Stopped by Hell’s Backbone Grill

to get coffee for Christoph and to see if they would make us some boiled eggs to go. It took a bit longer, but the eggs were good with a salt mixture and some grapes from the grapevine at the front door. We were on our way to Hole in the Rock Road again, which meant passing over the narrow parts of Scenic Highway 12 once again.
We were hiking Zebra and Tunnel slot canyons today. The hike started out great, because no other cars were parked at the trail head. The trail was easy with lots of neat rock formations and layers to see. In the beginning, we saw this huge military/army jet take off and it looked like it was headed towards us at first and it was so loud. Andre and I were wondering where there would be a base nearby, because it was all mountains and in a national monument/park.
We first went to Zebra slot canyon and the first thing we see at the entrance is a huge hip bone, probably from a cow or mountain lion, which we saw prints from. Zebra was fun, except we got our hiking boots wet from the puddles in the slot canyon. Andre took some cool and funny pictures of us. Back at the entrance and headed towards Tunnel slot canyon, we took a group photo with the hip bone.
On our way to Tunnel now, and we see dozens of mountain lion tracks in the mud near the mud puddles along with the rabbit and raccoon tracks. As we enter the beginning in Tunnel there are mountain lion tracks everywhere leading to the slot canyon. We walk up slowly and can see the other end to make sure it was clear. We walk on through the slot canyon with cold water coming up to my knees. Tunnel is very short, maybe 20-30 feet long, so it was a short hike. On the other side were more lion tracks and also boot prints of someone before us visiting. I waited at the end while Andre took pictures and at one point I heard a rock being kicked from either above us or on down from the exit, but I didn’t see anything. We left shortly after that back through Tunnel.
On our way back to the car, we pass one other hiker, who was by himself. Andre and I were agreeing to never hike alone. It’s too dangerous, even on an easy hike we just did.
You’re originally suppose to hike in the wash to get to Zebra slot canyon, but there was already a deep trail cut out above the wash we took. Not only was the trail easy to follow, there were still cairns that were set up.
Andre and I knocked some down on the last mile. Andre was telling me again about the rangers knocking over cairns on the Wave trail. They’re (BLM) not making it difficult to reach the Wave. They’re making you use a map, compass, sun, GPS, or whatever you use to find your way. This isn’t a theme park.
Back at the car we take off our wet boots and socks and pile them in a Whole Foods paper bag. We’re now on our way to Escalante to reach Bryce.
We make a pit stop in Escalante at a neat cafe where Christoph orders a coffee and Andre and I share a vegan burrito with Fizzy Lizzy sodas.
We arrive in Bryce around sunset and check in at a hotel outside of the park. We saved $10 by paying in cash. We unload the car and drive into the park at Sunrise Point to watch the sunset. It was already getting cold and by the time we got back at our hotel and ate soup under the general store sign, it was really cold. There was no way we could of stayed in the teepees at the park, which was what we were thinking about doing. I ate my soup snuggled in my sleeping bag.
At our room and getting ready for bed, Christoph notices that his credit card number has been stolen. We first noticed something was wrong at Hell’s Backbone Grill when the card wouldn’t go through, and he knew the card wasn’t maxed out. We looked at his online account and 2 transactions with some exchange website and 1 transaction sending Romanian money. We were puzzled on how this happened and Christoph was pissed.