Moab

Mike & Paige at Deadhorse Point

                We planned to go to Moab, Utah when Mike returned from Iraq. And we did! We went the first weekend of June, less than a week after Mike returned from Iraq. Mike had been before he left the year before for a short weekend trip with some people from the Jesus field. So we headed down and as we got closer the mountains changed into red formations that looked like more of a fairytale than mountains. We marveled at the scene of these red formations of rock and dirt that was only a few hours away from where we live. On the way we were able to stop at a viewpoint of Dead Horse Point. Mike had found the place online and was interested in checking it out in real life. It was a natural formation of what is a plateau in the middle of a river. It almost looks like an island at first but the view just takes your breath away as you see in this desert area that there is green living vegetation only around where the river flows.

Deadhorse Point



Paige stepping off the edge...Mike actually got scared!







Mike at Deadhorse Point

                Upon entering Moab, we stopped at all the viewpoints that were situated at natural formations that stood out from others. Going down one of the main roads for camping, we came across one named Granstaff Campground and we just had to stay there because of the similarity of Mike’s last name: Grindstaff! It was a great spot with a great view of the huge rock formation and a river dividing us. We set up our 2 person tent with our futon mattress and quickly discovered that it was hot! It was actually hotter than northern Utah, only a few hours away. In Utah it definitely gets cold and snows, but it can also get really hot as well, especially when it doesn’t rain for awhile. Unfortunately all of the available camping spots had no trees for shade. We got an umbrella that we set up to sit under when we were at the campsite during the day to protect our skin, but the day before we left, it blew away when we weren’t there in the crazy wind that sprung up out of nowhere! Each day when we got back to our camp site, the river would already be in the shade, making it to cool to swim. We did put our feet in and waded in until we could not take the cold anymore, but once the sun went down the area became pretty cool at night.

           









Grindstaff at Granstaff Campground!



Our tent in Moab





Our view from our campsite

Mike at entrance to Moab, Utah



Paige at a viewpoint



                Arches National Park was full of cool things to see and experience. Most often you have to hike to the places. You can see balanced rock from the car riding trail, but to get to the good stuff up close, you have to get out of your car and hike awhile. Hiking is tiring and hot in the summer desert sun, but once you get to a magical landmark you have only heard about, it makes the hike totally worth it. We made it to Landscape Arch first. It was not only a great site but there was a plaque with the story of its history nearby. The first stop on a long hike path, we kept on going, though overhearing others on the trail, they were too tired and hot to proceed. We decided immediately that big groups is not the way to go when you have to hike everywhere. Not everyone has the same ambition and physical strength as the others in their group. We were also thankful for our Camelbacks filled with water and whatever was needed. Considering I didn’t even know what one was over a year before that, I think I did pretty good with keeping up with Mike. It was really fascinating seeing all of the older people there and hearing all of the different languages and ethnicities at a place that I was getting the opportunity to visit. Not only had I heard about this place, but I saw pictures of places like Delicate Arch as monumental landmarks in the U.S. and I was here! It feels so magical to be able to experience things that you have only heard about and seen pictures of. Its definitely not the same as seeing a picture on the Internet. Though the Internet is a great resource to plan out a trip and to see it if there is no way of you being able to experience the area.



Mike in front of Landscape Arch

Paige in front of Landscape Arch



Mike in front of Balanced Rock



Mike with Dark Angel



Hiking in this area not only causes a copious amount of sweat but flying bugs seem to massacre themselves on your exposed skin. We would scrape handfuls of bugs off of our arms as we walked to each destination. It seems gross but I would have rather them be on my arms than in my eyes and mouth! We were able to hike and climb and see neat structures and formations, that were manmade along the way. There were even chipmunks that greeted us along the way, running in between people’s feet and sitting up looking at us. We were able to see a couple of hidden arches and a formation called Dark Angel at the end of one hike. The Double O arch was fascinating because Mike, of course, climbed up in the upper O where no one else was going and got a great view and a challenge of thinking about how to get down. The landmarks were either marked off or had signs about not getting off of the path closer to the trailheads but we guessed they didn’t think as many people would come to the less popular sites and would give us a treat of being able to climb around with no boundaries.




Mike pointing at Double O Arch (there is a little O under the one you see in the pic)



Mike in the big O of Double O Arch (the very top part)





Mike & Paige beneath Delicate Arch



Delicate Arch is one of the most popular landmarks that most everyone comes to Moab, UT to visit. For this reason, I thought the trail would be much easier. It might have been the fact it was the last stop on our long day of hiking or that my trail guide got us a little lost, but when we got to the arch all I wanted to do was sit. It had gotten very windy on the hike up and being at the very top where the arch was made it unbearable to even stand. We sat against the wind for a long time looking into a beautiful looking canyon. When we finally got up to go take our pics in front of Delicate Arch, there was only one other couple there. Before we sat down there could have easily been at least 100 people there. So we exchanged taking pictures with the other couple, whom was from somewhere in Europe, because I could barely understand their accents. Delicate Arch is actually way bigger than the pictures you are used to. The place is magical knowing that its naturally formed and so beautiful and there is only one of them in the whole world and you are there.

Canyon opposite Delicate Arch

Paige climbing

Mike climbing



Paige in front of the trailhead sign



                Across from our campground was a trailhead we had found online that we had planned on hiking. We were able to the morning that we left. It was called Negro Bill trailhead and led us to experience Morning Glory arch. It was a beautiful hike so early in the morning and not many people were on the trail because it is not as popular as the other things in Moab. But it was definitely just as beautiful. There were interesting little formations and water flowing throughout the hike. The Morning Glory arch is defined as a “bridge” arch and there were people repelling down from the top. We were definitely envious of the repelling and climbing that the group had paid extra to do and vowed to do that if we came back to Moab. The water flowing from under the “bridge” came out of a crack in the wall as a little stream. It was a fulfilling end to our trip to Moab, UT.  

Mike on the trail



Paige on the trail



Mike under Morning Glory Arch



Paige under Morning Glory Arch



Mike & Paige in Moab