Hiking, HIstory and Theater

This week's adventure was probably our last overnight get-away so we wanted to make it special, hard to do since we're running out of destinations! 

One place we hadn't visited was Kanarraville, just outside the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park and the access point for Spring Creek Canyon.  A shallow creek winds through this lovely slot canyon whose dark red walls provide a dramatic backdrop for abundant greenery.  Although there were a few scrambles and up-and-over detours, the hike didn't require any technical moves.  Actually, the hardest part of the endeavor was crossing 1.5 miles of scrubland to reach the canyon--hot, dry and boringly monochromatic. It wasn't a difficult six-miler but we were happy to cap it with an hour's air-conditioned drive to St. George.



Spring Creek flows out of its lush canyon

 

Fred, colorful rock and small waterfall in Spring Creek Canyon



                                                    



We rested a bit and then transformed ourselves from 'hikers' to 'theater-goers' for a performance of 'The Little Mermaid' at the Tuacahn Amphitheater.  This is one of St. George's gems: a grand state-of-the-art theatrical facility set in the redrock of Snow Canyon.  Sitting three rows from the stage allowed us to see how the special effects were accomplished and to enjoy the mist created by their signature water curtain.  Our only complaint was how warm it was--the night-time low for St. George was 73*, the redrock retains the day's heat and the sold-out theater seats 2000.  



Twilight at Tuacahn Amphitheater
nestled in the red rocks of Snow Canyon



Tuacahn stage's back wall is Snow Canyon



Sold-out performance of The Little Mermaid



After dinner and before the play, we finally found the upscale development of Kayenta, an expensive enviromentally-friendly development where the houses are difficult to see because they are built into the landscape and match the colors of ambient rock, lava fields and the native vegetation.  Our source had told us about a collection of artsy shops--pottery, weaving, sculpture, books, paintings, jewelry, etc.--that I wanted to investigate.  The shops closed at 5 and it was now after 7.  Nevertheless, it was a pleasant experience:  we walked through gardens interspersed with large sculptures and mobiles and indulged in some window-shopping without having to deal with other shoppers, pushy salespersons or the temptation of pricey baubles.

On Thursday morning, we went on an excellent living history tour of some of the city's historical buildings.  We met Jacob Hamblin (who discovered and named Jacob Lake on the Kaibab Plateau), Orson Pratt at the Opera House, one of the leaders of the original pioneer group  which settled St. George,  Judge MacFarland at the Court House, a Mormon woman who pushed a handcart across the Plains, losing her husband and three children between Nebraska and St. George, and Brigham Young at his winter home. 

Mormons are very proud and protective of Utah history, which is basically Mormon history.  Even though there's not that much of it--less than 200 years--what they have wrought here is impressive.   The stories are fascinating and, to Gentiles (non-Mormons), almost incredible.  I was dumb-founded to hear that Mormon teenagers voluntarily go on four-day handcart treks--crossing the desert in the summer wearing pioneer garb and pulling a heavy wood pushcart which they build themselves.

Judge MacFarland lectures the accused water-poacher



Fred and other jurors agree on a verdict of 'guilty'