Adventure 27: Dead Horse Point State Park/Post C

Arches Everywhere

A little over a hundred miles round trip and about six miles of hiking exposed us to about one-millionth of what the park has to offer. Cliffs, clefts, boulders, spires, and vastness are spread in every direction. First, you must scale about five miles of hairpin curves at eight or so percent just to get to the level plains that head into Arches. This alone is a mass of breathe taking rock walls, tumbled boulders, and geologic wonders. If this had been our first park, we'd still be out there taking pictures of rocks. As it is we had to take photos both coming and going because the light changes the panorama so much, it is astounding. So far, I'm most impressed with the afternoon light. The shadows literally walk through cracks and crevices much like sirens beckoning sailors, "Follow me". We could come here for months on end and still not witness every aspect. We're here on Tuesday, October 22, and we're following long lines of cars, steady streams of couples on the trails, and the ubiquitous presence of Japanese tourists. Nonetheless, the scenes are so vast that nary another human graces our photos unless we choose to let them enter (Or if some kind amateur takes our photo). Witness some of the grandeur, if you can. By the way, we did have our usual morning of oatmeal, coffee, and cribbage. Judy stomped me this morning bringing the Dead Horse Open score to 4-2-my favor. No lead is safe, and Judy's latest cheating tactic is to move my pegs. She tried to say it was because she didn't have her glasses on, though the rims hanging off her nose told another story, but even this test makes life good, especially today. 

Somewhere along the trail; it's all down hill from here.

Judy standing in front of the Landscape Arch.

 This was the light as we hiked in; below was the light as we hiked out.

 Looking back down the trail.

 This "Hogsback" had sheer cliffs on either side; unnerving to say the least. We turned around here out of good judgment or just plain fear: I can't say which.

 I risked letting my Hunny Bunny snap a photo; not bad considering her shaking hands.

 Art shot of the day

 There she goes--happy to be off the Hogsback.

 Sandstone stairs arduously carved in the ground--not an easy task to be sure.

 Just another hot babe in the desert.

 Taken by a friendly amateur. Delicate Arch is masked by the person in the red.

 The beginnings of the afternoon shadows.

 Balance Rock taken from the truck just like one of those lazy, toothless idahoans shooting road signs.

 The view before we head down the switchbacks out of the park. What a day!