ARCHES DAY 2

Yesterday the weather cooperated for a cool day of hiking.  There were huge clouds and a cool breeze so that we managed not to get overheated in the 80+ degree weather.  Today the temp was still in the 80's but the cloud cover was thin so that the sun shown through weakly.  The breeze was still cool, but not as constant so that we were hotter by the time we went home.

Today we headed off for the hike to Delicate Arch. The hike guide said it was 3 miles round trip with open slick rock and some exposure to heights. Needless to say that after my fall yesterday I was a little nervous when we started out. Right out of the parking lot was the original cabin of the Wolfe family. 

A half mile into the hike we hit the slick rock hill. The slope was steep but walk-able without any trouble except for getting out of breath with the climb.

The view from the top was very pretty.

Then came the exposure to heights! I looked at this trail and said WHAT. Actually the path was 6 feet wide and sloped toward the wall so it wasn't bad at all. I just stayed next to the wall most of the way up.

There was plenty of room to pass on the trail.

The storms of the last two evenings filled the cenotes or stone basins that are formed by erosion.  The one below is fairly large, like the one we had to circumvent yesterday.  Since I (Louise) am a Louis L'Amour fan, seeing the country he wrote about makes the stories more meaningful.

This little chipmunk was interested in Louise's walking stick

Another view of the trail

 When we rounded the corner at the top there she was. There were a lot of people up there taking pictures standing under the arch so a pic with no one it was impossible.This arch is right on the edge of the cliff and I was going no where near there. Time to go back down now.

On the way down we past this tree. There are a lot of these twisted and gnarled trees. 

We stopped to look at this Indian art on the way down.

Getting back on the bike we took several side trips to see what was out there.

See the windows in the rock walls?

Our last stop for the day Balanced Rock. This thing is huge. You have to wonder when it will tumble down.

Today was a short hike day compared to yesterday. We will rest up this afternoon and be ready for another big day tomorrow. We either head to Canyonlands or Dead Horse Point State Park, not sure right now. I survived the day without a hitch, even the not so narrow ledge.

Till tomorrow

Duane and Louise

Arches National Park

Monday the 18th was moving day. We left Provo, UT and headed toward Moab, UT home of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Tuesday was sit around and watch it rain day. Today, Wednesday, we took off for Arches N. P.

You have a long climb from the visitors center to plateau where all the fun begins. There is something new to marvel at around every corner.

How some of the formations remain standing is amazing.

The first arch we see along the drive in.

Our destination for the day was Devils Garden hiking area.

Landscape arch.

Navajo arch

View along the trail

Double O arch

See the two arches? One above the other.

We decided to take the primitive back to the parking lot. Turned out to be a bad idea. We were enjoying the hike and the views. 

Then the trouble hit. We came to a turn in the trail that went along a ledge about 8 inches wide and sloped. There were a lot of people backed up getting across the ledge. Everybody made it but me! About half way across my feet slipped off the ledge and I was off. I slid straight down facing the rock. If you click on the pic below you see a light colored line down the rock face. That's where I slid. I went about 30 feet down the rock face before coming to a stop about where Louise is standing.

People creeping along ledge I fell from

After my heart slowed down enough that I could talk, I started looking to see the damage to my body. The rock rash on my left elbow, two blisters on my right hand and a bruise on my left leg was all. Lucky lucky man. My pants and shirt were worn through in a couple of areas. This evening I'm a little sore but nothing broken but mt pride.

A little later in the hike we came to a water hazard. There were two ways around it. Go up a steep rock face or wade it. After my last slide I decided to wade it, Louise went up and around. I might add that there was another back up of hikers here that formed a line up the rock to get people up it. There was no way I was going up there after what happened at the last rock face. I took my shoes off and followed another hiker through the water. The water was up to my waist but I made it. Shoes back on and we were off again.  That was end of the bad areas.
Wading the water hazard

AHH!!!! Made it back to the bike!!!! 

The hike ended up being almost 7 miles long. The plan was for a short break in hike today because we hadn't been doing much hiking lately. So much for the short hike. If we can get out of bed in morning we plan to head back to take several short hikes in Arches.

Looking down on the visitors center. 

We stopped at the center so Louise could get her National Parks passport book stamped. After a stop for lunch we headed back to the campground. 

Hope I don't fall off any rocks tomorrow

Duane and Louise

Day two ride

Our second trip took us from South Lake Tahoe through the little historic town of Genoa.  We would have like to visit but our trip was long and the weather in the valley was very warm.

The weather up here was nice.  Genoa is somewhere below, but out of sight.

The white line is our road.

This town could be called Mayberry--very nice and worth a visit.

This is the Carson Valley.  The road through here was straight and flat with fields interrupted by large towns clustered together with lots of shopping and restaurants.

The road out of the valley was much more interesting.  This is Topaz Lake.

Porous rock formation

Not quite as high as yesterday.  I think those are Aspens in the background.

This is the steepest grade we've ever been on.

Carson River

Nice long sweeping curves.

We really enjoyed our two trips around Lake Tahoe and hope they inspire you to visit the area.

On to Utah!

Louise and Duane