Arches & Canyonlands Part 2
August 12, 2016
Heading back down, I spotted yet another arch the rest were missing. Look at the expanse on that one!
Of course, no one spots tiny things near the ground unless they’re short, like me.
JA for scale. Also, you’re not supposed to stand on the arches. But I don’t think we’ll get caught for this one.
It’s a collared lizard!!!! Look how pretty she is!
And an invasive species, the bullfrog. He was pretty big. Hope the lizard doesn’t wander down this way.
Our only ‘major’ hike of the day done, we get back in the car to drive around a bit.
This is the Fiery Furnace. Apparently you can go hiking in there if you request special permission and get a guide.
More neat formations.
Gotta walk to see either of these. We’re interested in Sand Dune Arch because it takes us through the rocks.
Through these rocks.
In fact, you can only go in or out right here.
JA for scale. Better than a banana.
It’ll never, ever cease to amaze me. In the middle of hostile environments, there’s life. How the hell did this tree grow here?
Yes, it looks broken, but this is Sand Dune Arch.
Far off in the distance, Broken Arch. We aren’t hiking to see that one today. That’ll have to be in another trip. Another trip, where we camp in this park. Because camping at Arches just sounds like a great trip.
Window Arch? Skyline Arch? I’m not sure what one this is. There’s a lot of arches.
It’s just so cool how most of these are somewhat flat.
This was one of JA’s favorite things here.
It’s pretty damn big. The day that falls, it might kill a busload of people.
There was a nice little walk way around it with some neat views.
Far off in the distance, another arch.
Future Arch?
I love this place. Just love this place. I would come back here in a heartbeat. I’m coming back here. For a week. With mountain bikes. And camping.
Now that’s a cool arch.
Another little hiking area. Just seeing everything here, wondering about the forces it takes to shape the rock, I can’t describe the feeling.
How could you not be in awe here?
On our way out. I wanted to spend more time at this park and I know JA felt the same. But we’ve gotta see Canyonlands before we leave this area for the day. We’re staying the night in Mesa Verde, only a few hours away. We haven’t even seen half of what Arches has to offer and we’ll only see maybe…a quarter of the upper parts of Canyonlands.
Despite all this rushing around, we could honestly stay longer. Our schedule is flexible. But at this point in the trip, we’re both pretty worn out. Too many nights of not enough sleep and too many days with summer tourism crowds.
Our first little stop in Canyonlands. A viewpoint at the north-end of the park.
This is one of the main entrances to the canyon itself. You need a 4×4 capable vehicle and a permit. Obviously this is not on our agenda this trip. But I would love to come back and go off-roading in the canyon and camp down there. Next time. So many next times.
All throughout the trip, JA and I discussed perspective and cameras.
I think we’re going to by miniatures of ourselves and place them in areas like this for fun.
Rain in the desert. Doesn’t get better than this.
This is one of the more scenic views when you aren’t traversing the canyon below. Very pretty.
I don’t even know how some of those stay standing. They seem so thin and fragile.
I caught JA like this. I like pictures like this, where no one poses or knows that you’re taking a picture of them.
Obviously I knew there was a camera.
What is this? A window in the rock? Could that be…
Another arch? Mesa Arch, to be precise. Yes, Canyonlands has arches as well. This was a pleasant little hike. But we are worn out. There’s been a lot of stunning views today and I think we’re just out of processing ability right now.
Adios Utah. I’ll be back.