A storm blew thru last nite. The clouds were gone this morning but a warm wind was strong all day. We were thankful for the wind as we hiked at Arches National Park. I must admit that I was just a little "National Park"ed out when we started today but there is just something about those arches! We enjoyed the easy drive around the Park, and that we could actually hike out to several of the arches.
The highlight of the day was our last hike to Delicate Arch. I was told by someone [who will remain nameless] that it was a short and easy hike, but once we got started I knew I had been duped. It was actually 1.5 mi and described as "moderately rigorous" but I didn't know that till it was too late to retreat. And then, when the end was in sight, a couple on their way down urged us not to settle for the view from the top of the trail, but to hike the much higher ridge out to its end and then you could see the arch with only blue sky behind it. Taryn promptly left the path and started up there. Gary gave me permission to stay there but I just couldn't, so I joined Taryn and headed to the ridge.
I can not begin to describe what an incredible experience this was. The ridge swung around in a half circle and then dropped dramatically into a canyon some 500' straight down.The feeling of being at the top of that ridge was wondrous. The rush of the wind sweeping up over us from the canyon below took our breath away. We just sat there together at the top of that ridge trying desperately to take it all in, and we had to literally drag ourselves away.
We left Arches after 4 pm and still had four hours of driving ahead out of Utah and into Colorado. Watching how the land changed in that four hours was amazing. Our red rock turned into grey rock, and desert turned into forest. This all came as a shock to our bodies. We arrived in shorts, tank tops and flip flops with fresh desert sunburns into a 50 degree forest...and went running for pants and sweatshirts. Welcome to Colorado! We are all anxious to explore this state which is new to us.
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