NPT: Arches & Canyonlands

Whew! It's about time I post information about my trip to Arches and Canyonlands! It was over three months ago, but I haven't posted, because I wanted to wait until I had my design projects complete (as per my NPT requirements) and then things just got busy. But, finally, here it is....

The Friday before Labor Day, I went to Arches National Park. It was the first time I visited a park without a travel buddy. My plan was to spend time at Arches, then meet up with some friends later in Canyonlands for a camp-out. So, I wasn't too worried about being alone for a few hours. There were some pros and cons.

• PRO: I could spend as much time as I wanted, doing whatever I wanted.
• CON: It was kinda lonely! It's more fun to share experiences like traveling and site-seeing with friends.

Here are some views of Arches:

As the sun made it's way down to the Western horizon, I had some fun playing around with glares.

I liked these little plaques along the trail (to keep hikers from going off the trail):

I came up with a little analogy. If you compare these signs with rock cairns, there are two different methods of keeping someone "on track" (i.e. doing the things God wants you to do). Some people can see a rock cairn and follow the path because they recognize it as an invitation to follow... from someone wise who has traveled the path before. Others may need to see what negative consequences will come about if they choose not to follow the path God has in mind. It made me contemplate... one is positive, the other negative... but both keep the hiker in the right spot. I haven't come to any firm conclusions... but would you say one way is a better way to live?

And here's Double Arch.

I climbed up inside and got stuck for about five minutes. It was so lame... I was only about two or three feet up on a little wall, but I was afraid to jump because the slant of where I would land would've kept my momentum going and I was afraid I would fall. So, I slowly maneuvered this way and that. It happened to be at a time when no one else was in the arch, so I couldn't ask someone to lend me a hand for balance. Right as I was figuring out how to do it, someone came. So, I know I would've been rescued had I needed it, but still... it was a bit frightening to me. It reminded me of this analogy.

On Saturday (after meeting up and camping with friends and friends of friends), we went on a little hike down a dirt road with beautiful vistas!

Lunching with Carrie, who invited me on this adventure...

Again, playing with the sun glares...

Here we are on another hike on Saturday, part of the trail took us through a grassy meadow.

Later on Saturday, we had a chance to clean up at one of the ranger's homes. She is friends with some of the campers in my group and had once lived in Albuquerque with some of them. We showered, ate pizza, played games and saw this beautiful sunset:

This is how close the score was in my cribbage game with Michael. And... guess who won?!

He did. :(

And here's Leah's flip-flop.

It had broken, but a few of us put our wit and skill together and came up with a great fix! I was super pleased with our results. Hence, the photo.

On Sunday, we went to church in Moab, then hung out at camp and did some hiking. I went on a couple little look-out trails. This one is by Mesa Arch:

I was concerned I looked a bit dorky with my dress and backpack/cap combo...

... but I was trying to remind myself that it was still the Sabbath day, so I kept my dress on. It was still comfy.

Here are my tent buddies: Carrie, Emily & Charla:

Here's Michael near the edge of the arch that looked like it could crack and fall at any moment:

Alex, Krista, Michael, Emily, Carrie, Charla and me:

Here's a rock cairn:

And views of the Needles (another part of Canyonlands):

Hello, little guy.

Don't worry, I won't bop you on the head.

Here's more wildlife...

And more views...

I love this picture, because it's proof that somewhere along the line I have obviously overcome my "must not touch boys" phase.

Here's Stephen, Kari, Leah and Curtiss helping with the dutch oven dinner.

While some of us relaxed...

Dinner was great!! I especially loved the beautiful, dutch-oven pineapple upside down cake:

Not pictured: the fox that came into our camp. It was quite a memorable adventure!

On Labor Day, we broke camp and on our way out stopped at Dead Horse Point:

Then, I went back to Arches with Carrie, Emily & Charla:

Here's Charla & Emily:

Can you find them in this next photo?

This was the first time I had been to delicate arch (to my knowledge) and was surprised to see it so close to the edge! Mom, you would have hated it.

I was having a tough time, but I wanted to touch the arch. I'm surprised you can't see the intense fear I was feeling, etched all over my face.

These two guys interviewed Carrie and me for a documentary they were making:

I was happy to help out, since I know what it is like to interview strangers. I won't post the link to their documentary, because it is really stupid. And luckily, Carrie & I didn't make the final cut.

On our way back we stopped for a little lunch:

I love all the colors in this photo:

Petroglyphs at the bottom of the trail:

What a fun weekend!

As for my NPT projects... here is a landscape photograph from Arches, entitled Looking Through the Windows:

And here is a 4-page brochure about Canyonlands: