Well I had a “Duh” moment when I was planning this trip. While at the Petrified Forest National Park (see A Hidden Jewel) I was reviewing my itinerary and I noticed that I had not planned a stop (or campground) for August 30th ,which meant that I had no place to stay once I left Monument Valley. I don’t know how that happened or what I was thinking but I decided to just roll with it. I pulled out my trusty map (supplied by AAA) and lo and behold, Arches National Park was on my route to Colorado. A quick call to the Moab KOA and I had a place for the night.
Like Monument Valley, the Arches tells a story of the forces of erosion, water, gravity, and time, which have created some extremely dynamic Arches. This is a landscape in motion that constantly changes and causes the Arches to crack; eventually they will collapse. At some point, every story of the Park’s 2000 existing arches will end.
But not to fret, at the same pace that the arches are collapsing, new arches are forming. So not only should you visit Arches National Park now, you should continue to visit in the future to see the changes. In the photo below is Balanced Rock, eventually, this rock will fall. It may be next week or in 20 years; once it falls it will be lost forever, creating an entirely new landscape. Go see it before it falls.
I wanted to spend more time in the park and do a little more hiking but it was Labor Day Weekend and the park was packed — I also am at a point when I am tired of watching people do STUPID stuff. For example, on the trail to Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint (about a mile rugged hike), I saw a lady hiking in a sundress and flip-flops; no hat; no water; and head down texting on her phone. With temperatures already in the mid-90s, all I could think was that is the person that ends up on the news, being evacuated because of a “medical incident.” Stupid is as stupid does.
Although I didn’t spend a lot of time in the park (because of the crowds), I am really happy that I made the best of my “duh” moment. Arches National Park was not even on my radar for this journey; but seeing an opportunity, I went with it and ended up with another do fun shit always adventure. I will definitely be back to Arches in the future to fully explore the park. Until then, I will just keep exploring and learning.
#dofunshitalways #dfsa247 #nps #resist
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