11 May ‘08 Sunday
This morning we were out on the trails by 8. We wanted to hike out to see the Landscape Arch in Arches National Park before we were to meet the ranger at 10am for our hike through the Fiery Furnace. We’ve really been fortunate, the weather has been great for hiking and we’ve sure been doing a lot of that in the past weeks. The fact is, when we missed a couple of days on the trails we really feel the difference, and that isn’t a good difference. We had heard that yesterday a hiker came across a pigmy rattlesnake while hiking the trail to Landscape, so we kept our eyes and ears open while out there. Well we still haven’t seen our rattler, but we did see the Landscape Arch and it was as advertized, amazing.
This morning we were out on the trails by 8. We wanted to hike out to see the Landscape Arch in Arches National Park before we were to meet the ranger at 10am for our hike through the Fiery Furnace. We’ve really been fortunate, the weather has been great for hiking and we’ve sure been doing a lot of that in the past weeks. The fact is, when we missed a couple of days on the trails we really feel the difference, and that isn’t a good difference. We had heard that yesterday a hiker came across a pigmy rattlesnake while hiking the trail to Landscape, so we kept our eyes and ears open while out there. Well we still haven’t seen our rattler, but we did see the Landscape Arch and it was as advertized, amazing.
In 1991 a rock slab 60 feet long, 11 feet wide, and four feet thick fell from the underside of Landscape Arch leaving behind an even thinner ribbon of rock. Even before reading about the slab coming off of Landscape, I’ve wondered if another arch might “calf” some rock while we’re walking across or under one of them…we pray a lot. Ok, it’s 10am and we’re meeting 23 other hikers to meet and another hike to make. The hike through Fiery Furnace isn’t for everyone. If you are bothered by small tight places,
or drop-offs, this may not be for you. Louise joined more than half of the group by squeezing through one of the smallest “arches” in the Furnace…we saw a lot of butts while doing it.
But I think it is one of the greatest adventures I have ever been on. Besides the beauty and the fantastic colors, it is a great challenge to get through.
I watched many people doing things that they had never done before and being very proud that they accomplished them.
Hike finished and our last day in the area, we decided to head into Moab, do a little window shopping, and have lunch. Where we decided to have lunch happened to be the hot spot for bikers (the peddle type of bike). The micro-brewery, Moab Brewery, was a good choice. Both of us happen to like a good IPA and they had one, and besides they also had a good Ruben...