We got an early start this morning to beat the 50+ mph wind gusts and 80 degree temperatures that were predicted for this afternoon. Our objective was to hike the 6 mile round trip through Devil's Garden in Arches N.P. We visited Tunnel Arch, then hiked about a mile to Landscape Arch, which is 300 feet long, and only 11 feet thick at its narrowest point. Several years ago, a 60 ton chunk of this arch fell and was caught by a tourist's camera. (No one was hurt.) It is only a matter of time before this arch collapses.
We continued beyond Landscape Arch to Navajo and Partition Arches. Then, the trail turned steep and scary and involved scrambling up rock faces with steep drop-offs. One part of the trail involved hiking for several hundred yards atop a narrow sandstone fin with cliffs on both sides. The wind was blasting. Not for the acrophobic! Both Donna and I made it, and we were treated to the most breathtakingly dramatic scenery in the park. The climb was worth it! The Double O Arches end of this trail segment were incredible – a second arch was situated immediately above the first, making for a most unusual sight.
Tomorrow, we will explore Canyonlands National Park, which is a 30 mile drive from our campsite. Almost all of the sights are reachable by road. (Cooper can even come with us! By the way, he has been a very good traveler.) More tomorrow!
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