Alene, Caiden, and I went camping in a campground about 6 miles outside Moab, right along the Colorado River. We spent the good portion of the trip hiking through Arches National Park. This would be our first time in Arches, so we were obviously blown away.
Before I met Alene, I never found much of a fascination with the desert, red rocks, red sand, etc. However, after actually spending time there with her I'm in love. Many will think of it as nothing more than a hot, barren, wasteland however Alene said her feelings on it perfectly to me about it being lonely yet romantic in many ways (I'm paraphrasing and can't remember the exact words, but they still meant a lot to me). I love how she sees the beauty and good in everything.
We visited all the major arches in the park on this trip that your average tourist would see. I was most proud of Caiden doing every one of the hikes at 6 years old. We did the 7 mile Devils Garden hike. We did the 1.5 mile hike up to Delicate Arch, which is the famous arch you will see on every brochure and Utah license plate. It's obviously very touristy; there had to be at least 30 people up there and you could see a constant line of people coming and going up the entire trail from the trailhead, but it was still worth the trip. It's pretty scary too as the arch itself is right against a huge cliff. Next time I do that hike, I want to go there at sunset. The elevation change to that area is a little higher in the park so when we were up there, it became VERY windy.
Some other arches we visited were not hard of a hike at all (drive up and get out of your car). Double Arch was awesome (where they filmed the last Indiana Jones movie; the river phoenix scene at the beginning). Caiden was quite proud of himself because he climbed all the way to the top of the bottom ledge of the arch. The day before on our Devils Garden loop hike to double-O arch we climbed up to the bottom arch but when climbing down we had some problems with him being scared. He ended up slipping about 5 feet on the rock coming down and scratching his back. I felt so bad for him, but I think it helped him knowing he could make it up some tough climbing.
When we returned from hiking all day, Bill had the ingenuity to build a shower out of some tarp and a large water jug. At first he was trying to get everyone to use it, but most of us refused. I eventually caved in and gave it a go and he's right: It feels so much better be cleaned up back at camp.
I'm so glad to have these opportunities to camp often. I'm glad that Alene loves doing it because it motivates me. I've always wanted to camp for the first 5 years I lived in Utah, but I never had a ton of motivation because I couldn't find people that wanted to go. Alene would rather camp every weekend than stay at home so that is good. I love that Caiden gets a chance to go out and experience these things too. I want him to have the best of memories as I do with all my future children.
While we were down there we decided to buy a National Parks pass which is good for a year. This gives us motivation to get out and see places like Zion, Canyonlands, and Glacier (which are areas we hope to visit this year) so we should get our money's worth.
Here are pictures from the trip:
Caiden next to the Colorado River near our camp site
In front of Landscape arch, which is more delicate than the popular "Delicate Arch", which you'll see down below. A portion of this arch broke off (underneath) back in '91 and someone actually captured a picture of it, which was on a sign post along the trail.
Looking back on Devils Garden
We stopped by Sand Dune arch on our way from Devils Garden to play around a bit
This is a spot that Alene climbed up to at Sand Dune arch. You can't see it very well, but just below her is a pool-shaped area in the sandstone. She was very proud of it and decided that she was going to build a house right next to it and create her own hot tub there.
Alene, April, and Caiden inside of double arch
Walking over to Double Arch, which is where the last Indiana Jones movie was filmed.
Double arch.
Caiden taking some target practice at Turret Arch
Alene and April hiked Park Avenue together while the boys waited at the end of the trail to pick them up
Caiden all pooped out from the Saturday hiking at arches.
Caiden and I hiking up to Delicate arch
April and Bill working their way up
The family up at Delicate arch
Caiden and I standing under Delicate arch. The arch is WAY bigger than you would imagine.
A look at Delicate arch from another little arch (or more like a hole poked through the rock that you can see Delicate from).
A view of the natural "Bowl" that is created next to Delicate arch.
Here is Alene in the mini arch by Delicate
Here is the family up above delicate a bit. It was so windy up there, I felt like any moment we would be blown over the top!
Here is a crazy photographer (you can't see him so well, but I circled him in red). Homeboy inched his way down this wall there to take pictures. He had no climbing gear on or anything. You can't see the drop, but it's basically grand canyon below him.
Finishing off a (root) beer after hiking down and before hitting the road to head home. Caiden took the picture.
