Day 12

Over 9 People have died there since 2004. ———The scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life.

Wake up and do my meditation because I know out of all days today is the most important. I’m about to try and complete one of the most dangerous hikes in America. My travel buddy and I grab some coffee and head into Zion.

I’m super excited and also nervous. But after we hop off the shuttle at what’s called The Grotto stop it finally really hits me. We are about to do this. A 5 mile plus hike and over 1,500 feet of elevation gain.

Off we go. I start my All Trails app and we begin. The first mile is a slow steady incline and then we hit some steep switch backs. It’s intense. Both of us had to stop and strip down layers. I left a coat hidden behind a tree and I’m down one sweatshirt and the sweatpants come off. Shorts it is.

We then hit the killer Walter’s Wiggles they call it. Which are extreme switchbacks with a lot of gain in elevation. It was all paved trail up until after these switchbacks. Then, you reach a landing and see a climb in front of you and you think it won’t be that bad until you notice the people off in the distance in the second cliff that are tiny specs. Oh shit. Heart sinks. Knees get weak. But I have to at least try.

We grab some water and a snack before starting the first section. It’s up a ways but it’s the first section with chains that you have to hold on to. And then we run into a traffic jam where you have to let go of the chain and move towards the edge to let other people go down. I almost gave up there.

I remember saying multiple times I don’t know man I don’t think I can do that. I’m going to stop.

And then I’d go back to self talk. You can do this. You got this shit. Win this battle. Look at all the hundreds of people that do this every day. David Goggins myself and inside my mind I was yelling at myself “who’s going to carry the boats, they don’t know me son”. A video my best friend Ben showed me. https://youtu.be/S2eso4vLPms

I was repeating this over and over.

Corner after corner. Chain link after chain link. Almost puking from the vertigo but managing to calm myself down. I did it. I climbed over the last part and holy shit. Angels Landing. I couldn’t believe it. The view was unreal.

It was in that moment I think I changed inside. I realized I could do so much more than what your mind limits you too because of whatever reasons. I had done something I never thought I could. I won. This time anyways.

We had lunch took in the view took a bunch of pictures and the. Headed back down. Back down wasn’t as rough as I thought it would be because I thought it was going to be harder. We get back down the 3.5 miles and decide to go do another hike. The narrows.

We learned most of the trail is actually hiking in the river through the canyon as the canyon walls narrow. So we hiked what we could and then decide to call it a day.

My travel buddy and I part our ways as he is headed back home and I’m headed to the Grand Canyon. It’s a bitter sweet moment. But so glad our paths crossed.

On my way out of Zion, I pull over one last time to take a picture and again I thank the universe and Mother Nature for giving us this raw beauty and excitement. I feel the feels for a moment and head back to camp.

Something changed inside of me today. I’m not sure what but maybe one day I’ll figure it out. I feel different. I feel good. I feel a power and proudness inside I haven’t felt for a long time. Today was magical.

Until next time my friends,

Support the Intended

Bryce P

#nationalparks #camperlife #Zion #sun #moving #vanlife #newstart #journey #nature #positive #adventure #angelslanding