Arches is not part of the Grand Staircase but it is just as interesting. We tried to get there early for the light, but not as early as we had hoped. Still, there was lots of beautiful sights, not to mention a distant view of the Colorado Rockies.

I included a lot of photos of this area because there seemed to be more close up photo ops.

A balancing rock

This formation is called the Courthouse.

The Three Gossips

When we got to the Windows section, we took a fairly easy (paved, but slightly steep) hike up to the Windows, and decided to take the “primitive” trail down. It was easy most of the way, but unpaved, and we looked for rock cairns to follow the route.

I joked to Bill that it seemed easy at the beginning, but we’d probably get far into it and find a steep climb or something. Guess what? We got to one spot that I didn’t think I’d be able to make. After studying the rocks in front of me though, I figured out a way up where I didn’t think I’d roll back down. I was glad I had my camera monopod with me, which doubles as a walking stick. When we got all the way down, we felt like we had accomplished something.

After visiting Arches, we took in a museum exhibit of John Wesley Powell about the exploration of the canyons of the Green and Colorado rivers, and then headed all the way across the state to Provo. We’ll stay two nights there and tomorrow, we explore the Wasatch Mountains to the east of Salt Lake City and Provo, and Bill’s old stomping grounds before he moved to Phoenix.

+2

0