Day 31 - Arches Again

It is really hot.  I am missing CO!  We did get up earlier today and that helped.  We were hiking in the Windows section by 8:45.  There is a pair of arches there, the North and South Windows.  We took the primitive trail around the backside of South Windows and were pretty much alone – quite different from the crowded trail yesterday.  I’ve been comparing this park to Disney – ONLY in that you need to start early to avoid the crowds and heat, rest in the afternoon and go back in the late evening.  This was a fun hike.

Back to the parking lot and across the other side was our second hike, to Double Arch.  This is where they filmed some of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”  The beginning, I think.  We stayed there and let the girls climb around for a while.  Then we hiked around the edge to a couple of cave-like formations where Brad believes another scene may have been filmed.

We still had a little energy left so we visited Balanced Rock and happened upon a shady spot where we ate lunch.

This park has grown on me today.

Not the best idea, but back at the campsite, I took the girls to the pool.  It’s hard because there just isn’t anywhere cool to be in the afternoons.  The pool seems refreshing, but it really just drains you even more.  So the girls were very tired when we headed back to the park for our sunset views.  And of course, sunset here is late for us - 8:45.

We did a short hike through Park Avenue (rock formations lining either side of a canyon resembling a city street).  Again, we were pretty much the only ones there.  The sunlight was beautiful on the rock walls.  Next we went to the Upper Delicate Arch viewpoint.  This gave us a view of the park (and state) icon from the south.  The hike to the Arch is over 3-miles roundtrip with steep climbs over slickrock and drop-offs.  Brad wasn’t feeling it with the girls.  We got to see it though.

Finally, we took the girls back to a spot we had visited the day before.  They were so worn out yesterday that they had waited in the truck while Brad and I got out and explored Sand Dune Arch.  This is a really unique area composed of tightly packed “fins” and lots of soft, red sand.  They got out of the truck this time and loved it!  We took our shoes off and played a while here.  We met a family with a 7 and 9 year old who are traveling for 7 weeks.  They said people are usually jealous of them, but they were jealous of us!  They travel every summer during the mom’s break from teaching at a university in OH.  They are heading to Capitol Reef NP tomorrow, as are we.  It is supposed to be cooler there.  We are skipping Canyonlands because of the heat.  They strongly encouraged us not to skip Bryce Canyon and Zion.  Maybe we will be refreshed after a couple of days in cooler weather.

On the way back to the campsite we stopped for shaved ice, a perfect end to a nearly perfect day.


Arches - Day 2