04/28/08:Hiking the Rim Trail:
Bryce is less than 100 miles from Zion. I got here in less than 2 hours.
Got a campsite at North Campground (could have gotten a cheaper one at Sunset Campground) then headed out to view the scenery.
Stopped at Fantasyland but the sun was pretty much overhead and I didn't think I could better photos already taken. Went up to Sunrise Point at the lighting was much better.
It's 1/2 mile from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point. I took more than 30 photos of stuff I already had photos for. The lighting was so good and the scenery was so fantastic I just kept clicking away.
I wouldn't call that 1/2 mile hiking, not even walking or strolling. More like sauntering, hands in pockets, no hurry not a care in the world.
The bad part is Bryce is above 8000 feet while Zion is around 3000. That was a 5000 foot gain for me and I had some trouble breathing. After leaving Sunrise Point I went up to Bryce Point. I got out of the van and almost fell down I was that dizzy. And so I called it quits.
04/28/09: Hiking the Rim Trail:
Storm clouds moved in last night. It was surprisingly mild though, not even as cold as Zion. Still a fair number of snow patches on the north side of the slopes.
Along about 9am the clouds started moving around. By the time I got to Inspiration Point the sun was peeking out now and then. I took half a dozen photos and then the sun popped out once again. I rushed back and took the same photos again, with much better results. The sun was right on the edge of the clouds and pretty much stayed there for the next couple of hours.
Just wandering around Inspiration Point I felt much better than yesterday so I headed off 1.3 miles to Bryce Point. Great views all the way and I took many more photos.
I felt good on the way out but got pretty tired on the way back. Even had to sit down to rest a couple of times.