Moab, Utah

I left Denver yesterday morning and headed west towards Utah. Going through Loveland Pass was interesting to say the least. It was snowing — flurries mostly but briefly it was really snowing a fair amount — and quite cool, probably mid–40s.

I drove Utah Highway 128 from I-70 to Moab, as I did two years ago. This time there was more light out and I could see more of the amazing scenery along the Colorado River.

I stopped often to take pictures and thoroughly enjoyed the drive.

I arrived at Arches National Park exactly at 5 and on the spur of the moment decided to prep for a hike. I arrived at the Devil's Garden trailhead a little after 6 and decided I'd try to hike to the Double-O Arch which is about two miles up the trail

(a shot from two years ago)

I had never seen the area this late in the day and it was interesting to see the play of light over the rocks as the sun dropped lower in the west. It was much windier than I had seen it before and I confess walking some of the rock fins with the gusts as strong as they were was a bit disconcerting at times.

With the shadows lengthening (and some of the cairns getting a bit harder to see), I decided to head back to the trailhead so the hike was only about four to four and a half miles.

I enjoyed seeing crows (or ravens?) on the trail most of the way back. I tried to get more photos of them soaring at dusk but they were kind of hard to catch.

I spent the night in Moab and had a harder time finding a place to eat than I expected. Who knew places here tend to close at 9?