Day 7 - Zion National Park

I was heading south to Zion National Park, another place I'd never been too, and had virtually no idea of what to expect. The ground began to open up below me.

I followed this expanding canyon. I was pretty sure it would lead to Zion.

The canyon just got bigger and bigger.

Then, in the distance, I saw this. It could only be Zion and clearly was going to be something special.

Strange, this landing strip isn't even on the chart.

Zion NP opens up before me.

Looking back at the uncharted landing strip.

Zion comes into focus.

Yes, this is going to be good!

Wow.

You could have a nice little picnic on top of that little circular plateau.

Still looking south, this valley reminded me of Yosemite.

Looking down into the valley.

Looks like some lodges and cabins down there in the valley.

Yes!

A plateau in the sky.

This massive rock stands on the west side of the entrance to the valley.

Zion NP is fairly high and overlooks the valley below to the southwest.

Zion NP is a lot more than the one valley. It's actually very large, with countless beautiful and interesting rock formations to see; it is sort of like Canyonlands NP in that respect.

I"m on the western side of the park now looking east.

On the western side, looking north.

A huge natural pyramid.

I left Zion and headed southwest and downhill to St. George Regional Airport (KSGU). On the way I passed over these sand dunes.

As I approached the airport, I observed a bright red MiG-17 in the pattern. He was doing touch and go's. I managed to insert myself in the pattern and land without disrupting him.

This is the view on downwind leg. Not bad!

On base leg about to turn final. You can see St. George is a good size airport.

They have some kind of 1st generation fighter jet operation here where you can get rides and even take pilot lessons in the jets. Here, a T-33 taxiis by in fron to fme.

Tied down by two other RVs.

Looking at the Above View Jet Center Terminal. They had a staffed desk and were nice enough to find a hotel room for me at the HIlton Garden Inn that had free shuttle service to/from the airport. I didn't know how lucky I was to get that hotel room. It turns out St. George was hosting the Senior Games (whatever that is) in town and all rooms had been booked months in advance. But I guess I just lucked into a cancelled reservation room. The Hilton Garden Inn was excellent, not much more money than the motels I had been staying in so far, and by far the best accomodations of the entire trip. To top it off, there was a sports bar restaurant right across the street. Can't beat that!

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