The weather here has been unusually cold for this time of year. Of course it is! We are here!!!!! Although we have been told it rarely rains it has managed to rain at least once during the day every day. The area is expecting some afternoon thunder showers so we took off early to Arches.
The start of the day was beautiful and the ride up to Devil’s Garden was once again spectacular. Every spire and pinnacle looked different in the morning sunlight.
We hiked up to Landscape Arch. 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.
To get to the now defunct Partition Arch we had to climb some steep, slick rocks. Partition Arch collapsed in 2008 leaving just the rubble of stone beneath it .
Ron continued to climb the slippery slope to view the Double O Arches. I attempted to make the climb but it was too steep for me. Ron agreed and didn’t push the issue. He made the climb and was happy on two accounts. One, that he still had it in him and two that he is getting reconditioned again.
After the climb we headed out to another trail taking us to Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch. As predicted the weather deteriorated with black clouds, thunder rumbling and lighting – again!
While at Pine Tree Arch the weather got much worse. We headed out to Tunnel Arch on the trail out but didn’t stop to enjoy because the wind was picking up and the storm clouds closer.
Before we got back to the car the wind blew through the trail like a micro-burst pushing us backwards. Then the sand kicked up and we both got a free derm-abrasion. LOL The the hail started and hurt like the dickens.
By the time we got back to the car we were soaked and cold. The temp dropped to 54 degrees
After the storm we decided to try another hike to Broken Arch. It was a little over one mile long with more great views.
Then it was on to Broken Arch. The weather once again was warm and sunny so our wet clothes dried very quickly.
Every view here is so beautiful and we are having a blast.
Back at the CG we settled in and reviewed another great day.
Tomorrow we will head back into Arches and do another hike or two. We have covered a lot of the park but have some areas still to cover.
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