A Weekend in Bryce Canyon

My friend Lindsey was turning 27 and decided she wanted to get together a bunch of friends from all walks of her life for one of the most memorable weekends any of us have had in quite a while. All of us were at all levels of outdoorsy-ness, Lindsey and a few others on the border of becomming professionals, in fact I think there was actually a professional... Trisha? Correct me if I'm wrong guys!

One of the best things about this trip was everyone was really friendly and absolutely HILARIOUS! Some of the best memories were blow fish by the fire and funny stories about almost saving a friend from falling 20 feet off a lift while snowboarding. Another great thing was nobody was trying to hook up with anyone it was all just chill! I loved that, nothing makes a trip more awkward than spontaneous make-outs and I am pretty sure that didn't happen...at least to me.

I drove down with Lindsey and Erin first on Friday, and when we got there at about 8pm we set up camp and scavenged for some firewood because the rest of the 8 were still a bit behind us. It was so friggin cold the first night I thought I would die, in addition to toe warmers stuck to me like heart monitors and covering every major artery (in attempt to warm my blood) I had on lots of clothes and slept with 2 sleeping bags...I still froze. The next morning we all woke up and had a excellent breakfast provided by Val (who by the was is the cutest thing ever!) and cooked by Ben? Jeez I hope that's his name.

Lindsey, the birthday girl and one of the greatest people on earth, I am so lucky to have this girl as a friend!

This is Matt, seriously funny guy and I felt a special "funny person" bond with this one. He had some of the best stories.

"Ben" and cute Val makin' us deliciousness!

Sweet Erin and my tent-mate, she was pretty quite then all of a sudden would open up to you. I liked that about her.

My Marcie, we met a year ago or so at the food and care coalition and she introduced me to her kickin' life and friends! I really love this girl, she is one cool earth Momma!

Brad the "pillow talker" He woke up early and started chatting it up with his tent mate at like 6 am I was bitter but he turned out to be one of the sweetest in the group, and the first to request me for a facebook friend...Kudos to you buddy!

AH. Handsome Rob, or Bob Redford. Lindsey teased him about looking like the famed owner of Sundance, this kid was pretty cool too.

 This is the only pic I got of Katie, she is playing the guitar. I have known Katie as long as I have known Lindsey and Marcie, she was quiet too but would say funny things out of the blue..it was awesome.

Marcie's feet filthy before the hike...love it!

"Laura you look like a cancer patient" ~Lindsey

We decided that day to check out a couple of touristy sites then head up to Fairyland an 8 mile hike through Bryce. These first pictures are of the switch back, mile long, first look at Bryce:

 Trisha and the Thor's Hammer

This tractor was literally on the edge of the trail with a 50 foot slope...teetering.

So Lindsey got on it!

After this "warm up" we headed over to Fairyland to start our day hike, I was apprehensive about doing the whole thing because it is the first hike of the season and I am really in not so good shape due to school. But I wanted to do it so I did. I ended up hiking most of the trail alone because I was so far behind (taking pictures and you know..breathing)  I also ended up having a really bad asthma attack towards the end and may have scared some people, but I am OK now and in the future will bring my friggin inhaler. I liked hiking alone though at one point the group (who were very supportive and wanted to wait for me, but I wouldn't have it) stopped for lunch but I wasn't too hungry and kept going, and stayed ahead for about an hour, but they did pass me eventually. The time alone while I was ahead was my favorite time of the hike, Bryce is an amazing place and it smells good. There were moments where I was completely alone for literally miles. Just me and the rocks, I was happiest there. That point where I left the group behind and struck out on my own is where the canyons changed me, and I realized just how far I can push myself. I was scared at some points where I couldn't breathe and I was praying and sobbing at the same time. I had to make it I had to finish. It was more of a survival thing really, I sung hymns to push myself up the mountain's last 2 miles of switch backs to the end, sobbing. The sight of the group at the trail was like a drink of cold water, I was so happy to see them.

Fairyland hike:

"If it doesn't have people in it then it's a postcard!" ~Matt

Realizing what I have gotten myself into...

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After the hike we goofed around for a bit then headed back to camp. Even though I had a hard time, I still had such a great weekend!

So fun!