Canyonlands:
Wednesday began early at dawn. I packed up my tent and headed to Dead Horse Point State Park. A big thanks to Dr. Moecher for the suggestion here, as I likely wouldn't have stopped otherwise:
After a hike around the rim, I drove south to Arches National Park. Arches was the park that started the whole road trip idea, so it seems a little silly that I only spent half of a day there, but really it's not a very big place. And I certainly packed a LOT into those 8 hours. Here are the highlights:
Park Avenue
Balanced Rock
The Windows
Turret Arch
Landscape Arch (the largest one-- nearly a footfall field wide)
...And Delicate Arch, by far my favorite.
It's a pain getting to Delicate Arch, but it is just gorgeous. (Truthfully, I had to take a little catnap in the shade before hiking up because I was so zapped from the heat.) You don't see the arch until the very last moment of the hike, and I enjoyed sitting at the top listening to people's reactions change from out of breath grumbling to awe as they rounded the curve.
But wow-- it really is just inspiring when the late afternoon sun hits it.
7 comments:
I'm so glad you went to Canyonlands- all your pictures are gorgeous! Makes me wanna go back. :)
-Jordan
Beautiful! But by now, aren't you sort of wishing for some green?
Amazing!! Judy, Nick B, and I say "hey"! Amazing pictures, and beautiful landscapes. Good job with those hikes and dealing with the heat! Stay safe, and remember we love you! :)
Beautiful pictures all--but do you have to sit so close to the edge?
I don't know if you all ever go back and look to see if I've responded to your comments, but if you do...
Mom: I'm a geologist. I like the rocky landscapes. Besides, I saw lots of green in California.
Jordan: I wish I had more time than the one evening to spend in Canyonlands. Let's go back and go backpacking down in the canyon!
Rachel--
Bill beat me to it so I won't say it...The scenery is beautiful but not as beautiful as You! I think when I have my sailboat built I will have to sail to all of these places!
Love--Dad
Rachel, when I was at Dead Horse Point, I climbed over the wall but didn't have the nerve to sit all the way out on the ledge. I stopped off there driving back from my field camp in Cedar City in 1984. There weren't any campsites left open at Arches, and I didn't have any camping gear anyway, so I just slept in my car in the parking lot next to the overlook. I'm delighted you've been able to see so much more than I did!
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