Day 3 Arches National Park

We woke a little after 7 am, dressed, had some hotel breakfast (which was absolutely nutty with all the July 4thers eating before heading out of Moab) and headed for Arches National Park. While hunting for a radio station I found the Morman Tabernacle Choir, a fantastic accompaniment to the scenery around us.

We visited The Badlands last year and had a taste of what a park like Arches would be like. It is, however, simply breathtaking. The scenery is so bold and colorful with mountains, rock formations and the clouds overhead all competing for your attention.

The morning was surprisingly cool with thunderstorms the night before bringing a cool front to the region. It was highs in the low 70's as we started hiking in Park Avenue Viewpoint and Trail. 

Temperatures didn't stay cool - they were nice and toasty in the 90's by the early afternoon. We took advantage of cool spots under juniper trees and in canyons where the rocks are cool and comforting. After six hours of hiking and driving we took refuge from the heat and headed out of the park.

We did a little sight seeing and a little shopping in downtown Moab. We stopped for gelato at a local coffee shop and sat a spell under the veranda outside. I had coconut chocolate chip which was simply fantastic!

After our break we returned to Arches to see the park at sunset. It was overcast with storms coming in over the mountains but we decided to go anyway.

We drove to the Delicate Arch trailhead. It is the arch used on the Utah license plates and on their welcome signs at the state borders. We heard it was beautiful at sunset so that was our destination. 

The trail was 1.5 miles straight up 480 feet of elevation over some very tricky rock face areas. Nothing unnavacble but some rocks to stretch to get footing and a sheer drop ledge to walk up at the end of the climb.

With the sky still overcast I was anticipating a pretty dull greeting at the top of the climb. Just as I rounded the corner of the last leg of the climb I was greeted by yellow streaks of sunlight breaking from underneath the clouds! Quickly I and about 80 people of all different nationalities picked up their phones, cameras and started taking pictures for the few moments the sun lit the arch. It was fantastic!

We climbed down the 1.5 miles as the sun set behind the mountains and dusk set in. It was almost completely dark by the time we reached the parking lot. A fantastic way to end a fantastic day.

All in all my fancy phone recorded 27,528 steps with 65 floors climbed and a total of 11.47 miles. A great day at Arches.

.Day 2 Moab, UT

Today was the second day of our adventure. We left Salina, KS after a hearty red, white and blue pancake breakfast at IHOP. We drove westward on I-70 through the central and western part of the state. The landscape changes dramatically. Greenery gives way to arid soil with short grasses and sparse shrubbery.

At the 31 mile mark before the Colorado border Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way" came on the radio.  Western Kansas gave way to eastern Colorado and the landscape remained mostly the same. The only telling feature were the  large white clouds building on the horizon signalling mountains are soon to come.

About 60 miles outside of Denver I started getting the worst altitude headache. The rest stop where we ate lunch said we were at over 5000 feet in elevation. No wonder - this flat lander isn't used to it. Luckily it was short lived and went away shortly after it came.

We drove through Chicago like traffic and construction as we navigated through Denver. Once past the city we started the slow climb through the mountains. My little four cylinder car struggled mightily with a full car load, the air on and the thermometer showing 100 degrees. We made it though, twisting and turning through the mountians. It was quite the workout!

I have never been on the western side of the Rockies and they are quite different than the eastern side. The rock formations, vegetation and landscape all point to the arid desert we were about to encounter on the western side of Colorado.

This is a stop we made at the visitor center in Georgetown, CO about 40 minutes from Vail.

After a few gas stops and a few stretches of the legs we entered Utah. Wow! This is an amazing looking landscape. We hit a few thunderstorms as night fell making the last few miles "interesting" to drive in. Mostly due to the roads easily filling with standing water, sheets of rain, rainbows, wind, and beautiful horizon lit mountian formations.

Just after crossing the Utah border.

We are resting in Moab after a 786 mile journey today. Glad to get a shower and soon some sleep. We need to prepare for some hiking on Sunday in the National Parks!