I had been alerted to this famous hike by hiking friend Liz but was also a little concerned about the wisdom of attempting it. Hiking friend Charlie who is only four years older than me having just announced that he was giving up hiking with the Wednesday Wonderers added to my anxiety as to the wisdom. The forecast was for a high of 92F. Anyhow I caught the shuttle to the trailhead at 0700 hrs. I had plenty of water as well as snacks. The expected time for the hike was four hours.
I was on the trail at 0800 hrs. It was amazing the numbers on the trail - but not all would have got to the top of Angel’s landing. The second hour is very steep with chains to hold onto as one hiked across narrow ridges with 1000 feet vertical drops on each side. It was quite strenuous. I enjoyed telling people my age and hearing their comments. It resulted in continued encouragement from fellow hikers - most of whom looked 30 yrs or more younger than me. I said to them. - you can do it as long as you keep physically fit and consider yourself in good enough shape to do it. (For me it is thanks to hiking and biking).
I made it and finished in just under four hours and was back at the RV before the heat of the day. The hike was 8.7KM, climbing 1488 feet to an altitude of 5990 feet. The downhill part was much easier as one could rappel using the chains on the steep downhill parts. The first hour of the trail up is paved so one was not held up by the crowds on this section.
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