nic nacks

Lobster dog

{ Zion Narrows = Best idea all summer }

Staying in Provo and going to work on a random Friday in July is fun, but going to Zion with friends to hike the Narrows is definitely much better. Thanks to Lance Anderson, a group of us headed to Zion last weekend to hike only the most beautiful, water-filled slot canyon in the world.

The Narrows, as you can read about here, is a 16 mile canyon hike that involves hiking through pleasantly temperatured water and stopping at random giant boulders to climb and jump off of them. Most of the time the water is around knee deep, but the best parts are around chest deep for 5'5"ers like me.

By far this has been the best executed idea all summer. We drove down friday, camped out at Zion in a campground equipped with stream access, trees to hang our overhead tarp, and a pool if desired (even though we didn't particularly desire). Saturday we got a 7:00am start so the canyon wouldn't be brimming with people on our hike (it's a pretty popular destination for Zion goers). Hiked from the bottom up since we couldn't secure a camping site for the two-day hike from the top down (booger). Had an awesome day of 10 miles of hiking. Stopped by Weeping rock on our tram ride back. Stayed at my company's condo in St. George for the night and watched Goonies. Drove home, and I slept almost the whole way. The end of the best trip of the summer so far.

Here are pictures for your viewing experience.

We felt a little sprinkling as we ate dinner near the entrance for Zion, so we thought setting up the tarp over our heads was a good idea. We didn't end up needing it, but it was a fun process nonetheless.

Katy and her rad headlamp hair.

Oh...why...good morning beautiful canyon....

The group. From me clockwise: Nicki, Angela, Katy, Bryan, Lance (Sean volunteered to take the picture...babe.)

Kates and Angela on the hike.

Radness.

Sean and Bryan taking the lead. This is about where the water hit most of the hike. I didn't get any chest deep photos -- booger. I may or may not have forgotten to charge my camera battery so it wouldn't poop out in the middle of the hike. Whoops.

We took a mile-long sidetrip up Orderville Canyon. Supposedly it's just as beautiful as the Narrows, but I just thought it was muddy and buggy. We must have gone at a bad time.

The sky up through the canyon, captured by Lance.

Radness #2.

Me and Katy preping to get off the above-pictured rock.

Lance posing as a sea captain. Nicki and Katy posing as themselves.

Nicki at Weeping Rock in Zion National Park after we finished the Narrows. So so cool...raining rock is what I like to call it.

NOTE: About Half the photos are courtesy of Lance and his fancy camera. Thanks Lance.

{ Beth & Fletcher came climbing }

Even though there are no actual pictures of Fletcher in this post, he was there. Beth and Fletcher came into town last weekend (Beth from NY and Fletcher from CO), and the group of us went out climbing. Even better, we went climbing at the same wall we met Fletcher at last summer. Love me some summer climbing with Beth and Fletcher.

Left: Nicki belaying Fletcher and Right: Angela killing it on the wall.

Left: Katy and the aforementioned Beth putting climbing shoes on. Right: Nicki telling Angela an obviously exciting story.

{ Newport Wedding }

A few weekends ago, I had the pleasure (yes the pleasure) of being a bridesmaid for my fantastic friend Julia's wedding. Talk about a babe. She planned quite an amazing weekend for her big day, including cake pops (which I sadly missed out on), bridesmaid gifts, getting sealed in the Newport temple and throwing a post-wedding luncheon and dance party on a yacht in Newport Harbor. Seriously one of the coolest things I have been a part of.

Plus, it was absolutely beautiful. You can see her wedding photos from her talented photographer here, including one of me dancing my heart out.

After the wedding festivities, me, kates, Angela and Anna spent the rest of the weekend at the beach and country line dancing with Katy's mom. Holy rad.

Just look at that beautiful couple. Aaron and Julia Smith, everyone.

Photos courtesy of Carrie, since I may or may not have forgotten my camera when we got onto the yacht. And, her photos from the rest of the day were better too.

{ Glosoli = new visual favorite }

Maybe I missed the boat since this video was produced in 2005, but I'm glad I finally got on, even if it's five years later. Sorry the video's not embedded. Youtube informs me it was disabled by request. So, just click on the link up there. Or here.

{ My future everything bracelet }

You did it again Jcrew. You've made another piece of completely lust-worthy jewelry. I've been pondering all morning how I can justify this bangle's $125 price tag to get it in my closet. I don't think I'm going to be successful at it, but I'm not giving up yet.

{ Park picnic and Hogle Zoo }

When I was small, I went to the Hogle zoo. I don't remember going, but I have a picture of me there, and I returned again a few weekends ago with Katy and Anna (pictured above fitting her head under the zygomatic arch of an elephant skull). Katy and I made our way up to Sugarhouse for a picnic in the park with Ms. Anna, then we all headed over to the zoo where Anna, a newly-acquired zoo employee, got us in for free. (NOTE: Anna gets people to donate money to help the zoo thrive...that's her awesome job).

Unlike the normal, boring, guests, we got to enter the zoo grounds through a not-so-secret back gate that makes a loud siren noise when it is opening and closing. After opening and closing under our scrutiny to be sure no people or animals entered or exited while it opened, said gate let us onto a Jurassic-park-like back road leading to the zoo.

Highlight of the trip: The baby elephant and the noises her mom made to get her attention.

Weirdest part of the trip: Realizing how much primates resemble humans; I don't think I had ever paid much attention before when I had seen them in person.

Souvenir from the trip: A lovely, quarter-sized rash on my right hand caused by, as the doctor told me, an encounter with a plant that my skin is sensitive to. Awesome. Even more awesome? Anna got one too.

Zuri, the cute baby elephant, acted just like a three-year-old kid. She kept poking her trunk in and out of the holes of the fence, seemingly just for fun.