NP Trifecta

What are men to rocks and mountains?

That’s a quote from favorite source of witty advice – Pride and Prejudice. Although I would like to add to it, what are rocks and mountains to mother nature. If my last few days of national park touring has taught me anything, it is that water and wind are some pretty forceful things when give a few million years to do their work.

The first stop in the National Park tour was Arches. From the drive up into the land of wind and rain swept rock, to the red color of the sand that you have to walk through (my white tennis shoes are now pink), the whole place is crazy. Crazy in that awe inspiring way. Two of the better sights were one, the Balanced rock. I took a walk around this guy and was impressed by how all the sides look different. So to answer the question how does that happen…in simple terms, the ones I understand, the layers are made of different types of rock. The different types erode at different rates. For this picture, it just happens that the lower layers are eroding faster than the top layers and…tada, you get this crazy looking thing.


The next sight was the Delicate Arch. Now I’m sure you’ve all seen pictures of this. It’s on the Utah license plate for all that. But what they don’t tell you is that it is on the other side of this rather large hill. So I struck out on the climb at 9:30 am since it was gong to be 103 in the park that afternoon. I decided to go early and avoid the nutty heat. What a lot of good that did. It’s still 90 some degrees at nine in the morning. Anyway, I huffed and puffed my way up and over the hill, The trail led you over a wide rock face where the trail was just a worn groove for part of it and cut into the side of it for the other part. I got to the top and turned the corner and my knees went limp and my stomach dropped. The other thing they don’t tell you is that this iconic arch sits on the rim of a very steep bowl. I thought I had gotten better with my slight fear of heights…guess not. I sank to the nearest rock and didn’t move. You stand on the opposite rim and look at it. Or if you’re crazy like some people you could make your way along the bowl to get a closer look. Me…I sat and looked. It didn’t help that there was a rather forceful wind that felt like it was trying peel me off the rock. But in the end I’d have to say it was worth it. I can now say I’ve seen it…and that I made it up and down.


The next stop was Bryce Canyon National Park (and by the way on the drive from Arches to Bryce Canyon I think I saw every type of land form – desert, alpine mountains, rock canyons, and farmland). Bryce Canyon is a humbling view. I took a short hike down into the canyon, which unfortunately means you have to climb out of the canyon at the end. Anyway, I hiked down and around the hoodoos. That is what these free-standing spire things are called. Pretty funny if you ask me. Now after I got out of the canyon, it started to hail. Yes, hail! How does it hail in 90 degree weather? Just doesn’t seem right to me. But thankfully both my car and I made it through with out any dents.


Just a note about people in national parks. Don’t talk on your cell phone while standing at a scenic over look taking a picture. I mean really. It’s up there with there talking during a movie. Almost as bad…almost.

The third NP stop was Zion. It is incredible! A very quiet and humbling place – I guess they named it well huh? My only issue with Zion is that it felt more like an amusement ride. There is no driving in the park, so you have to take these shuttle busses and listen to guided tours. I’m not to keen of being herded with other people. You can get off and walk around all you want, but to go from place to place the bus is the only way. I’m so mad that I didn’t get to take the narrows hike, which is walking up the river (in the river) into the very steep and narrow parts of the canyon. Sadly I had left my water shoes in the car, which was way back down at the park gate.

Bottom line on all – I need to go back when it’s not so hot!!

On a totally side note – is there anything quite so idyllic as a stream that meanders through a flat grass field with cows grazing in the back ground. I passed this stream on my way to Bryce Canyon and didn’t take a picture, but I had to go back the next day and take it. Just too perfect.