Moab Part II

I was to meet with Dan at noon in Moab. Until then I explored around where I was, just north of Arches. I drove up a rough, steep, and very narrow road to the top of the opposing plateau. I hiked around and generally had a good time. Back down at the base of that road there was a mine dump tucked in a narrow canyon. I explored several miles along the plateau. Finally I found a real mine entrance that was still open. I climbed in and walked down the sloping, wide tunnel. It was pretty nifty. I went until the light of the entrance faded. That was far enough to ascertain that it was a good mine for exploration. It wasn’t merely a prospect. One should never go into a mine alone, so I turned back towards the dim light and hustled out of the blackness. As soon as I had my back towards the unexplored mine, and my face to the entrance, I felt really creepy. It was eerie being alone in total blackness without knowing what was really behind me. I could imagine Gholem sneaking up on me and slitting my throat.

Dan Sunderland didn’t show up at noon. In Moab I had cell phone service and discovered that Dan had slept in. He would be to Moab at around 6pm. That was the same time his friend Matt was arriving from Provo.


With the day suddenly free and still alone, I drove into Arches and decided to explore. I hiked Park Avenue. The wind was whipping on the ridge and the clouds had thickened to dark gray hulks. The hike is only a mile one way, but that distance in the wind and the threatening rain was enough to keep most of the visitors out. I held onto my hat as I stood with the masses at the panoramic overlook. I smiled at them and then descended into the canyon. I was virtually alone. The few people that did pass were German and French.


I then drove over to Devil’s Garden. I wanted to make the full four mile circle before I had to return and meet the guys in Moab. I walked along the trail stopping at arch after arch. People were all around me, again more of the French and Germans. They were all very pleasant, but I felt like I was at the zoo instead of in the wilderness. I don’t like being herded along on neat trails and unable to step off and explore at will.

The trail ends at Landscape Arch and the Primitive trail (meaning unpaved) begins. The trail climbs directly up a steep fin of rock. Most people don’t venture past the end of the pavement so there I left the other tourists behind and found the sense of wilderness I desired.

The wind picked up. It was terribly powerful and knocked me about on several occasions. Sand got everywhere: my eyes, ears, nose, and camera.

I was at the far end of the loop, half way of the entire circle trail, when I checked my watch. It was 5pm. I had been walking for two hours. I thought to myself, Dang, two hours for two miles? Those were two hard miles! I rushed through the rest of the trail and didn’t see a single person until I got back to the paved trail. It turns out that the Devil’s Garden loop is eight miles, not four. Oops.