good-times-rollin: Double Arch

Monday, May 27, 2019

Arches National Park

Gopher Flats
May, 2019
Moab, UT

In 1929, when President Hoover signed the proclamation to establish Arches National Monument, the park only included the Windows and Devils Garden sections...4,520 acres.

Since that time, the parks boundaries have expanded several times to a whopping 76,679 acres. Although Arches has been under construction for millions of years Congress changed the status to a National Park in 1971.

I will never forget our first drive through Arches back in May 2013...a jaw dropper for sure ! I still have the same excitement today.

With Arches practically in our backyard and being here for the amount of time we are, visiting this red-rock wonderland is often on the list of things "to-do" from week to week.

Whether it's just a drive or enjoying a hike, it's a beautiful destination. We have already spent several mornings taking in the colors, shapes, and forms that excite the "aesthetic" senses.

With over 2,000 natural arches, soaring spires, and massive fins, Arches makes for a beautiful drive and fun hiking. Did you know that Arches has "the world's largest concentration of natural arches in the world"?

Double Arch is "close-set pair" of natural arches. In fact, the arch in front has the tallest opening of any arch in the park...112 feet...and it's the second longest arch in the park. It is a short walk from the parking area to see Double Arch up close.

Delicate Arch is the most famous arch in the park (and maybe the world).

It's a 3 mile round trip hike to see the arch...a hike Joe and I have enjoyed at least once (sometimes more) every year that we have been in Moab. Yep, we like it !

I don't always walk down to the arch, but this day I felt very confident and brave.

The key to us enjoying our hike to Delicate Arch is getting an early start. We are on trail by 7:00 am making this our all time favorite breakfast spot !

While Delicate Arch is the most famous arch, our favorite hiking in Arches is the Devils Garden section.

The trail begins as an easy wide gravel path with a side trail to Tunnel Arch and Pine Arch (which we have done several times, but not this day).

At just under a mile, the path winds its way to Landscape Arch. Landscape Arch is the longest arch in the park...even the Western Hemisphere. The Natural Arch and Bridge Society now considers it to be the fifth longest arch in the world having measured the span a 290.1 feet.

After admiring Landscape Arch, the fun begins ! The trail becomes difficult as it climbs steeply up and on the sandstone fins.

Shoes with good grip are a must as the footing is rocky with narrow ledges and steep drop-offs...a combination that really gets the heart pumping ! From this point to Double O Arch it is about 2.5 miles.

This time of year, the trail that winds its way to Double O Arch is very colorful.

Double O Arch is the second largest arch in the NP. The top arch has a span of 71 feet stacked on top of a smaller arch with a 21 foot span. Both are part of the same sandstone fin.

After our breakfast snack, we took two side trails as we made our way back to Landscape Arch. First to Partition Arch.

Partition Arch is often overlooked as it is not as famous or big as other arches. The views through this arch are spectacular and its low profile allows for an up close look.

The second side trail we took was to Navajo Arch.

Navajo Arch is one of our favorite little arches along the Devils Garden Trail. It is more like a mini tunnel than an arch as the ground cuts right thru it.

The entrance to the arch...

opens up to a nice little retreat with lots of shade and much cooler air.

Both these side trails add about a mile to the overall distance. If time or energy isn't an issue, the side trek to see both these arches is worthwhile.

This catches us up on our adventures in Arches. We LOVE our backyard ! So until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Hiking, Jeeping, Flying and Dining...part 2

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
June 4-9, 2015

Our adventures with Dee, Kathleen, Jim and Erja continues. On June 7th, our destination was Top of the World. Ronnie and Carol pulled into Portal the day before and we were thrilled to have them join us.

Weather has not been kind to this 4-wheel drive trail as it has steadily increased in difficulty through the years. Several places were very eroded leaving steep ledges to climb.

When we stopped for a break, the designs in this dead tree caught my eye. As I was making my way around to see the other side, I had quite a surprise!

A gopher snake was slithering toward the dead tree as well.

Alot of the trail twists and turns thru a pinyon pine and juniper forest...

We had lots of threatening clouds all around, but only a few drops of rain came our way.

After almost 10 miles, we reached the end of trail which just happens to be one of the most dramatic overlooks we have seen.

This was the first time Dee had driven Blanche on Top of the World.

Jim and Erja take in the view...

And what a view it was!

Fischer Towers to the west...

Looking down into Onion Creek area.

Kathleen gets a few pictures...Dee and Erja enjoy lunch with a view!

Our team L to R...Cooper, Jim, Dee, Erja behind Dee, Ronnie, Kathleen, Joe and Carol

Picture taken near Dewey Bridge at the trailhead for Top of the World.

The next morning, June 8th, Kathleen, Erja and I were up early and eager to do some hiking in Arches NP.

Our first stop was the Windows Arches area.

My favorite here is Double Arch.

This area was used as the opening backdrop for the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

There are no fences or guardrails...it's way fun to climb!

According to information I read, Double Arch is a pair of natural arches that share the same stone as a foundation for both the outer legs. Unlike most arches it was formed by water erosion from above (rather than the more typical erosion from the side) making it a pothole arch.

The largest of the two openings has a span of 148 ft. and a height of 104 ft.

Just across the road is the The Windows area. The trails here meander all around and even through the arches...three all total.

In the picture below, only one window is visible, but here are two windows (arches) which were formed in the same sandstone fin.

Within walking distance is Turret Arch. It is fun to climb as well. This fin is over 100 feet wide. The arch is "young" and small. Just to the left in the picture below is a very small opening and it is predicted that within a few hundred years or so the two of them will join to create a much larger arch.

The picture below shows our next destination...Delicate Arch.

Erja shows the magnificent size of this beautiful work of nature.

I think I heard a "WooHoo".

This masterpiece is a freestanding natural arch and is the most widely recognized landmark in Arches NP. Delicate Arch was first known as "The Chaps".