After finishing our hike through Cathedral Wash, aptly named for the cliffs that resemble a cathedral, we headed NW on route 89A towards the North Rim and Zion NP.
The drive along 89A was spectacular, with sweeping views of the Grand Staircase of Escalante. It is amazing how a few thousand feet of elevation impacts the temperature. We finished our hike through the Cathedral Wash by 9:30AM with temps already pushing 100 degrees at 3,100 feet. Above 8,000 feet the temps dropped to a very pleasant mid-70s.
We were fortunate to call an audible the previous evening and skip camping along the North Rim. As we approached the park entrance, we were alerted it was closed. There had been fires burning in the area, and they closed the area to traffic. We can only assume that we would have been evacuated had we stayed there the previous evening.
As we headed down the mountain, we pulled into a gas station to fuel up and grab some road snacks. As it usually happens, the Jeep caught the attention of a couple of cross-country bikers who had traveled out from West Virginia. They were heading out to California to drive up the PCH in the coming weeks. We struck up a conversation with the pair and ended up chatting about our respective travels for well over an hour. They had some tips for us, we had suggestions for them, and we parted company with some new friends. Not the last ones we would make along this journey.
From there, the plan was to stop in Kanab, UT, to find John a backpack and for both of us to get water bladders – no more hiking with water bottles. We found Willow Canyon Outdoor and owner/operator Charlie. Charlie was full of great advice and conversation. He shared some local tips, and we shared tales of our respective travels. Another hour was gone, but another new friend was made, and we top off our water tanks outside his shop. If you are heading to Zion, be sure to stop in and introduce yourself.
This is also where John acquired his beloved purple backpack and picked up the nickname “Dora” that would stick with him the rest of the trip.
On we traveled towards our second National Park of the trip, Zion. This would be my first trip into the park. I was looking forward to it. There are many things to see and do within the park, but the rumor on the street was that the park was bustling, and crowds were a definite concern.
When arriving at a new park, the routine is to head to the visitor center, pick up a few stickers, patches, and other assorted goodies, fill water, and then decide what to see. In the case of Zion, the ride in is spectacular, but to get to the upper reaches of the park, you need to ride a Park Service bus shuttle bus.
Well, the shuttle didn’t appeal to us, so we strapped on our new water bladders and hit the trail. It was getting late in the day. We wanted to make some progress towards tomorrow’s destination, Bryce Canyon, so we decided on a short hike up to the Court of the Patriarchs. This was our second hike of the day, but now with the afternoon sun beating down on us and temps well over 100. We didn’t last long, but the views didn’t disappoint!
Dixie National Forest
We would be in and out of the DNF over the next couple of days. It’s sort of like Kansas… no matter how much you drive, you are still in Kansas.
We left Zion, heading North on 89 towards Bryce Canyon. With JD behind the wheel, I worked my various travel tools to find a campsite for the night. With the help of Gaia GPS and iOverlander, I found us a great spot in a remote area, complete with a flock of grazing sheep gobbling up the underbrush.
The evening highlight came at about 1AM when a pack of coyotes happened across the flock of sheep. From the sound of things outside the tent, the sheep were not happy about the intruders, while the coyotes seemed delighted with their find! As the guy sleeping in the ground tent that night, I was none-too-pleased with the new neighbors, even if they were over a mile away.
The story will pick up as we head into Bryce Canyon…
Cheers from the road
– Matt & JD
Brandywine Overland 
Another interesting & entertaining post. Have you considered that an adventure company or travel magazine might be interested in your Brandywine Overland diary and photos (as in selling to them)? Mom
Sent from my iPad
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