The Path To Angel’s Landing – Zion National Park, Utah USA – Somewhere In Time Weekly Travel Photo.
Somewhere In Time is a weekly travel photo from around the world. Enjoy!
Zion National Park is in southern Utah and it is gorgeous! The mountain peaks are high and look down at the cars and hikers. Angel’s Landing is one of the most well known hikes there and for good reasons – it’s an excellent hike and the views are out of this world. The hike is the perfect mix of easy and hard until you reach the top. Then you realize why it’s named Angel’s Landing. The top is a little teeny bit of mountain that you have to climb up by holding onto chains.
Much to my dismay I couldn’t make the last half mile. I was terrified. I blame it on the fact that the shoes I was wearing were not good hiking shoe but the reality is it just scared the life out of me. As I climbed up the beginning holding onto the chains I couldn’t help but note that I was just a little too short. In order to grab the next chain I would have to jump up and reach the next set. All I could see were visions of myself missing the chain and falling down the mountain to my death. I’m not normally afraid of heights but I completely panicked.
The problem was I got stuck between two sets of chains. I was too afraid to go further up and too afraid to let go of the chain and grab the next one on the way down. I was almost in tears and plastered to the mountain. Below me came the next set of hikers – they quickly realized if they didn’t help me down then they weren’t going to get up. They made holds out of their hands for my feet and I slithered down the mountain. I ran over to a large flat area and sat down. I didn’t even want to be close to the edge. Angel’s Landing had scared the life out of me and it took a little bit to calm down.
I sat around and fed some chipmunks while waiting for my two friend to come back (they had gone ahead). They came back shortly, although they made it further than me my cousin couldn’t finish the hike either and came back with the same look of fear in her eyes. We SLOWLY made our way down the mountain, stopping a few times just to sit down and ignore the height we were at.
I took this photo as we were winding our way down the mountain and at this point we were all breathing a sigh of relief. I tried out a bit of a tilt shift look on it and I think it looks pretty cool. I really can’t decide if I like it better in color or Black & White so I figured I’d put both up and let you decide.
Do you have a preference? Please let me know in the comments if you do. 🙂
*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!
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(13) awesome folk have had something to say...
Allison -
April 21, 2011 at 3:43 am
That sounds so intense, I’m glad you made it out ok!
At first I thought I like the colour shot better (awesome colour), but I was wrong. The black and white is better – the hikers stand out more, and that is what the whole image is about! Furthermore, the more I look at the colour image, the more the difference in tone between the back mountains and the front mountains throws me off.
Notwithstanding, it’s a pretty stellar shot!
Bethany -
April 21, 2011 at 10:30 pm
The BW is actually my fave too! But I was sitting with my parents when I put the photo up and they were in love with the color so I figured I’d go with both. Glad you like it too! 🙂 @Allison,
Sarah -
April 21, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Aww glad you made it out, I would be scared too. I love the B&W version more, has more contrast I think.
Bethany -
April 21, 2011 at 10:31 pm
That one is my fave too. 🙂@Sarah,
MaryM -
April 21, 2011 at 7:47 pm
This reinforces my thought that a climb to Angel’s Landing would not bring me pleasure. Glad you made it back safely.
I like the B&W
Bethany -
April 21, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Hi Mary – thanks for commenting! Well actually the hike up until the last half mile is really great. It’s just that last bit that is so nervewracking! BW is my favorite too! @MaryM,
Kim -
April 21, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Beautiful shot! I think I like the color better….hard choice. I love the tilt-shift effect. Really nice. :o)
Bethany -
April 21, 2011 at 10:32 pm
You’re the first vote for color! I know you won’t be alone because everyone in my family that saw them went with color immediately. 🙂 @Kim,
Vi -
May 3, 2011 at 1:03 pm
so now you need one more vote 😀
Kelsey -
April 22, 2011 at 7:57 am
Sounds like an intense experience! Also, I prefer the color.
Bethany -
May 3, 2011 at 11:45 am
Thanks Kelsey 🙂 @Kelsey,
Vi -
May 2, 2011 at 2:00 am
I had been in this park couple years ago and loved it.
p.s. my vote is for color one 🙂
Bethany -
May 3, 2011 at 11:46 am
Thanks for your vote! It’s a tie now between color and BW 🙂 @Vi,