Tower Arch, Arches National Park

5/27/2012

Tower Arch, Arches National Park

Outside Moab, 18  miles up the paved park road, and 8 bumpy miles on a dirt road from there took us to the trail head for the Tower Arch hike.  We have crossed a wide sage covered plain with several dry washes to come to a geologic region of upthrust and then eroded needles, fins, and resulting arches.  This trail is more rugged than the usual park fare and its location at the end of a long dirt road also help to cut down on it's visitation.  For today, and for now, we have the trail to ourselves except for one other family who passes us easily as I stop often to take photos.

The wind has receded, and the clouds have returned with the arrival of a cold front, so we have a few layers on as we hike. This is certainly a pleasant change from the scorching heat and hammering wind that have distracted us for the last few days.  The wind itself at these speeds was a real issue to contend with.  Besides the blowing sand which blasted our exposed skin like a thousand needles, and the grit which formed in our teeth and filled our ears, the force itself kept throwing off balance.  That along with the noise, and howling, and whistling which made normal conversation virtually impossible, unsettled our whole spirit.  No doubt, it was exiting, and relevant in a place like this which has been literally formed by wind events like this, but normal equilibrium was disturbed. Our sense of peace, balance, and timing were all effected.  It was a true luxury to retreat to the shelter of the camper after each foray into the elements and feel the uneven rocking of the vehicle on its springs, like a boat in heavy swells, hear the whistling of the wind as it sought every small crack in the seals to join us in the cabin.  We heave huge sighs of relieve, and calm our breathing to its own normal pace instead of that insisted upon by the gale blowing past our noses and mouth when outside.

But today, the wind is calm and the plants seem happy to just sit in the sand like most days instead of yesterday, when they were being pulled by their roots and tossed across the vast landscape.  Birds came out and perched on the branches and chirped as we passed, and large ravens soared on the updrafts looking for a meal.

The trail, after it's initial 200 foot climb over an escarpment, flattens out to a pleasant rolling ramble through the sage and cactus covered plain between towering rock abutments with amazing eroded shapes. After only 1 1/2 miles, the trail passes through a short slot in the rocks and upon climbing out of the slot, there is the large and elegant "tower" arch, supervised by a towering columns of red stone with a rounded boulder, as if a spaceship has landed on a pedestal. 

While leaving the park afterwards, we stopped at balanced rock, and Park blvd., both destinations well worthwhile, although both a bit crowded on this memorial day weekend. 

From 2012 Spring trip

From 2012 Spring trip

From 2012 Spring trip

From 2012 Spring trip