Day 7

Zion

Given enough time, so the saying goes, a monkey could write a Mozart Sonata. If I had 200 million years I cannot fathom designing a Zion National Park. 200 million years ago there were sand dunes 3000 feet high forming the Colorado Plateau which covers most of what is now Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and part of Arizona. Then this vast ocean of sand was covered by a shallow sea that provided the chemical components necessary to turn sand into sandstone. Are you bored yet? Too bad it's my blog and I love this stuff.

Once this massive sandstone desert was formed it was pushed up several thousand feet by pressure from deep in the earth. About 10 million years ago a small stream, we now call the Virgin River, was formed and over this immense geologic time it carved the stone into Zion National Park.

Jill and I spent most of yesterday touring and hiking in Zion. It's impossible to find the words to describe it's striking beauty and its spiritual power. As inadequate as they are here are some photos of this remarkable place.