Angel’s Landing – Stunning Views But A Very Dangerous Hike…
This is a photo I took of the view from the top of America’s most beautiful – and dangerous – hike….Angel’s Landing in Utah’s Zion National Park…and below is a photo of the top of Angel’s Landing I found on social media – it gives you an idea of how narrow it is at the top…
You hold on to that embedded chain, fifteen hundred feet above the valley floor…if you take a wrong step, tragedy ensues, as it did yesterday.
As reported by The Daily Beast:
“A man died after falling while hiking the Angels Landing Trail at Zion National Park in Utah. Authorities said the man died from injuries he sustained in the fall. Search and rescue teams were called to the scene around 2 p.m. Friday and shut down the surrounding trails during the operation.”
The Angels Landing Trail, one of the most popular hikes in the Utah national park, has seen at least 18 fatalities, mostly due to falls and medical issues during the demanding 5.4-mile round trip, 1,488 feet climb.
I know this – because my wife Alex and I climbed it! There we are about halfway up the hike, in one of the areas where the path is wider and paved…right before you encounter this:
Meet “Walter’s Wiggles!”
Yes, this is about the halfway point of the 1,500+ foot hike straight up: a series of more than thirty switchbacks!
Once near the top, the path gets very narrow, steep and dangerous – take a look:
Once near the top, there is one final part of overcome: a nearly vertical climb with a very small path, and an embedded chain to hold on to – with no barrier on your right to keep you from falling!
It was slow going as well, because there is only one path, so people are climbing DOWN while you are climbing UP!
That led to a lot of starting and stopping, and with a backpack on, I didn’t feel balanced at all! After one tenth of a mile straight up, we had to stop to wait for others to come down, and we rested with our backs flat against the mountain, a small ledge to rest our feet on – this is the shot I got:
This is why this trail is so dangerous, if you slip and aren’t holding tightly, there is nothing to keep you from falling all the way down to a certain death…
I hope you understand, it was scary! It’s hard to take photos because you have one hand on the chain link at all times, and you really have to focus on your feet! Here is a shot of what the last part of the climb up to the top of Angel’s Landing looks like:
Here’s a great shot that Alex got as she pressed against the mountain wall at the very top of Angel’s Landing!
She IS “Super Woman!”
Nothing was going to deter her, and the views from the top are exhilarating – that’s the Virgin River at the bottom of the peak:
It’s so very sad to have someone lose their life from hiking up this incredible national treasure – but it IS dangerous to be sure…here is more history of the hike, with more videos and pictures as well:
I will say that this was one of the most exciting, terrifying and satisfying hikes I’ve ever done, and the incredible beauty of the park all around you is worth the effort!
We did this hike just one day after we hiked in the Virgin River at the place called “The Narrows”:
Yes, miles of this hike are through the fast-moving Virgin river, and it leads you into canyons that are spectacular!
And here is why it’s called the “Narrows”:
This is me looking straight up at one point – that’s how narrow it gets at the top!
See our entire hike here:
I also shared the sad story of a hiker who died at Yosemite National Park as well:
Balin Miller was an experienced extreme rock climber, but even a regular hike in Yosemite takes you this close to the edge:
That’s Alex standing at the edge of the world…you can see how close you can get by clicking on my story here:
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Thanks so much for reading! If you liked this, please share on social media! And be careful when doing any nature hike…
Categories: Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Sports, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
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