Week 434
Positive Post Sunday, June 22, 2025…. Week 434. Have you ever heard of Walter’s Wiggles? No, it’s not the name of a new dance or a song😊. Avid hikers and National Park enthusiasts know what it is! Walter’s Wiggles is a very challenging and intense hike in Zion National Park. As you can see from the photos attached, it’s a set of 21 very steep switchbacks 1.8 miles into the Angels Landing hike ending at Scout Lookout just before the final Angels Landing climb.
So why am I writing about this? Well, climbing Walter’s Wiggles WAS on my post-retirement bucket list. That is, until Michele and I climbed it on June 14th. Yes, I said Michele and me! I must admit that I have been humbled. Knowing how Michele gets scared when I drive close to the ledge when driving up mountains, I was certain we would not even get up to the start of Walter’s Wiggles. To my amazement, she not only made it all the way up, but I also almost turned around at the one-mile mark (well before even getting to the start of Walter’s Wiggles) due to dizziness and balance concerns. We both felt the climb before Walter’s Wiggles was harder and that it was more difficult coming down than going up.
Those that are familiar with Zion National Park know that at the top of Walter’s Wiggles, starting at Scout Lookout, is a more traitorous part of the Angels Landing climb where there are chains and poles to assist you. As you can see from the map attached, you need a permit to climb it. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a permit. I guess we’ll have to climb back up there and complete the adventure next time we go to Zion National Park!
Speaking of National Parks, while in Zion, we purchased a lifetime pass for free entry into all U.S. National Parks, and at a significant senior discount. Who says getting older doesn’t have its perks? We now have affordable access to some of the most breathtaking landscapes this country has to offer.
There’s something profoundly divine about our National Parks. They’re living cathedrals, each one a reflection of nature’s untamed beauty and, for many, a manifestation of our Creator’s grandeur. From the quiet stillness of ancient forests to the thunderous awe of mountain peaks, these sacred places stir the soul.
Looks like it’s time to update my bucket list with more hikes, more wonder, and maybe a little less time on the bike saddle (unless I find a way to do both in the same day, which would be legendary). Let the adventures begin!
What’s on your bucket list?
Why wait until retirement to start checking them off your list, especially those that require physicality?
