Springtime in Moab

After being cooped up from Covid for way too long, we headed out to Moab to spend a week with Kelsey and Brian playing in the red rocks.  We rented a condo south of town, and juggled activities and the kids' remote work.  Needless to say, the kids played harder than the adults!  Way harder!

Kelsey hadn't been to Moab before, so we ended up revisiting many of our favorite places, but also covered some new ground.  Old haunts included a  couple of hikes in Arches National Park, some mountain bike riding at Dead Horse Point State Park, an evening walk to the end of the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, a hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands NP, a hike at Fisher Towers, and mountain biking at Moab Brand Trails.  (See previous postings for more description and photos). 

A couple of new areas were the Sand Flats Recreation Area, where we did a mountain bike ride, and along both shores of the Colorado River west of Moab ... including a canyon hike.  The new areas were as awe-inspiring as the old, so we got our fill.  There's just jaw-dropping scenery everywhere!!  

We added on short side trip to Palouse Falls State Park (in Washington) on the way home.  We followed Google Maps directions to get there, and we were on some seriously small roads in the middle of endless rolling hills.  Quite fun.

Note that Tom didn't take as many pictures as on previous visits, mostly due to the novelty of all the rocks having worn off.

Desert Detail, Tower Arch trail

Climber Brian, Sitter Kelsey

Brian getting his views, Tower Arch

Colorado River Basin from Dead Horse State Park

Windy Evening, Canyonlands National Park

Evening Sunburst, Canyonlands National Park

Evening light, Canyonlands, National Park

Kelsey at Fisher Towers

Devil's Garden, Arches National Park

Rocks, Needles District of Canyonlands NP

Peek-a-boo rock.  The trail goes thru there.

Hunter Canyon

Cactus bloom, Hunter Canyon

Palouse Falls

Activities

  • Wandering/Sightseeing
    • Windows Arches (Arches NP)
    • Palouse Falls State Park (Washington)
  • Hiking
    • Tower Arch (Arches NP)
    • Devil's Garden (Arches NP)
    • Fisher Towers
    • Grand View Point (Canyonlands NP - Island in the Sky District)
    • Peek-a-Boo Springs Trail (Canyonlands NP - Needles District)
    • Hunter Canyon
  • Mountain Biking
    • Moab Brand Trails (Lazy, Bar M)
    • Dead Horse Point State Park (Intrepid > Great Pyramid > Big Chief > Raven Roll)
    • Falcon Flow (Sandy Flats Recreational Area)

"Oh Wow!" Moments

  • The towering rock walls along the Potash Road!
  • Evening light at Canyonlands!
  • Big views, big rocks ... everywhere!!

Random Scenes

  • Hiking to Tower Arch, Brian and Kelsey were a ways out in front, followed by Karen, will Tom pulling up the rear (humoring his not-so-happy knees).  When Tom approached Kelsey and Brian, who were waiting at the top of a hill, Kelsey asked if he knew where Karen was.  Nope!  Brian went looking for her, primarily down a wash that the somewhat indistinct trail crossed, and found here relatively soon ... on her way back.  Major problem avoided!  Interestingly, when we were lounging at Tower Arch, somebody hiked up and asked if we'd seen a 12 year old boy.  Nope.  He, too, went down the wash, and was eventually found.
  • Mountain bike riding on Falcon Flow, a couple of young dudes crossed paths with us as they were climbing up the trail (and we were going down, of course).  One commented to Karen that she was a "cool chick" (presumably because she's riding at her age)!  He probably didn't see her during one of the many times she was walking her bike down.
  • Nearing the end of riding Falcon Flow, Tom came up a rise and around a corner, and encountered a couple of small steps up.  He couldn't power thru them, so he dismounted, found himself off balance on the down-hill side of the trail.  And quickly discovered he had embarked on a 10' fall down a rock slab with a big log at the end.  Despite being certain he'd be busted up, at best, he managed to walk away physically unscathed, but certainly mentally scarred.  See pictures below ...

Tom's Daily Stress Points

  • Brian climbing a knob, with significant exposure and no rope ... near Tower Arch (stress level = high:  couldn't watch)
  • Where's Karen, how will we find her?  ... approaching Tower Arch (stress level = medium-high)

Sleeps

  • Best Western, Jerome, ID.  Noisy water, pathetic breakfast options.
  • 3395 La Camino Dr, Moab ... nice 3 bdrm condo w/ garage

Noteable Eats
  • Taqueria el Patron, Jerome, ID (great tacos ... but not chorizo)
  • Quesadilla Mobilla (huge, yummy quesadillas, Moab)


Falcon Flow Trail (going up and left) at Tom's Fall

Tom's Fall

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