Arches National Park
Here we go with Day 2 of our trip to Southern Utah....I'm splitting this day into 2 posts because, well, we saw 2 very distinct areas and thought they deserve to each have their own spotlight.We begin the day with another fabulous breakfast in Moab here at Eklectica:
I must say, I'm really loving the healthy food options here in Moab!!After breakfast, we headed out with our "private" tour guide Kimberly to Arches National Park!!
There have been lots of movies shot here in the park:
Our first stop is at Park Avenue (a short 1 mile hike) which brings us to views where scenes from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" were filmed....and it's is simply GORGEOUS!!!
Can you spot Nefertiti in the next shot?
I hope you can get some idea of scale with Pops in the photos.This next shot shows the rock formation called the "Three Gossips" (think they're male or female??!!)
What an amazing way to start this day!!!
And take my first panorama shot of the trip:
After we head back to car to move to the next spot, I realize that there are just "spots" every which way you turn! I guess making this whole park one big SPOT!
Our next destination is to do another short hike up to "Double Arch".
Now, I'm not sure if you can tell in the photo above, (and the changing light in all the photos of this post) but before this we've had some blue sky and the temperature is just fine - perfect for hiking actually - and well, now it seems to be starting to snow!The weather and lighting changes here almost minute by minute! Can you see the little white specks in this next shot maybe?
It doesn't actually feel cold enough to snow....and I'm pretty sure the temperature wasn't below 32, or even close, so I'm wondering if it has something to do with the elevation we're at? More specks in the next shot:
The Double Arch is amazing - and more magical with the snowflakes falling!
Another shot trying to show "perspective" and size:
Even the "older" twisted trees (that may be dead) seem just beautiful to me here.
Next, our "tour guide" decides to take us toward Delicate Arch....but not in the typical fashion. She decides we would be better today seeing it from the lower viewpoint. I suspect she's helping us save our time and energy for another hike later in the day (you'll have to see the next post to see if I'm right).
It might not look like much from this view...maybe this shot will help:
Here's the Park's sign which may help more:
hmmmm, wonder what it takes to be a park "sign" photographer? I think that would be an amazing job!!Our next stop, Balanced Rock:
Wanna see a few more shots of Arches? I've created a folder here on Flickr with a few more.NEXT, Day 2 - part two....Dead Horse Point State Park.....coming soon!