This is the view from our hotel room. My first reaction when I saw the massing of these mountains was, “that looks like God’s Mount Rushmore.” Turns out I was right. What you are looking at is the Court of The Patriarchs.
Long before this notion struck me, a Methodist Minister, Frederick Vining Fisher, named these three peaks for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are the Patriarchs of the Bible. Abraham is the patriarch for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, so many us have a shared experience in this tradition.
We arrived here safe and sound on Sunday afternoon after a uneventful drive from L.A. We were pretty beat though, packing and prepping three vehicles for a safe road trip is quite an undertaking. Considering the fact that two of the vehicles are “British” cars, the possibility of uneventful travel during the upcoming trip was largely theoretical. Needless to say we were pleased for our “uneventful” journey to Zion.
We spent the day in the park exploring and a bit of hiking. Not one of these 13 mile epic forced marches, but rather a number of short loops. Having said that we did get in 9.8 miles. (In the original draft I did write that it was 10 miles, but I was corrected, so there is that – fake news).
I can’t begin to describe how beautiful it is here, but I can show some pictures.
One of the final plaques we saw leaving the park today payed homage to the The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which were instrumental in the early years in conserving this national treasure. The CCC was a voluntary public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men. Originally for young men ages 18–25, it was eventually expanded to ages 17–28.
I would like to throw out a lifeline to my siblings as my facts may not be straight. My memory is that at least one of the Boysen Boys, that is to say one of the Greatest Generation Boysen Boys, perhaps two worked in the CCC. These were tough times so this was a great program for these young men.
This is in our DNA. I have proof. Right next to the plaque was a bronze statue of one of these men. After looking at this statue there was no doubt of my lineage.
At the end of the day we took a short walk and were able to enjoy the remnants of the day.
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Cowboys, Canyons and Cars 