For Spring Break this year we went to MOAB!
WE have been wanting to go back since we visited a couple of years ago.
Last time we stayed in a tiny tiny cabin with no bathroom and not enough beds, this year we rented a tiny house out in Spanish Valley. We liked it better in some way and less so in others. Lauren spied a rabbit under the table in front of our little house, the kids had fun trying to get an up close picture of it. Later we saw several rabbits hoping all around our house.
On the way down we stopped at Jeana's house and went to church with her and kids got to play a bit. Cary made us a yummy Sunday dinner and Jeana, Barry and I attempted a little violin playing and Cary, not to be left out, got out his bag pipes. It was quite the musical evening and quite hilarious. :D IN the morning we hit the road.
The first day we stopped in Price and had lunch then headed to Dead Horse State Park. It was pretty overcast(not great for pictures) but a beautifully warm day. I remember a warm peaceful feeling as we walked around and looked at the incredible views.
Tuesday we headed to Arches National Park and went on some of our favorite hikes. We hiked the the overlook of Delicate Arch in the morning ...remembering from last time that the actual hike is rather rigorous. We went to Windows Arch, and Double Arch and Devil's Garden which we never got to go to last time and hiked Landscape Arch and Pine Tree Arch and a few others.
3. Wednesday we hiked Corona Arch. A new favorite for Barry. We got a bit lost and hiked 2.5 miles in the wrong direction down some train tracks.. and could see people up near the arch and wondered how that they got there. Our trail ended going into a trail tunnel, which we were pretty confident was NOT the right way. :'D We walked back to the beginning of the hike and realized we had taken a wrong turn from almost the very beginning. Ack! We also hiked Negro Bill Canyon. We decided from our experience last time that we would just hike a little ways up the Canyon and give the kids a chance to play in the water.
At some point on our travels we drove the La Sal Mountain Loop. It was an amazing road with some incredible sights. It ends up in one of my favorite places Castle Valley. A beautiful little valley tucked under astounding dark red cliffs that look like fortresses or castles.
4. On Thursday we visited Canyonland's National Park. We hiked to the Amazing Mesa Arch, hiked up Aztec Butte, Whale Rock and Bizarre Upheaval Dome.
5. On Friday we got up early and went back to Arches and hiked Delicate Arch. It was a fun hike, but it was easy to tell that the kids were pretty exhausted after a week of hiking, so it was a good hike and a good time to end our little vacation.
We drove back to Saratoga Springs and spent the evening with Jeana's family again. Randy and Katie dropped by to see us. WE haven't seen them since the summer, unfortunately Barry was already fast asleep when they came over and missed the visit.
and headed for home Saturday after a brief stop in Brigham to see Grandma and Grandpa.
We actually got to see Kelli and Jacob too, so that was fun.
1. Dead Horse State Park
Tiny House
Sand Dune Arch
Double Arch
Window's Arch
Pine Tree Arch
Landscape Arch in Devil's Garden
Hiking the wrong way to Corona Arch.
On the Corona Hike after quite a streuous uphill hike at the top is cool sight, but this time manmade, dozens and dozens of cairns. Trail markers. Usually you just find one or two along the trail where the path divergies so you know you are headed in the right direction, at the top of this climb you come over the crest of the hill and you can see dozens and dozen. The sight of all those cairns made me tear up a bit, it a nice feeling to know that you are headed in the right direction. :D ...especially after being lost for a couple hours before.
The kid's took a few moments and made their own.
Emma was pretty much spent, so we found a shaded spot and rested while Barry took the willing kids to go climb under the arch.
Negro Bill Canyon
Water was a tad bit COLD
That evening we took the young kids to the music park. The older kids had been fighting and had to remain in the car.
Owen met his match at the park. This little girl was just as feisty and ferocious as Owen. He was quite shocked with her behavior. He didn't quite know what to make of it.
Older kid getting a "talking too" back at the house. They were somewhat distracted by the wild rabbit under the table....
bedtime snuggles
Canyonlands!!!
The views at Canyonlands are out of this world!
At the top of one of the Butte's they have some ancient graineries. They are pretty awesome.
We are really really really far up.
Upheaval Dome. They are not sure what caused this, they believe one of the Buttes collapsed.
James was messing around and went off the path and stepped on a cactus. There is a lesson to be learned here I think. :D
On the way back to stopped at Ken's Lake so James could go fishing. A total bummer, super cold and super lame. Barry and I stayed in the car and let the other kids watch a movie.
Delicate Arch.
I took my nice camera on this hike and took pictures. I was NOT feeling well during spring break and did not feel well enough to lug my heavy camera around. Perhaps some day I will upload those pictures too.
Goodbye Moab!
