Just a Sign

This is the beginning of the trail to Upheaval Dome which may have been  the remains of a volcano at one time.    Anyway, sorry there are no people in these pictures but all I could think about was getting the picture at this point.  This was after we came back down and I thought we needed this to remember the hike and it's name.   Kind of boring I know.

Walking up the trail

This is walking up and I think we are almost 1/2 way to the top.   When you see the top you think you are almost there and then the trail just keeps going forever.   But, you pass people coming back down and you know that they made it so I can too.

Hiking down from Upheaval Dome

We were about 1/2 way down now and I wanted a picture of this hike.  You can see how small the vehicles are at the bottom.   Whew!

Canyonlands

The day after Arches we ventured into Canyonlands.  The formations are a little different but still awesome.

North and South Windows in Arches

Standing inside the arch at North and South Windows

Awesome view

Made it

New arches are being formed and old ones destroyed.   The area is a virtual layer cake of
rock miles thick, a celebration of sandstones, mudstones, shales, salts and limestones all stacked
one upon another.  Each layer represents a different environment that existed here in the past.  Limestone might indicate the presence of an inland sea.  Sandstone is wind-blown sand dunes, shale contains the relics of a swampy river floodplain ruled by dinosaurs and giant trees. -  that's our earth - forever changing. 

Taking the Hike

Walking to the Windows in Arches.  It's a little crazy on the trail but just going slow and easy was my motto.Sandstone is dangerous, it crumbles and breaks easily.  The trails were pretty good but when the steps were a little high for me I took off to the side where it was a little more slanted walking.
You do it because at the end it is a beautiful view and you have "achieved".  In all of these pictures you need to zoom to get the beauty of the picture I think.

This is our next stop

Going to the Windows in Arches

Dad's Hike in Arches at Park Avenue

Guess I need to post a few pictures of the trip.
This is in Arches, our first stop, where Dad took
his hike.  If you zoom in you can see people
down there.  The hike goes through that hole back there where the single rock is standing.   (I waited at the top for him) I thought he would hike back the same way and meet me at the top but he called me on the cell and said - no, he was going around the rock and to meet him at the next viewpoint.  I actually was getting a little anxious when he didn't come back up the trail.   (miscommunication) I actually had a good time sitting and listening to the ranger guide talk to people.