Saturday, April 9, 2011 - Zion National Park, Springdale UT
< previous day | archives | next day >
Five pm at South Campground, Zion National Park, April 9, 2011
Just in time
Just in time the Feds agreed on a budget late last night and Zion is open. But nearly everybody left the campground yesterday and today. It's about 5 pm and this campground is usually filled by now. Not today. Question: so was it the atrocious weather or the threat of a shutdown that sent them packing? Anyway, I'm pleased not to have to travel up the hill over the weekend before the storm clears.
Just in time I shot the above picture not 5 minutes before a blustery snow squall blew through - complete with thunder and lightning. It had partly cleared earlier and it was nice to see the mountains again. Not nice enough to get me out with the camera though. Darn.
Night camp
Site 112 - South Campground, Zion National Park, Springdale UT
- Verizon cell phone and EVDO service - good signal
- Go to Zion National Park website
- Locate Zion South Campground on my Night Camps map
- Check the weather here
Troops Endure Blowing Sands and Mud Rain
... The single, solitary departure from this pattern came when it suddenly rained in the early evening. What fell from the sky was not water but mud, the rain pulling suspended sand into wet globs and pelting those foolish mortals who thought they could endure a 30- or 40-hour sandstorm. The temperature was just below 100 degrees, and everyone traveling with the military wore protective chemical and biological suits that enclosed the body from head to toe, plus body armor and a helmet. ...