My first visit to Arches was awesome and I look forward to coming back often and hope to explore more the park has to offer.
Before I met Alene, I never found much of a fascination with the desert, red rocks, red sand, etc. However, after actually spending time there with her I'm in love. Many will think of it as nothing more than a hot, barren, wasteland however Alene said her feelings on it perfectly to me about it being lonely yet romantic in many ways (I'm paraphrasing and can't remember the exact words, but they still meant a lot to me). I love how she sees the beauty and good in everything.
We visited all the major arches in the park on this trip that your average tourist would see. I was most proud of Caiden doing every one of the hikes at 6 years old. We did the 7 mile Devils Garden hike. We did the 1.5 mile hike up to Delicate Arch, which is the famous arch you will see on every brochure and Utah license plate. It's obviously very touristy; there had to be at least 30 people up there and you could see a constant line of people coming and going up the entire trail from the trailhead, but it was still worth the trip. It's pretty scary too as the arch itself is right against a huge cliff. Next time I do that hike, I want to go there at sunset. The elevation change to that area is a little higher in the park so when we were up there, it became VERY windy.
Some other arches we visited were not hard of a hike at all (drive up and get out of your car). Double Arch was awesome (where they filmed the last Indiana Jones movie; the river phoenix scene at the beginning). Caiden was quite proud of himself because he climbed all the way to the top of the bottom ledge of the arch. The day before on our Devils Garden loop hike to double-O arch we climbed up to the bottom arch but when climbing down we had some problems with him being scared. He ended up slipping about 5 feet on the rock coming down and scratching his back. I felt so bad for him, but I think it helped him knowing he could make it up some tough climbing.
When we returned from hiking all day, Bill had the ingenuity to build a shower out of some tarp and a large water jug. At first he was trying to get everyone to use it, but most of us refused. I eventually caved in and gave it a go and he's right: It feels so much better be cleaned up back at camp.
I'm so glad to have these opportunities to camp often. I'm glad that Alene loves doing it because it motivates me. I've always wanted to camp for the first 5 years I lived in Utah, but I never had a ton of motivation because I couldn't find people that wanted to go. Alene would rather camp every weekend than stay at home so that is good. I love that Caiden gets a chance to go out and experience these things too. I want him to have the best of memories as I do with all my future children.
While we were down there we decided to buy a National Parks pass which is good for a year. This gives us motivation to get out and see places like Zion, Canyonlands, and Glacier (which are areas we hope to visit this year) so we should get our money's worth.
Here are pictures from the trip:
Caiden next to the Colorado River near our camp site
In front of Landscape arch, which is more delicate than the popular "Delicate Arch", which you'll see down below. A portion of this arch broke off (underneath) back in '91 and someone actually captured a picture of it, which was on a sign post along the trail.
Looking back on Devils Garden
We stopped by Sand Dune arch on our way from Devils Garden to play around a bit
This is a spot that Alene climbed up to at Sand Dune arch. You can't see it very well, but just below her is a pool-shaped area in the sandstone. She was very proud of it and decided that she was going to build a house right next to it and create her own hot tub there.
Alene, April, and Caiden inside of double arch
Walking over to Double Arch, which is where the last Indiana Jones movie was filmed.
Double arch.
Caiden taking some target practice at Turret Arch
Alene and April hiked Park Avenue together while the boys waited at the end of the trail to pick them up
Caiden all pooped out from the Saturday hiking at arches.
Caiden and I hiking up to Delicate arch
April and Bill working their way up
The family up at Delicate arch
Caiden and I standing under Delicate arch. The arch is WAY bigger than you would imagine.
A look at Delicate arch from another little arch (or more like a hole poked through the rock that you can see Delicate from).
A view of the natural "Bowl" that is created next to Delicate arch.
Here is Alene in the mini arch by Delicate
Here is the family up above delicate a bit. It was so windy up there, I felt like any moment we would be blown over the top!
Here is a crazy photographer (you can't see him so well, but I circled him in red). Homeboy inched his way down this wall there to take pictures. He had no climbing gear on or anything. You can't see the drop, but it's basically grand canyon below him.
Finishing off a (root) beer after hiking down and before hitting the road to head home. Caiden took the picture.
My first visit to Arches was awesome and I look forward to coming back often and hope to explore more the park has to offer.
