8:00am
"Are you guys leaving? we'll stare at you till you leave"
10:15AM - Angel's Landing

We landed Angels Landing - lame pun i know
This hike was LEGIT and we were LEGIT for doing it.
GO RED TEAM said the man with his 4 children
Um call me chicken... I barely let myself travel this 2X4 across a million foot drop
let alone my children!? but they were cute. and they helped us keep going.
Accomplishment of the weekend: conquered fear of heights

I think once you get so high, it becomes unreal. So the ledge gets less scary
Which is why I can climb this and jump out of a plane
But I freak out leaning over the glass balcony of a two story building
We don't need to be like this tree that lives on the edge all of the time
However, perhaps it could be good for us at times
He (the tree) has defeated all odds
And currently has one of the best views

After the victory cheers, we drew a breathe or 5
and headed back to the other side for some lunch
PB&J + an orange never seemed so good

I cannot forget what it looked like. Cannot.

Crawling to the edge... well, we all have our own ways of doing things
for that PERFECT view

A full belly and full SUN
GLORIOUS
Basically the end. As if a story ever ended.
.................................................................................
If I were to do this all over again I would...

• Bring a winter cap for the chillier morning/evening time
• Remember playing cards to distract you from food preparation
• Not forget the Tylenol PM
• Or the comforter for extra comfort (sorry just saying)
• Knifes are always handy - pack them
• Not assume we can fill up in the next closest town
• Make reservations (or live on chance)
• Sleep in the same tent as you
• and enjoy all the smores of heaven.

P.S. Every muscle in my body aches.
Oh the joys of exercise.