Golden Arches

Have you ever been somewhere and stood staring at what someone had produced hundreds of years in the past? We spent our early afternoon standing and touching the past. On these rocks covered in "desert varnish" the early Indians would draw the important happenings of the day. At this particular "news rock" they drew an image of a women giving birth. It's interesting to point out that the birth was feet first. According to the locals there are only six such petrogylphs of this type of image in the world. They are proud that they have one here in their backyard.

After visiting with the past we headed over to Arches National Park to see what years of water running through sandstone can do. This park has the most arches than any other park in the country. This is caused by the water slowly eroding away rock and sand to produce these magnificent structures. Its amazing to look at them and marvel how they don't just crumble under their own weight.

This one has two arches together. If you look closely at the picture below, you will see some people climbing up to get in the arch shadow. This will give you an idea of the size of these structures.

We decided to go for an afternoon hike to look at some other arches. We climbed up dirt paths, scrambled across steep rocks and finally made it to the end of the trail. At this point we were faced with a decision. Should we go back on the same trail we came on or take this other trail marked "Primitive Trail". Aside from being another mile longer it was a little less marked but promised spectacular views.

About a 1/4 of the way into this primitive trail, I have to confess that, I become a little worried. This trial clearly had very little traffic. In fact we didn't pass another person while we were on it for 1 1/2 hours. Since you are scrambling over mostly rocks there really are big trees to mark a trail with paint. So, the trail is marked with a pile of rocks like below.

I became concerned when we were walking and all of a sudden I realized that we hadn't see any piles of rocks for awhile. I looked back and luckily I saw where the trail had turned. Can you imagine if we hadn't noticed? Everything looks the same out there. We could have been wandering around, while the sun was setting, looking for piles of rocks. I became very quite while we continued, afraid that we would miss a turn. When we finally got close enough that we could see the main trail did I open up to Reta and tell her my concern. Oh, by the way, the trail had some beautiful views.

It has been interesting to compare the three parks that we have been to so far: Zion, Bryce and Arches. They are all completely different from each other and each with its own unique vistas.

Dirt in your tread

Our journey out of Zion put us on the road relatively early so that the heat would hit us when we would be close to our destination. Our 310-mile trip would take us through the tall cliffs of Zion, through the flat lands of Utah and into the bright red colored hills of Moab.

Our trip was not complete without our stop at the filling station to maintain Road Hazard’s belly full at all times. We only had to fill it up with a ¼ tank to get the tank full again. But at $4.69 a gallon and having to put in 30 gallons we have both become numb with the whole experience. It’s better to not really worry and think too much about it because there is really nothing that we can do.

Our first impression of Moab is that it is a town of people that love the outdoors. Here is a place that is the “Mecca” for mountain biking, ATV’s, off roading, white water rafting and hiking. In this town if you don’t have a 4WD truck than you must be a tourist.

Yesterday evening we strolled down Main Street that is lined with small shops selling the usual wears for tourists. There are also many “Adventure” stores that offer many types of tours and, of course, your restaurants and bars. The interesting thing about Utah is that you can’t walk into a bar and just have a drink. You must order some food as well. If it is a Private Bar than you could just have a drink but you need to become a member. The drinking laws in this state are weird. We sat at the bar, which in Utah is called a counter because bars are not legal, and had this great “counter-tender” to be "Utah'anly" correct. She drew out a map of places we should see that we wouldn’t find on the tourist maps. Can’t wait to check them out over this weekend.

Chain bound

This morning our legs needed some much need rest so we kicked back and read a book until noon. It felt good to veg the morning away since the last few days we have been on the move and spending quite a bit of energy while we explored. We would need the rest because today the trail we planned on walking was going to take us 1,500 vertical feet.
After a good energy filled lunch, burgers and fries, we felt that we had enough “energy” to tackle any mountain.
Arriving at the trail head we looked up at the looming impressive cliff that we were going to conquer. At the peak was the destination called “Angels Landing”. Couldn’t this angel have flown a little lower so that we wouldn’t have to climb so high?

The trail started pretty innocently. Relatively flat with some slight inclines. As we got further up the trail it started to slowly increase in angle until we hit a section of the mountain that was straight up. The only way up was to traverse switchbacks that just seemed to snake up the side of this cliff forever.
We finally hit the first landing or gash in the mountain named “Refrigerator alley”. Even though we started our trek in the mid afternoon to get away from the smothering heat it felt good to get into this cut in the mountain. It almost seemed as though someone had an AC running somewhere. The coolness and nice ambiance was short lived. Soon we hit another set of switchbacks that made you feel as though you were on a Stairmaster at the local gym set to suicide.

