December 25, 2011

Unique about visiting Zion in the winter, aside from the park all but empty of visitors, were the cold temperatures: streams of water that are running in the summer months are frozen in time, held in the chilly grip of December.

The trail up to the pools passed through sparse woods, large dry leaves the same color as the rocks.

The rocks here wept out water, frozen into icicles and sheets.

Mist had condensed and frozen on grass, making it look like transparent tubing.

At the top pool, small avalanches of ice would tumble down the walls as icicles broke off and would smash into the rocks.

In the twilight, the river reflected the cliffs.

Descending from the pools, the cliffs were rutilant in the final light of day.