This might be the first trip I’ve ever taken where I’ll actually LOSE weight because I’ve been hiking like a mofo and I haven’t had much of an appetite since Central America. I’m travelling on a blogger trip with Trek America, which involves a great deal of camping and outdoorsy things. It is AMAZING and honestly, I don’t know if I would’ve given much thought to travelling this part of the United States otherwise.

Hoorah, the Virgin River.It’s been a rough go for sleep, though. We spent the first two nights camping in Zion National Park and temperatures were hovering around freezing. I wasn’t exactly prepared for that, so I spent two sleepless nights in a tent with 40 layers trying not to shiver to death. So I had about three hours of sleep before tackling the Angel’s Landing hike in Zion.

Angel’s Landing from the bottom.Angel’s Landing is a straight-up hike through a limestone valley with peaks reaching up to 1800 metres. The first 90 minutes or so is a steady incline up a series of switchbacks, and then through narrow turns known as Walter’s Wiggles. Somehow, SOMEHOW (maybe it was that insane Hawaii hike that whipped me into shape?) I actually was the second person to the top, and didn’t find it too terribly difficult.

And then I got to Scout’s Lookout.

The view from Scout’s Lookout.Scout’s Lookout is a nice and easy little plateau where you can hang out with dozens of other hikers, eat your lunch, take some photos, whatevs. But the REAL thrilling part of the hike begins immediately after: you’re literally SCRAMBLING and climbing up a cliff, clinging to anchored chains, with the hope that you won’t slip and fall thousands of feet into a ravine.

Sometimes the path is only a few feet wide, with nothing to cling too. Sometimes you have to maneuver around other people coming DOWN the path, so either you have to step to the side and let them get past, or get really close to a stranger as you hold onto the chain and walk around them. I grazed some gentleman’s bodies. Maybe it was a little intentional, I don’t know.

I’m not gonna lie – I was terrified. Beyond terrified. A few minutes in, I considered turning back. I have a deep fear of heights, but I really wanted to push myself and the climb didn’t look too threatening from Scout’s Lookout. I was sadly mistaken, because once you round that first little taste of the trail, the big scary stuff begins. I think our camera crew has a view shots of me screaming and cursing. They probably couldn’t use it in the video.

I took my time, though. You’ve gotta have some level of physical fitness to do the route – sometimes you’re using just your upper strength to pull yourself up with the chains. My hands were stinging. My legs were spaghetti noodles – I had to concentrate on one foot in front of the other or else I’d look around and realize just how stupidly high up I was climbing. It’s really hard to describe. I’ve never done a hike before where SO MUCH mental stamina was needed to get me through. It was completely my mind screaming at me to keep climbing.

And then: the summit!

I collapsed in a sweaty, terrified heap for a few minutes before joining my friends at the other end of Angel’s Landing. Some girls flashed the Mormon state their boobs and we sat and ate sandwiches and I tried not to cry a little but it was BEAUTIFUL.

So beautiful.

Have you ever hiked Angel’s Landing?