Finally we hit the second landing and it felt so good to have accomplished this trail. We sat down and enjoyed the view while sucking down water. Only then did we realize that some people were coming down this other section that we thought was a dead end. Reta set off to explore while I quietly talked to my legs to encourage them and poke at them to see if I could still feel anything. Reta returned with excitement in her voice to report that we weren’t at the top yet. There was still another section to go! Oh joy…

This section was one that tested your courage and balance for it was literally walking the crest of the mountain. They had some chains anchored along the way to hold onto but other than that you had 800 feet on your right and 1500 feet on your left. As we twisted up the rock face holding on for dear life and clutching the chains with a death grip we ascended to the peak and finally reached Angels Landing. You might be wondering, “Was it worth it?” Hopefully the pictures will speak volumes because to find the words to explain the view would be useless. The thrill of being up so high and the views all around you have definitely been one of the highlights of our journey so far.
After the excitement started to wear off we realized that we had to descend but at this point gravity is on our side.

Our legs will definitely be feeling it tomorrow but we have a story and pictures to soothe the pain.
Our day today, Thursday, will be spent driving to our next destination. We have already decided that Friday will be a day of relaxing by the pool to re-energize these tired old legs.

Bryce Canyon

After talking to several locals we decided that we needed to check out Bryce Canyon. It is about a 2-hour drive northeast from Zion but we heard that it is well worth it. We were apprehensive at first. We couldn’t imagine anything in this area better than Zion for its massive size and beauty.

The drive took us through a tunnel that was blasted into the huge cliffs of Zion and stretches for a mile long. We started our journey at around 4,500’ and quickly started climbing to get out of this canyon. The road looked like a giant string of spaghetti as it twisted through the tall cliffs. We finally reached the top and it was as if we had arrived in a different region all together. Lush forests on both sides of the road that eventually leveled out to wide-open fields. Framed by tall mountains in the background.

Since we left Zion and were now arriving in Bryce it seemed that we never stopped climbing. When I looked at my altimeter it was reading 9,000’. In just a couple of hours we had climbed 4,500’ all the while our ears kept popping with the altitude change.
We entered the park and it looked like any ordinary National Forest that we have been to. Tall mountains with pine trees covering the slopes. It wasn’t until we reached the edge of this huge plateau that we realized what we were into this day.
Bright stripped colors of red, orange and white painting the different vertical formations. Created by thousands of years of water slowing carving the landscape.

As we walked along the rim trail your senses were over whelmed with the fragrance of the pine trees, the dust from the red dirt. Your eyes were bombarded with these bright colors and the formations played games with your mind as how something that big could stand vertical with such a little foundation.
Where Zion National Park is all about huge rocky cliff faces, Bryce Canyon is about subtle and delicate formations that seem will fall at any time.
We decided to walk a trail that would take us almost to the bottom of the canyon so that we could see how these formations looked from that perspective. In this case the saying goes “What goes down must come up!” We started to descend into the canyon and were immediately surprised at the size of these vertical structures. You can’t appreciate its size when you are just looking down. The path continued to descend and I just kept looking at my altimeter. 200 feet, 300 feet … finally hit bottom at 500 vertical feet. That would be like having to climb up steps of a 50-story building! As we looked around at the views it looked as if someone had taken and shaped these things by hand and added fine lines in the still fresh mud. Other formations looked like a small child had made mud pies while at the beach but only these soared to hundreds of feet high. As we slowly started our accent we were distracted by the fact that our legs were still soar from fighting the waters currents yesterday because we were walking among the giants. Afraid to talk to loudly for fear that at any moment these vertical giants would come tumbling down.

The trail twisted its way around these giant totem poles. The last bend of the trail reveled stairs. Stairs that twisted and snaked around the cliff face so as not to reveal how many stairs we would have to climb. With every breath you took you had to lift these now dead appendages, at one point called legs, and heave them up onto the next step. Now you wish you would have packed the Backpack better and gotten rid of some heavy non-essential items. Stay focused and remember to breath. Finally, reaching the pinnacle we embraced and looked back down into the canyon to see where we had been.

Exhausted but still excited with the views we had just burned into our memories to never forget, we walked back to the truck and decided that we had seen enough. We have to get back to Road Hazard to rest up because tomorrow is another full day of activities.

Wall Street

This morning we awoke and went to a local outfitters to rent some gear for our next adventure. Canyoning. There is an area of the park that is called "The Narrows" and it involves walking up river for several miles. After getting fitted with the appropriate gear we set off up the dirt trail until it ended at Virgin River. We put on our special aqua socks and shoes and set off.

