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Day 44 - Arches

A friend asked me before I left on this trip "What do you look forward to most... What do you dream about?"  I responded "Arches."  Specifically, I dreamed about standing in front of the Delicate Arch, a sensually curving arch famous in all Arches photos. Today my dream came true-- and it was freaking amazing:)

I arrived to Moab, Utah just outside Arches Park at 3pm. The main campground was sold out, so I drove to one of the many BLM (Bureau of Land Management) run paid campgrounds and secured a lovely spot with views of the white capped La Sal mountains.  Then I drove to Arches.

Everything in Arches was on my list basically, so I stopped by each place in succession with a plan to hike the 1.5 miles to Delciate Arch around 630pm. My self written instructions said specifically "go to Delicate Arch for sunset". 

First stop was towering red thin rock faces called Park Avenue for their grandeur. Then Balanced Rock, named for its boulder set high atop a narrow neck rock. Then Windows, a pair of large Arches easily accessed. Then Double Arch, formed by a rockfall between two big arches. Pics of park avenue, windows and double arches. Walking under the arches was my favorite part of the experience. The shadow and shade below seemed to increase their magnificence two-fold. 




Now to Delicate Arch and my dream. The hike up was awesome. You climb up a steep slick rock hill for a mile and then enter a far valley with strange rock formations extending into the horizon. Quickly you felt alone. You then hiked along a flat but narrow ridge around a cliff and you begin to hear voices when bam-- there it is... Delicate Arch. 

The remote, Jurassic setting around a curving bowl with the Arch proud and alert in one corner, craggy peaks on another side, the white-capped La Sal Mountains in the distance behind, and a large grouping of amateur photographers setup on the opposite end, all hoping to replicate the classic photo of the Arch lit by a setting sunlight with the La Sal moutains in the background. I walked around, behind and through the Arch in search of adventurous pleasure but also the best angle for photos. I thought the typical angle was boring and eventually took up residence halfway to the Arch and sat for hours-- great dreamy hours. Pics from the light-hitting-the-arch moment. 






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