My cell phone rang at 6:15am. I was expecting the call on my cell, but I had planned not to answer it. Unfortunately, my reflexes kicked in and I grabbed the call. It was my dental hygenist calling to encourage me to show up for my 2pm appointment regardless of the fact I had left a message saying I wasn't going to make it. I don't think she believed me when I told her I was in Utah. Maybe she thought that was a part of southern Chautauqua County she hadn't visited, yet. Anyway, we were awake around 7:30 and alert shortly after that. I tried making a cup of coffee with the with the maker in the loo, but that was a mistake not to be repeated having been spoiled by the previous day's set-up in the Candlewood room. Breakfast would have to be from a convenience store. We stopped for some goodies at the Canyon Tire Food Mart(it's for sale, by the way) and were soon on our way up-canyon to Angels Landing.
The weather was perfect! Clear skies and a temperature of about 65º was far more comfortable than the highs of 101º we had tracked online the previous week. Getting off the tram at The Grotto stop, we crossed the road, made a right turn after crossing the bridge over the Virgin River and started our hike along the West Rim Trail. Angels Landing was now ahead of us and we were psysched for the round trip of 5 miles and altitude gain of approximately 1400'.
It wasn't long before we were gaining altitude and getting some great views of the canyon behind us.
Having done this hike several times before in the afternoon heat, I was very thankful to be doing this part of it in the shade!
A few more switchbacks and we arrived at an overhang marking our entrance into Refrigerator Canyon (we actually stopped for these two photos on our way back down).
