Northwest / Southwest Field Experience 2014: Day 10: Zion Canyon and Prairie Dogs

Utah Prairie dog Town

We left our campsite at Bryce Canyon early in the morning to get a head start on the day. We stopped at a Utah Prairie dog town that was located cautiously close to the road. We all got out to take pictures while Hossay gave us a quick lesson on the Endangered Species Act, and how its helping Utah Prairie dog populations recover. We learned that the reason for their endangered listing is due to them being seen as varmin by local farmers and ranchers who would shoot them without a care to keep them from digging holes. These holes were dangerous as a cow could easily break a leg and would have to be put down.

Utah Prairie dog checking out some people

These ranchers were not aware of the ecological importance of the prairie dogs and that they stimulate new growth in the soil. Government agencies eventually picked up on the state of the species for the Utah Prairie dogs and responded by placing them under the ESA so that farmers could not harm the prairie dogs anymore. Unfortunately this did not protect the prairie dogs as much as expected, as many ranchers adopted the shoot-shovel-shut-up ideology in that they would keep killing the prairie dogs and just not say a word about it. The government worked with a couple of large scale ranchers to establish old style prairie dog towns, being on private land this kept the prairie dogs from coming into contact with any other ranchers, supporting preservation.

We left the prairie dogs and drove into Zion National Park which was a completely different and unique experience compared to Bryce. We hiked up the treacherous Angels Landing trail where we were awarded with an incredible view! The last mile of the trail involved climbing along tiny ledges and using chains to pull yourself along, most of the time with very little to grab on to all while being a couple thousand feet up. It was an exciting hike up the last bit and well worth the climb, I only wish more of our group had made the full trek, I don't think they would have been as scared as they would have thought.

View from the top of Angels Landing

More views from the top

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Next we hiked down in the Virgin Narrows, through the water and up the river taking in all the amazing sights and sounds. It was a refreshing break from all the heat we had dealt with up top. My only complaint was that there were too many people, it took away from some of the solitude and majesty of these places, but its whats expected at national land marks. Falling asleep proved more difficult than previous nights as my thin sleeping pad did not provide much cushion as I found myself constantly lying on a rock and putting me in an uncomfortable position.