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. 

Canyonlands

We woke up to snow flurries. I have no idea what happened to those predicted temps in the 60s. Wes even asked me before we left how many pairs of shorts he should pack. 

We bought breakfast at a gas station because low season means nothing is opened in the backcountry. But lucky for me, any gas station near a national park caters to the granolas who eat trail mix, yogurt, and protein. I found my Chobani and Muenster cheese with no problem. 

Before we left the hotel in Torrey this morning, I had to stop back by the park at The Gifford house for their famous pie. They were sold out yesterday, and after missing the lemon cookies I wanted to buy at the monestary in Madrid, I told Wes I had to have the pie. It was good but not great. I’m not sure it was worth the hype. But I ate it and pretended it was a lemon cookie made with love by nuns in Madrid.

We drove a couple of hours east and made it to park #4, the Canyonlands. The pictures don’t do the vastness of the canyons justice.

We drove the scenic drive stopping when our online commentator suggested we take a look. One of the first stops was to The Arch. This had nothing on the arch we hiked, scrambled in Sedona, but we took the obligatory picture just the same.

We also hiked three smaller hikes for a total of six miles. I could have done another hike or two if it wasn’t snowing again in late afternoon. 

One more park to go. Two days to explore it. We are sleeping in tomorrow, making breakfast in the condo, and then hoping the moisture doesn’t switch over to snow.