First lady vacationing in Zion National Park

First lady Laura Bush, who is visiting Zion National Park this week with several girlfriends, could be a good-luck charm for Utah's Dixie, said Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff.

"It'll probably rain before she's gone," said Cluff, who met with Bush on Sunday following the invitation-only rededication ceremony of the Zion Nature Center inside the park. "She's very nice and acts every bit professional as the first lady."

Cluff said Laura Bush was staying for six days and is supposed to leave on Friday. The mayor said the first lady told her she was going to spend time in the backcountry during her visit to the park. It sprinkled in the area on Tuesday, which always brightens the red rock sandstone cliffs and limestone rocks that rise throughout Zion National Park.

"I asked Mrs. Bush if she was camping in the park, and she said, 'Some people are,' which I took to mean she wasn't," said Cluff. "I haven't heard that she's been doing anything in Springdale, and I probably would have if anybody had seen her."

The forecast for Zion National Park calls for mostly cloudy skies with isolated showers and thunderstorms, although the chance of rain is fairly low at 20 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

Hiking in the park's narrow slot canyons can be dangerous during a thunderstorm, although no one seems to know where Mrs. Bush is spending most of her time. Mrs. Bush's press office in Washington said the first lady was taking a "personal vacation" and would not be available for the rest of the week. Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith and park rangers also said they could not comment on Mrs. Bush's plans.