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<\/a><\/p>\nThe hike to Delicate Arch begins with a ranger warning you of the dangers of heat and checking to make sure you have enough water. \u00a0The trail head is also where a ranch used to be. \u00a0Had to be a hell of a place to run cattle.<\/p>\n
Pictures can’t do this justice. \u00a0So many colors. \u00a0The sand is blue. \u00a0Literally blue.<\/p>\n We’re in the desert! \u00a0I love the desert! \u00a0I may be biased, but it’s always just so pretty and amazing. \u00a0Also, I’m feeling better today, which I’m pretty sure has to do with the desert. \u00a0Or warmer temperatures, whatever.<\/p>\n It’s dry, hot, and gorgeous.<\/p>\n Now we head up. \u00a0This is solid rock and grips pretty well. \u00a0JA has been out in Moab mountain biking before – apparently this type of rock is the common stuff out here and is a lot easier to ride on than the limestone we have in Austin. \u00a0I can definitely see myself on a bike roaming around out here. \u00a0Well, not at the National Park, but surrounding areas.<\/p>\n Like so many other ‘this is steep’ pictures, it fails to do it justice.<\/p>\n I love the desert.<\/p>\n Gotta stack rocks everywhere.<\/p>\n The climb isn’t terrible. \u00a0I’m pretty sure most people could handle it just fine. \u00a0The heat is what gets folks, but even that is not too terrible if you hydrate properly.<\/p>\n Have I mentioned I love the desert yet? \u00a0This park is just insanely gorgeous. \u00a0I haven’t even seen an arch yet.<\/p>\n Oh look! \u00a0An arch! \u00a0No one was taking pictures of it but me, so maybe it’s not a famous one.<\/p>\n Look how cool the pattern in the rock is here. \u00a0Wind and rain etched on the stone. \u00a0This is fantastic. \u00a0I want to go run all over this.<\/p>\n Another arch! \u00a0Once again, no one else cares but me.<\/p>\n Same from before, just a little closer.<\/p>\n At this point, JA, who has been here before, told me to wait and count to 30 here. \u00a0Pretty sure the main attraction is around the corner.<\/p>\n …and yeah. \u00a0That’s pretty damn amazing. \u00a0Holy cow. \u00a0I’ve seen pictures before, I didn’t realize it was that big.<\/p>\n This place is amazing.<\/p>\n This huge ‘bowl’ is below the arch. \u00a0Again, pictures just don’t do this justice. \u00a0I just don’t have the skills to convey the size of this. \u00a0It’s deep too, not nearly as shallow as this picture makes it look.<\/p>\n This place feels like another world.<\/p>\n The rocks that line the viewing area for Delicate Arch.<\/p>\n Gotta run in there and get my picture under the arch, just like the rest of the tourists. \u00a0I’m skipping, in case you can’t tell in this picture. \u00a0I’m just so happy to be out hiking, feeling good, and in an environment I love, just completely in awe.<\/p>\n JA and me!<\/p>\n Unfortunately, there are a lot of people here. \u00a0A LOT. \u00a0It was a challenge to take pictures without other people in them. \u00a0Going to the backside of the arch helped with this. \u00a0Plus it was a steep drop off so folks weren’t wandering close. \u00a0The rock grips really well though, like sandpaper, so the traction is amazing.<\/p>\n JA for size comparison.<\/p>\n Obviously enjoying myself thoroughly.<\/p>\n Another arch!<\/p>\n Just another amazing thing. \u00a0A little patch of life in the rock. \u00a0JA and I are just roaming now, enjoying the views, marveling at the sights.<\/p>\n Another angle of the big bowl.<\/p>\n Heading back to the car. \u00a0I could stay out here all day. \u00a0But, like before, we have limited time. \u00a0We’ve been so rushed this trip, except in Portland. \u00a0Next time we need to plan on double or triple the time everywhere.<\/p>\n We didn’t take the beaten path. \u00a0We found some rocks to crawl over.<\/p>\n Not sure what caused that in the rock. \u00a0Rain, maybe? \u00a0Animals? \u00a0who knows? \u00a0This wall was a little taller than me.<\/p>\n We came upon another ‘entrance’ to Delicate Arch.<\/p>\n I can’t get enough of it.<\/p>\n Dead moss, for KL.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back to Grand Teton<\/a>\u00a0::: On to Arches & Canyonlands Part 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" August 13, 2016 We woke up, broke camp, and headed into Arches National Park. \u00a0It’s going to be hot and we want to see the most famous arch here before things get too rough. The hike to Delicate Arch begins with a ranger warning you of the dangers of heat and checking to make sure you have enough water. \u00a0The trail head is also where a ranch used to be. \u00a0Had to be a hell of a place to run…<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n