With backpacks full of water and lunch we took off to tackle Angels Landing Trail. At 5.4 miles roundtrip and a 1488 foot elevation change we were prepared for a long day. A Methodist Preacher thought it would be a good place to watch angels land when he was sitting on The White Throne across the valley, hence the name.
Angels Landing from the valley. The trail is up the back side.
This is the trail we started on the other day and had to turn around as we were on the wrong one. It starts out flat with a gradual incline and then we were on the side of one canyon wall with switchbacks taking us upward. The next thing we knew we were climbing up a very narrow slot canyon on a steep paved trail to reach the backside of Angels Landing. Then we walked up 21 flights of switchbacks called the Wiggles to the top of the mesa. We thought we had arrived but the signs said differently. We still had another half mile to the end of the trail. This is where it really gets scary! The last part rises 500 foot traversing slick rock, narrow rock bridges and climbs one cannot make without holding on to the chains implanted in the rock. Sand made some places slick and deep steps cut into the side of the rock were taller than my stride. We got about 1/2 way out and turned around to come back. The trail was just too narrow for us (4-5 feet) on a rock bridge to Angels Landing with sheer drop offs on both sides of almost 1,500 feet! This is one of the scariest things we have ever attempted. I have to put it right up there with scuba diving and John compares it to flying aerobatics!
The wiggles.
The slick rock to get to the rock bridge. There is no way this could be climbed without the chains to hold onto! What you don’t see off to the right is the sheer cliff. Lose your footing here & you are toast. People get killed on this trail on a somewhat regular basis.
The rock bridge up to Angels Landing. You can’t see the really narrow section.
Angels Landing.
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