More Arches National Park
A Distant View Of Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, UtahMy busy month continues and that means I'm still casting about for blog topics. One could rightfully infer from all these outdoors posts that I need a vacation.
I can only dream.
Anyway, this technically isn't a repost nor is it a migration of something from my off-line blog. ("Huzzah," you cry!) Rather, seeing this story a couple of weeks ago about "Wall Arch" in Utah's Arches National Park (Park Map here) reminded me that I have a few photos left over from our trip there last summer.
Turret Arch
Sitting just outside Moab, Utah, Arches preserves a portion of the Colorado Plateau wherein there is a tremendous number of natural arches formed over the eons by the wonders of erosion. The park is popular, though hot, in the summer months.
Strolling Along "Park Avenue"
We appeared at the end of May, but the weather was still decent. We managed to tour the entire park in the course of four days. As usual, we would get into the park very early, before the heat and the crowds. We spent a couple of days doing the shorter hikes in the park and one day exploring the eight mile Devils Garden Trail which is one of my all time favorite hikes.
The Official Elder Son On The Devils Garden Trail
I should note, Moab makes a fabulous base for trips not only to Arches, but to Canyonlands National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument, as well. Off-road mountain biking is a popular pursuit, as is rafting and kayaking the upper reaches of the Colorado River.
More Trail View
Both the EMBLOS and I fell in the love with Moab and it rocketed onto the short list of "Potential Places To Retire."
The North And South "Windows" Arches National Park, Moab, Utah
Aside: I should mention that Arches is one of the desert parks which a attracts a lot of visitors from outside the United States. I met such a group following an excursion to take the photo which appears at the outset of this entry. To get to where I snapped the photo, I had to hike about a half mile up a long fin of slickrock. When I returned to the where the official "Delicate Arch Viewpoint" ended, I met a gentlemen from Japan who was leading an entire group of tourists from Osaka, each with a minimum of three cameras, a camera bag and a zillion accessories.
Ho, hum. More Trail
His English wasn't the best, but of course, it was better than my Japanese. Through a view words and a lot of gestures, he asked whether it was permissible to hike up the slickrock and I nodded in the affirmative and off he went, leading his group of twenty or so.
Ditto
Before he took off, however, he bowed to me. Then, as each member of his group passed, each one of them bowed to me, too. I smiled and nodded politely, but mentally I was thinking, "Hey. This is kinda cool."
Anyway, here are a few more pictures to make sure you're sufficiently bored to tears.
A Formation Known As "Dark Angel"
The EMBLOS and Official Younger Son On The Slickrock
A Prickly Pear Cactus In Bloom
Cheers.
R. Sherman
Related Posts
I can only dream.
Anyway, this technically isn't a repost nor is it a migration of something from my off-line blog. ("Huzzah," you cry!) Rather, seeing this story a couple of weeks ago about "Wall Arch" in Utah's Arches National Park (Park Map here) reminded me that I have a few photos left over from our trip there last summer.
Turret ArchSitting just outside Moab, Utah, Arches preserves a portion of the Colorado Plateau wherein there is a tremendous number of natural arches formed over the eons by the wonders of erosion. The park is popular, though hot, in the summer months.
Strolling Along "Park Avenue"We appeared at the end of May, but the weather was still decent. We managed to tour the entire park in the course of four days. As usual, we would get into the park very early, before the heat and the crowds. We spent a couple of days doing the shorter hikes in the park and one day exploring the eight mile Devils Garden Trail which is one of my all time favorite hikes.
The Official Elder Son On The Devils Garden TrailI should note, Moab makes a fabulous base for trips not only to Arches, but to Canyonlands National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument, as well. Off-road mountain biking is a popular pursuit, as is rafting and kayaking the upper reaches of the Colorado River.
More Trail ViewBoth the EMBLOS and I fell in the love with Moab and it rocketed onto the short list of "Potential Places To Retire."
The North And South "Windows" Arches National Park, Moab, UtahAside: I should mention that Arches is one of the desert parks which a attracts a lot of visitors from outside the United States. I met such a group following an excursion to take the photo which appears at the outset of this entry. To get to where I snapped the photo, I had to hike about a half mile up a long fin of slickrock. When I returned to the where the official "Delicate Arch Viewpoint" ended, I met a gentlemen from Japan who was leading an entire group of tourists from Osaka, each with a minimum of three cameras, a camera bag and a zillion accessories.
Ho, hum. More TrailHis English wasn't the best, but of course, it was better than my Japanese. Through a view words and a lot of gestures, he asked whether it was permissible to hike up the slickrock and I nodded in the affirmative and off he went, leading his group of twenty or so.
DittoBefore he took off, however, he bowed to me. Then, as each member of his group passed, each one of them bowed to me, too. I smiled and nodded politely, but mentally I was thinking, "Hey. This is kinda cool."
Anyway, here are a few more pictures to make sure you're sufficiently bored to tears.
A Formation Known As "Dark Angel"
The EMBLOS and Official Younger Son On The Slickrock
A Prickly Pear Cactus In BloomCheers.
R. Sherman
Related Posts
Labels: Arches National Park, Environment, Nature, Photography, Trips, Utah
posted by R. Sherman at 1:14 AM
10 Comments:
Now its me that gets to be "homesick" looking at your photos! One neat canoe trip is the Green River, you can paddle from I-70 (town of Green River) to the confluence of the Colorado, a long stretch without rapids, but with fast water and 2000 foot canyon walls--it's amazing.
Several times in my life as I've sat in the shade of a natural arch or bridge and ponder the ramifications of it suddenly letting loose while I was there. If I were alone, would it make a sound as it squashed me kind of pondering? Fortunately that hasn't happened but this event will surely be in my mind the next time I'm sitting underneath one.
Sage, the trip you describe is on my list of things to do. We thought about trip on the Colorado but spent too much time hiking in the desert. Priorities, priorities.
Ed, I've got pictures of my entire family under Wall Arch. I think it's better if you just don't worry about it. If it's your time, it's your time.
Cheers.
Not boring at all! I've never been to that part of the country, and I hope to see it someday. Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy your and Sage's photos!
It looks hot. I don't do well in the heat. I'm always reminded of that line from that movie, "The White People Are Melting!"
That being said, one day I'd like to make the American Grand Tour - Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, and Arches - all in one sitting.
Also, rafting down the Colorado through the Grand Canyon is on my short list of five trips I must make before I die.
I remember that arch; it's a great shame if it has collapsed.
Japanese tourists near Salisbury Plain, where the roads are quite dangerous, saw a sign showing a camera and assumed it was a photo stop. In fact it means there are police cameras to stop speeding.
OK I'm going right now!
Judy, it's definitely worth a visit. Early Spring or late Fall are the best times in my view, both because of the absence of crowds and the weather.
Will, we were hiking by 6:00 AM and the temps were in the high 70's and low 80's. By the time 90+ degrees hit, we were in the pool.
Pat, there were loads of Japanese and Germans on the trip. Arches is sort of the stereotypical western landscape and draws a lot of people whose view of the West is formed by American movies.
Cheers.
We were preparing a list of potential hikes, trails, places to see if I ever get the time, and I will add this one to the list. It might even make it onto my list of places to visit after I die!
Mother Nature is the most amazing sculptor I've ever known. Indeed, it takes a special artist to capture her creations as you have. Brilliant as usual.
UP, it's definitely worth it.
Carmi, thanks for the kind thoughts.
Cheers.
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