Day 51 Canyonlands and Arches

June 21, 2013

Today was a busy day. We went to Canyonlands National Park and saw it briefly like the usual retiree tourists. It was very beautiful landscape with red coloring and carved out sandstone in funky formations. As long as we have spent in this area and climate, we have had our fill of the desert with its 100 degree afternoon temperatures.

 At one of the lookout points at the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands.

 We tested out our QX's 4x4 ability on this primitive road, about 35 miles into the canyon of Canyonlands and back to Moab. Unnerving at times, it was a good thing I was driving so I could concentrate on the road instead of the shear ledges next to me!

My favorite part of the whole ride, this point where the Colorado River makes nearly a 360 degree  turn. How awesome.

We revisited Slick Rock mountain bike trail in Moab later in the afternoon. Ryan attempted it once before in 2005, I waited for him at the entrance. This time I joined him. After we got just past the point he made it to last time, and after both of his knees were scraped, he says "now I remember how insanely impossible this trail is." Yup, I walked my bike more than I rode it and managed to remain injury free. Look at this nasty hill above...no one is going to ride their bike up that thing! There are directions to the emergency room on the trailhead map if that says anything. Slick Rock, we will NOT be meeting again!

So we made our way over to Arches National Park in the evening. This formation is called Balanced Rock. 

Looking at South Window through Turret Arch. 

This little guy was giving my camera some love. 

As the sun was going down, the moon was going up. Made for some sweet shots. 

 What an awesome sunset hike, we had the trail all to ourselves, except for the critters. Ryan got a nice challenging run in and I got to take some lovely photos. Time for bed!

Total Miles: 177