This is an awesome hike: http://www.nps.gov/zion/photosmultimedia/angels-landing-ehike.htm
Our family was on vacation in Zion National Park last week. Being from Utah, I have heard of this hike pretty much my whole life. Also being from Utah, I have heard the news stories when people have fallen to their deaths on this trail. I love hiking in Zion, but being extremely afraid of heights, I have sworn that I would NEVER, EVER, do Angels Landing! So, when my 13-year-old daughter begged to go, my first reaction was "absolutely not!" But she is athletic and daring (but not to the point of losing caution) and has rock climbing experience, so I decided that if her father would take her (meaning that I didn't have to watch her on the side of a 1500 foot cliff), that she could go.
After they made it back alive, my 10-year-old son decided he wanted to go. So after much internal debate, I find myself 2 days later on the trail with my daughter and son--this time my husband stayed down with my oldest son (who inherited my fear of heights and was the only one wise enough not to want to go). There is a place on the hike called Scout Lookout before you cross the narrow spine. At that point, I'm giving my son the "mother" lecture: you don't have to prove anything to anyone, make sure you turn around if you're uncomfortable, blah, blah, blah--secretly hoping that he'll not want to go any further. Nope. All he says is: "It's okay Mom. You can stay here if you want and I'll go ahead with Katherine." Like I'm going to let my child brave this without me?! I don't know what I'm supposed to do if he slips and falls, but I'm sure gonna try something! So on we go. And . . . it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Don't ask me about the view from the spine--I wasn't looking at anything but the trail--but the view from the top is amazing.
Our family was on vacation in Zion National Park last week. Being from Utah, I have heard of this hike pretty much my whole life. Also being from Utah, I have heard the news stories when people have fallen to their deaths on this trail. I love hiking in Zion, but being extremely afraid of heights, I have sworn that I would NEVER, EVER, do Angels Landing! So, when my 13-year-old daughter begged to go, my first reaction was "absolutely not!" But she is athletic and daring (but not to the point of losing caution) and has rock climbing experience, so I decided that if her father would take her (meaning that I didn't have to watch her on the side of a 1500 foot cliff), that she could go.
After they made it back alive, my 10-year-old son decided he wanted to go. So after much internal debate, I find myself 2 days later on the trail with my daughter and son--this time my husband stayed down with my oldest son (who inherited my fear of heights and was the only one wise enough not to want to go). There is a place on the hike called Scout Lookout before you cross the narrow spine. At that point, I'm giving my son the "mother" lecture: you don't have to prove anything to anyone, make sure you turn around if you're uncomfortable, blah, blah, blah--secretly hoping that he'll not want to go any further. Nope. All he says is: "It's okay Mom. You can stay here if you want and I'll go ahead with Katherine." Like I'm going to let my child brave this without me?! I don't know what I'm supposed to do if he slips and falls, but I'm sure gonna try something! So on we go. And . . . it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Don't ask me about the view from the spine--I wasn't looking at anything but the trail--but the view from the top is amazing.
. I think coming down from that point was the hardest thing I've ever done! I definately want to go back and try it the right way! 