We started off in ankle deep water walking up the river. There are no trails or sidewalks where we were headed. You had to pick your way up the river, jumping from rock to rock or wading through the cold water. The shock of the 65 degree water hitting your lower extremities certainly got my attention. We tried to stick to the shore line where the water was shallow instead of charging down the middle of the river in chest deep water.

As you start up the river the only noise you hear is your feet breaking the surface of the water and the sound of rushing water over rocks. The sounds echo off the cliff walls. We set off early in the morning so the sun wasn't high enough in the sky to shine down on the canyon floor. The width of the river at this point is about 50 to 75' across. The cliff walls soar up to a dizzying 800 to 1400' above your head. Here the biggest killer is Flash Flooding. If it were to start raining miles up stream we would be hit with a wall of water that would sweep us downstream while we bounced off the cliffs and rocks.

At some point during our trek the water would get up around our waist and the cold would quickly shot through our body. We were thankful as the sun rose higher in the sky so that it started to shine down on the river where we were. The heat felt so good. We finally reached our destination after 3 hours of walking, hoping and jumping up river. Wall Street is a section of the river where the walls smother you so that the width is only 20' across. There is no where to hide from the cold water because the water has to squeeze between the towering cliffs and this goes on for a 1/4 mile stretch of the canyon. As you look up for the warming suns rays you realize that this part of the river has never seen direct sunlight because of the cliffs shapes and how narrow the river is in this part.

The sounds are so intense in Wall Street. The rock face is smooth from years of water shaping this area. You find little circular depressions in the rock walls where the water is pushing against the cliffs. As you turn a corner you are greeted by waterfalls that measure close to 150' to 200' tall and showers you with spectacular views. The one thing that we had to keep reminding ourselves about was to stop looking down so much. True, you had to pick where you planted your feet so that you wouldn't fall but all the beauty is hundreds of feet above your head. We would have to stop to just take it all in.

We sat down for a much deserved lunch. Of all the fine restaurants that we have been to around this globe, the view that we had for lunch today was the best. Where else could a peanut butter and jelly sandwich taste so good and have such incredible ambiance?

The walk back down the river was much faster. I don't know if it was because we were both anxious to get back and take off these big shoes or because we were both so tired of fighting the strong currents of the river that we just wanted it over. Tonight, we found a sports bar that has Internet connection and we are enjoying looking at the pictures while having a cold beverage.

Take a look at the pictures because it will give you a better idea of our day.

Zion National Park

The last week or so we have had such a great time seeing everyone and talking to a lot of people. We were away from an internet connection so that made it difficult but we managed to find other activities to occupy our day. You can say that it was a good "vacation" to just get away.

We are back into the swing of things and Road Hazard has brought us to Utah. It feels good to get away from the heat that just smothers you with the dry air. I don't care who you are, that dry heat will kill anyone. The temperature here in the canyon is great. There is some humidity so that you don't dry out from the inside out.

Our campsite sits at the base of these huge beautiful cliffs that reach up to the sky. Every hour it seems the views change because the way the light plays across the rock face. The Virgin River that cuts through the Park also winds around behind our campground. People jump into inner tubes and float for a couple of miles downstream in the lazy current.

The excitement to start our circle of the National Parks has been hard to contain. We were rewarded with our first park of our circle in Utah. Zion was named because it comes from the word "Zen" and it brings peace to those that enter the park. The views were amazing at every turn we took around the many trails that we hiked.

At curtain times during our hike it seemed that my heart was going to jump out of my chest. The altitude is around 4,500 feet and the trails are vertical climbs of 150' in both directions. The only thing that kept pushing me along... correct that, two things that pushed me along was the views that reward you when you reach your destination. As you are sucking wind hard with your hands on your knees trying to look out. The second is Reta, of course.

We were hit by a rain storm at the end of the day and it just made the park come alive. The sound of loud thunder bouncing off the walls seemed like a monster was waking up in the canyon. With the tall cliffs reaching up on both sides it gave you limited views of the sky so at times all you would see were dark gray storm clouds. The light show of lighting made it more intense.

Our first day here has been such an incredible experience that we decided to extend our stay so that we could explore some more.

Being that we are in the middle of large cliffs we have no Wi-Fi at the campsite. We found a library up the road and tonight you could find me sitting on their front lawn plugged into a sidewalk light post. I will try and keep the blog up to date as best as we can in these primitive conditions.

Man is it HOT!

Still enjoying our travels and hope to be back up with some updates shortly. We've been busy exploring the area. There was talk of my Father-in-law, Dan, coming out to see us but it is still in the planning stages. It would be great!
Once we leave this campground we should be back up with regular blog updates. Please be patient.