Apr 28 – Corona Arch

After doing a bit too much yesterday we took this morning off. I watched our neighbour get ready to leave and load his off road something.

To get into it he has to climb on the hub, then onto the top of the back tire, walk along the little ledge to the front and squirm into the seat.

The back of his travel trailer is his garage.

It is a really long trailer.

After lunch we decided to do the relatively easy 4 km return hike to Corona Arch. It is outside of the parks off the same road we took to get to the Schafer Trail.

It was another really windy, kind of cool day. We ate a lot of sand. At least we are not getting tornados like they are in the mid west.

We first climbed up from the parking lot next to the river. There is a free campground on the other side of the road.

Crossing the train tracks that go to the potash plant. It must have been an expensive rail line to build through these hills and keep it level.

The arch is in the valley around the next corner.

It was not that steep here so we think the railing is only needed when it is wet.

Everybody makes a cairn at this spot.

Our first view of Corona Arch on the right and Bow Tie Arch just right of my head.

We had to climb this steep lip first. There is a cable and some steps cut into the rock.

From far away they don’t look that steep but they were.

Next we had to climb this little ladder.

Then we worked our way around the very broad ledge to reach the arches.

Bow Tie Arch.

Then to Corona Arch. It is 140 feet tall by 105 feet wide.  There were only a few people here. We saw, maybe, 15 on the entire hike.

We went though to the other side and had a rest and snack.

The wind really stirred up the sand here so it was not the greatest spot to be eating anything.

I went on a bit farther to see what was around the corner. The railway tracks are far below.

And this valley with a lot of ledges.

Heading back across the ledge.

With the changing sunlight we noticed another arch across the valley. There was no way to get to it.

I ate a lot of sand here. Jennie was OK with her bandana.

The token flower shot.

Up on the wall I saw a giant face.

We headed back to the RV to be blown around in it. The wind is supposed to die down tonight.