Dead Horse Point

Today I was awakened at 0700 by my phone. Wes sent a text, “Are you up?” I thought for sure it meant something bad had happened overnight. I mean why else do you text that? Was it a tornado? Missing roof? House flooded? I jumped up, responded yes, and then got pissy mad when nothing bad had happened. He was just ready to start the day. I stayed up late reading last night, and I could have really slept another two hours. 

So all that to say we were up at the crack of dawn. We returned to Arches since we missed Double Arches yesterday during the pop up snow storm. Because it was so early, few people had made it this far into the park. 

From here we drove to the state park Dead Horse Point, a park not on my radar when I planned the trip, but we had the time so thought why not. I’m so glad we did. It was stunning! The legend says the point at the edge of the mesa was used as a natural corral for horses until one day the men had to leave and couldn’t take all of the horses with them. They left the weaker horses who eventually died of thirst. Ironically, the horses could see The Colorado River below them, but they had no way to get to it.

This was Utah’s little known version of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona. We hiked almost six miles today along the rim of the mesa. It was an easy hike with just a little wind. A few snowflakes threatened to ruin the day, but it was quick lived. 

Tomorrow we start the return trip home with a six hour drive back to Vegas. I’m ready for home. For warm weather. My boys. My bed. The gym.