Camping in Zion National Park

*Pre-script- this is definitely a post that could be quick and easy, but keep in mind I'm kinda writing this more "journal-esque" than just a simple blog so...yep...it's more wordy! Read on if you want =)

The Trudster

So I achieved two of my 30 before 30 goals this weekend. I went camping in Zion National Park, and I learned how to use my camp stoves. I decided this weekend would work the best (because let's be real if it gets any later it's only gonna get colder) and then sent out a few invites. My friend Trudi said, "Come hell or high water we will do it!" She's great! That made me feel better right off the bat because I knew even if she and I just had to suck it up and go alone, that she would do it with me. I really really appreciate that from her- she rocks! I know some of my goals seem silly, but I did make them all for different and, I think, important reasons. She doesn't even laugh at me for them- she just plays along. Love her!

What's funny is that every time Trudi and I have attempted hiking in Zion National Park, it rains! We knew if we went this weekend the same thing would happen and no surprise it did! It rained all night, and in the morning it even snowed, but honestly it wasn't that bad. I was nicely surprised and grateful it wasn't raining while we set up tents or built a fire. I don't mind sleeping while it's raining outside, and I'm in my tent, in fact I like it sometimes, but it would've been worse to set up our gear that way. No one reportedly froze at all at night (Heidi even said she had to strip off some layers so yay for warm sleeping gear). 

After I got a "Trudi committal", I set about inviting other people. Rachel was committed right from the get go (she's great like that too- always such a trooper and up for a good time) and supposedly so was my friend, Kimball, but he backed out like a half hour before "go" time, but I get how crazy life can be. Lindsay and Erin committed shortly there after as well and I appreciated Erin's willingness to bring her truck and helping me gather last minute random items.

I also invited Pete and Heidi, who I met in Africa. They both live in Salt Lake City and since it's fairly close, I thought they might want to come (I did invite all the SLC people from SHe but Pete and Heidi were the only takers).  Pete loves outdoorsy stuff,  and he's never been to Zion so I'm so glad we got to camp and be there with him for his first time. Heidi and I actually hiked part of the Narrows together just a few weeks after we got back from Africa, so I already knew she would love it.

Using the stoves!

While chatting around the fire, we were discussing our goals (since we were obviously doing one of mine). Lindsay made a goal one year to simply make weekly goals. I like that idea. If something is working, you can keep doing it and if not you can change it. I think I'm gonna try it! Thanks for bein' all wise Lindsay =)

A rep. from each tent- Why is the
ground different colors? They are
sitting in the dry square
of where their tent used to be

 People started going to be after
 Heidi and Pete arrived (around  
 10ish), but I stayed up for a little
 while catching up with Pete. He's
 such a great guy (and ladies how he is still on the market I do not know! 
 Someone needs to snatch him up) and has big goals/plans for life. I know
 he'll achieve them too and help "the world" like he wants to. He's a
 solid guy (even if he does rely on an iPhone flashlight app while camping hahah) and a super sweet snuggler even in the rain (Pete's just fabulous all around, and I always heart cuddling up to a fabulous guy). Once he started shivering though, I realized it was really cold, and we also needed to go to bed. I felt badly he ended up being the only guy, but he didn't complain and with a ratio of 1:6 I think he may have been pleased.

The blues

The reds

 It rained all night and seemed to just  get Trudi, Heidi and my tent wet (I've decided the windows on my tent don't shut properly so I'm working on fixing that), but we survived it just fine and finally decided to wake up once nature's call was too great. Heidi and I couldn't get much of the door open, so we shimmied out the bottom and both got our butts really wet, but that gave us an excuse to stay in the bathroom and talk while we dried off. She's so great! I love talking to her because we seem to just get each other about how we feel about relationships and our current "like" interests (see we don't say 'love' here lol). I appreciate her.

The red, white and blue

 Once people started kinda waking up, I busted out the camping stoves that  I needed to learn to use for my 30 before 30 (my sister, Katie, gave them to me for Christmas one year and why I haven't used them yet, I'm not sure). The very small stove, I have learned, takes forever to cook, but hey it's quick setup and works ya know? The bigger one is very fast and awesome. Pete figured out how to actually get the gas flowing through it and then showed me so now I'm set. We made some eggs etc. and hung out watching some deer that decided to come and eat next to us. It then started to snow so we bagged the hiking idea (we'd hoped to do Angel's Landing for Pete's sake but there's no way that wouldn't have been icy) and head home. Pete and Heidi did stay to meet up with some of Pete's friends and do some repelling. If I hadn't been very concerned I might freeze to death and wasn't very tired from a long week  (some late night phone chatting and P90X) I would've stayed too, but I'm glad Pete got to see some more of the park and both of them had a great time!

Heidi makes Pete giddy

They stayed with me Saturday night and we went to church together on Sunday before they headed back. Heidi, is "old" and so she went to bed way early, but Pete and I stayed up late again talking, this time seriously planning and discussing how we're gonna get back to Africa. Pete studied sign language and has had a lot of experience with "big D" culture and "little d" hearing loss. We both definitely want to get back to the Kingango Hard of Hearing School at some point. Can I just say it was not coincidence that I met some of the people on that trip?! Because it certainly was not! I'm so glad I'm still in contact with several of them!

It was definitely a quick trip, but #1 I love camping with good people #2 I realize I love waking up in Zion National Park (Pete kept saying, "Look at that peak! Look at that view! That mountain is awesome" hahah but I have to agree it is pretty amazing) and #3 that even if the weather is bad or things are rough, I know I have friends who are willing to tough it out with me. Good times and good adventures! Thanks guys!