Arches in Heaven

Happy Easter everyone!

Arches National Park is on the menu for today. This park is massive and has more naturally occurring arches than anywhere in the world. Driving through the winding roads I got the feeling I am seeing a part of heaven. Water, ice, extreme temps, and under ground salt is responsible for the sculpted rock scenery. Over 2000 cataloged arches that range in size from 3 foot openings, which is the smallest opening to be considered an arch, to the longest, Landscape Arch, measuring 306 feet from base to base.

Delicate Arch required a 3 mile hike. Up slick rock, desert trails, and narrow ledges to 4829 feet. Some of the rocks on this climb  were aglow and looked like opals being kissed by the sun. A steep climb and worth every step! It was a lot of work making this climb, you had to earn the privilege of seeing this spectacular view. When we arrived at the arch we wondered if we really deserved the right to see such magnificence. To be able to stand under a natural arch, oh what a feeling. 

Tommy

me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onward to to Sand Dune Arch , not a long hike. You squeeze through a small slit between to Gi-normous upright wedges of rock and find yourself on deep fine sand- most beaches would love to have.

A .2 mile stroll brought us to a softly rounded arch, much different than Delicate arch.

In the opposite direction of Sand Dune Arch we traveled a mile on desert like trails to Broken Arch. The top of the arch appears to have a crack right down the center, an optical illusion. Although the view was beautiful over looking a desert prairie, it cannot compare to the view of Delicate Arch with the turquoise valley leading to the LaSal mountains was something I will forever hold sacred.

 

There were boulders perched a top inadequate bases, like Balanced Rock, that left you wondering how they stayed.

There were petroglyphs to be seen from the Archaic people.

Of course there were times of rest.

After 6 hours of hiking, we were exhausted and hungry. Steaks on the grill for us tonight. We should sleep well tonight, hopefully we have sweet dreams of our sights today.