It was a cold night and a cool morning so we did another afternoon hike.
Delicate Arch is the premier hike and location in the park and it is easy to see why.
The hike is about 5 km and you climb about 500 feet. You can’t actually see the arch until the last corner when you are about 100 yards from it.
Out of the parking lot there is a steep little incline just to get you going.
You walk up and down a few small hills but you can see off in the distance what is up ahead.
A long climb up some slickrock. It was not that steep but the length and constant grade made it tiring. Everyone was puffing at the top.
Looking back down.
You follow a wash and some cairns for a short while.
It was hard to miss this one.
And finally some fun, narrow ledges for Jennie.
And then there it is.
When we were at the viewpoint down below, the other day, we wondered why so many people seemed to line up so far away and not get close to the arch. From a distance it looked easy.
In reality, you have to go around this very steeply sloped ledge.
Which looks out on a deep valley.
Initially, Jennie sat part way around but a bit too close to the edge for comfort. Someone dropped a water bottle here. When they went down and found it at the valley bottom, it was smashed to bits.
I walked over to get the regulation picture in the arch. Everyone took their turn.
Jennie moved up to a more comfortable position and we had a snack while we enjoyed the view.
I went exploring down in the valley. I am the little dot in the center, below.
Looking back up.
It was a long climb back to Jennie.
I couldn’t stop taking pictures of it.
After a very long time people and view watching we headed back.
On the way up we hadn’t noticed a little window in the wall.
One final look.
My feet got a bit sore from the steep downhill.
We noticed that we could see the South Window Arch from the other day.
On the drive back we stopped at a viewpoint off, of the park road, of the La Sal mountains.
It looks like it is raining but it is not. It is just thin wispy clouds “raining” down from the more solid ones. When we first went out in the morning it looked like this in the direction of Delicate Arch. I was worried that we were going to get wet.
Moving across the horizon.
The Windows section that we hiked the other day.
And the South Window Arch from this side.
And then home.
Delicate Arch, one of our favourites (I keep saying that don't I?). The shot of the La Sal Mountains is gorgeous! Also, rain that doesn't hit the ground is called virga (from the latin twig or branch). Very common in the southwest.
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