Yesterday afternoon, Molly and I headed to Zion to go hunting for frog photos. Hoping to find a place as equally frogtastic as the amphibious whorehouse we stumbled on last year, which long-time readers may remember from the post “no means no Kermit, and other tales from the first backpack of the season,” we failed miserably in comparison. But we did find a few frogs, lots of tadpoles (which weren’t quite mature enough to leave the water, though some had begun sprouting legs), and some really camera-shy lizards.
While hiking along the creek heading to the fairy pools, and not wanting to get my pants wet while crouching for frogs, I decided to take them off. And let me tell you, hiking without pants is the only way to go. It’s very freeing, while not being illegal. Besides, my pasty white legs needed a little sun (while photographing me later, Molly said “I need to use manual exposure because you’re so white!”).
After going for a dip at the waterfall dead-end, the clouds rolled over and we needed to get out. The whole day was back and forth between downpours and hot sun, and it would be another hour before the sun came back. We took off for the car, and got back to it to find my car keys had fallen off my carabiner somewhere along the hike… hopefully not in the water or off a rock ledge past where the trail had ended! Cameras seeking shelter under the car, and Molly hovering next to it, I took off in the pouring rain (still in my skivvies) to find the keys… which were luckily not too far back. But even if they were, I didn’t mind… such misadventures are what make the adventure!
Tree. Frog. Haha, get it? I’m lame, I know.
Molly photographing tadpoles
the glorious skies before the rain came back
me sunning and catching tadpoles… photos obviously by Molly
This weekend, Miss Molly (henceforth referred to as Bitter Princess of the Forest) and I voyaged to the remote northwestern Kolob Canyons area of Zion. Originally planned as a long 14-mile day hike to the Kolob Arch, we instead opted to turn it into an overnight backpack to help us prep for our 40-mile backpack next month.
We were underway around noon on Saturday and returned 16 miles and 24 hours later. The main attraction was the Kolob Arch, the second-longest arch in the world, but it was so unimpressive that I’m not even including a photo here. Luckily, we stumbled upon a waterhole that made the entire hike well worth every single fly bite we endured (hundreds).
We had already set up camp and continued hiking (sans heavy backpacks) for a few miles when we stumbled on the swampy area. All of a sudden, strange noises started echoing in the air. At first I thought it was some sort of machinery, even though I found it hard to believe machinery could make its way that far into the backcountry. It must be some sort of weird bird mating call then, but no. We eventually realized that the incredibly loud noises were actually coming from the waterhole immediately to our left. Frogs. Dozens of them. I still can’t believe that loud of a noise can come from such a tiny animal, but there they were, singing their mating call in full glory. We spent about half an hour hanging out with these frogs, watching everything from a post-coital cuddle to a full-blown rape.
We hiked back out early to avoid the high, mid-day temperatures, but we still got a whiff of it. The last leg of the hike is, of course, the hardest part… a steep, mile-long uphill. Combined with a big-ass backpack and a full-on assault by an army of flies, I think it’s safe to say I wanted to kill myself (well, really just those damn flies). But well, considering I escaped the trip with nothing more than bug bites and calves only a little tight, I’d say it was a very good trip. As always, photos…
