Would you rather …
– hike a well known, but challenging and long trail for most the day?
– stop at multiple places and do short vista views?
– stay home in the AC, avoid the crowds, and watch other people do the trials on You Tube?
We did wake up – and not too late either. We arrived at Arches National Park and stopped at a few places as we progressed through the park. There is one main road. It does fork a couple of times, but always progressing to the back of the park – just to turn around and exit where you came in.
We visited the “Park Avenue Trail” head and over look. We got out and did major walk around balancing rock.
And we went to the windows area, where my beloved ventured pretty close to double arches. She even scrambled a little – a very little – on the rocks of Double Arch. I am proud of her,
She is amazed at all of this. A bit angry I didn’t bring here with me on my earlier jaunts – now that she realizes what she was missing.
The crowds were minimal – all ages but more senior adults then I anticipated. Few little kids – but school is in session most places.
I got Peg Leg with me.
Did you know, the scene in Mission Impossible 2 where Tom Cruise is dangling from rocks … was filmed here. So Peg Leg did his own dangling.
We left ANP (to return tomorrow for more) and headed to Canyonland. Two small pull outs before the actual park – Monitor/Merrimac formation (like the old Ironsides) and prairie view. Short, powerful, breath taking.
Walked Mesa Arch trail and started a couple more but temps in the 90s … too hot to trot.
But the drive was worth the trip to northern Island parts of CLNP.
We over looked the Shafer trail road – which I wanted to do. But the rain made the trail only suitable for 4×4 – not recommended even for the Wilderness.
After we left the park – we headed to Dead Horse State Park – Lisa’s favorite vista as of yet … and that’s something considering all we’ve seen. (She got better pictures than me here… so I’ll add those later)
We even stopped to share an orange.
It could have been hotter – but not by much (though I read Grand Canyon was 109 today!)
It could’ve been wetter – and the rain was at night so we had some great shade.
It could’ve been longer – but we decided to not kill ourselves too early.
We ate at Moab Diner – filled up with gas ($5.29/gallon!) – had one last sight to see. A primitive church in the state of renewal.
So I come back to today’s question …
Would you rather …
– hike a well known, but challenging and long trail for most the day?
– stop at multiple places and do short vista views?
– stay home in the AC, avoid the crowds, and watch other people do the trials on You Tube?
muddyshoes.org 
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